Hello all-
I’m involved with building a slate patio down here in Va, in the middle of which is a pond. Landscaping is not typically where I spend my time, but it’s where I’m at. Anyway, the homeowner, who is playing G.C. wants to get power down to his pond patio from a nearby building. He wants to use an old coil of grey colored #12 cable that he has. I looked at it and didn’t see anything that said it was underground cable. Rather, it said “UV resistant” or something similar. This doesn’t set right with me. Any thoughts on what the cable is? Could it be used in conduit? I think there were 4 conductors and the cable seemed pretty “flat” – like twice as wide as typical romex.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. For the record, I’ve already suggested that he get an electrician. 🙂 I’m not an electrician and don’t play one except on my own houses.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations – New Construction – Rentals
Replies
sounds like well drop cable...
how far is the run????
get an electrician.....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I just did a well replacement and I don't believe the cable that the HO has was the same as what I saw in the well, but your guess makes as much sense as anything I could think of.
The length of the run is 100-120' by estimate. As far as the suggestion to get an electrician, I've already made that one to him.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
was there a yellow conductor in that flat wire???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
IMERC - I did not see any yellow when I looked at it.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
like Bill says....
12/3WG UF....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
While you're waiting for the sparky, dig a nice trench and run a 1" plastic conduit from the source to the pond area.
Gray, UV resistant, Flat, makes it sound like UF cable, Under Ground feeder.
Look at the markings clearly. Typcially they are embossed and not printed so they are hard to see.
But based on what you say I probably has UF 12-3 plus a bunch of other stuff on it.
It is designed for direct burial.
But you can put in in a conduit, but you don't want to.
By code it is treated as a single "wire" with a diameter equal to the width of the cable.
Then need to go through the conduit fill calculation. Would not be surprised that you need 1 1/4 or 1 1/2" conduit.
And if it is UF, unlike NM, the sheahting encases the wire in the plastic (no paper separater) and that makes it very stiff and it would be hard to pull that distance.
Either direct bury it or use conduit and pull wires.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Bill -
Thx for the response. You are right about it being stiff. I didn't mess with it much, but it seemed pretty hard. Same thing with the lack of paper - I didn't really notice any of it in the cable. But if it's underground, why would it be UV resistant?
I'll have another look at the embossing, maybe take a pencil or such to try to hilight it.What other kinds of (small) grey cable are there? I'll likely be back on here tonight.
In the meantime, I suspect that I'll be moving a shovel and laying out a trench. Then again, I do have a helper...
Don K.
EJG Homes Reovations - New Construction - Rentals
UF is not restricted to unground usage. UV resistant is an option, but i suspect that most are. And if it is UV resistant it can be used exposed on the outside.Here are the allowed usages"Type UF cable shall be permitted as follows:
(1) For use underground, including direct burial in the earth. For underground
requirements, see 300.5.
(2) As single-conductor cables. Where installed as single-conductor cables, all
conductors of the feeder grounded conductor or branch circuit, including the
grounded conductor and equipment grounding conductor, if any, shall be installed
in accordance with 300.3.
(3) For wiring in wet, dry, or corrosive locations under the recognized wiring
methods of this Code.
(4) Installed as nonmetallic-sheathed cable. Where so installed, the installation and
conductor requirements shall comply with Parts II and III of Article 334 and shall
be of the multiconductor type.
Where UF cable is installed as nonmetallic-sheathed cable, the ampacity of Type UF
cable is determined according to 334.80. For Type UF cable used for interior wiring,
see the installation requirements and the associated commentary in Parts I and II of
Article 334.
(5) For solar photovoltaic systems in accordance with 690.31.
(6) As single-conductor cables as the nonheating leads for heating cables as provided
in 424.43.
(7) Supported by cable trays. Type UF cable supported by cable trays shall be of the
multiconductor type.And where it can't be used."340.12 Uses Not Permitted
Type UF cable shall not be used as follows:
(1) As service-entrance cable
(2) In commercial garages
(3) In theaters and similar locations
(4) In motion picture studios
(5) In storage battery rooms
(6) In hoistways or on elevators or escalators
(7) In hazardous (classified) locations
(8) Embedded in poured cement, concrete, or aggregate, except where embedded in
plaster as nonheating leads where permitted in 424.43
(9) Where exposed to direct rays of the sun, unless identified as sunlight resistant
(10) Where subject to physical damage
(11) As overhead cable, except where installed as messenger-supported wiring in
accordance with Part II of Article 396
Type UF cable suitable for exposure to the direct rays of the sun is indicated by tag
marking and marking on the cable surface with the designation ``Sunlight Resistant.''
This physical protection requirement ensures that Type UF cable, as it emerges from
underground, is protected from physical damage."Now there maybe something in the UL listing that defines the sheathing color, but I doubt it.More likely the the additives that make it sunlight resistant..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.