Locate buried electric line?

[Cord]

I have an electric line to a post light that no longer works. There is no power - open circuit. Years ago I cut the wire when I was digging the yard and spliced it using an underground splice kit. My guess is that water got into the splice. The strange thing is that the breaker is holding. It should trip if there was a short. Anyways, I was thinking that I should inspect the splice; but how do I find it? Is there a way to trace these wires?

 

[Diggin It]

Well, most lines are relatively straight between the two points, so if you know where it enters the building, look towards the post and start from there. A metal detector might help if the line isn't too deep.

 

[YLee Kioti]

A few options:
Underground Cable Locator Rental | Cable Detectors | Sunbelt Rental Rentals

AT-35 Underground Cable Locator | Amprobe

Noyafa D3IN-B Underground Cable Wire Locator, Easily Locate Pet Fence Wires, Metal Pipes, Electrical Wires, Telephone Wire, Coax Cable: Circuit Testers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[ChiefBodie]

Perhaps an underground rodent chewed it in half.

 

[Cord]

A few options:
Underground Cable Locator Rental | Cable Detectors | Sunbelt Rental Rentals

AT-35 Underground Cable Locator | Amprobe

Noyafa D3IN58-B Underground Cable Wire Locator, Easily Locate Pet Fence Wires, Metal Pipes, Electrical Wires, Telephone Wire, Coax Cable: Circuit Testers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

I like your thinking, but I wonder how they work with a break in the wire. I'd have to identify which wire is broken (hopefully, not all of them).

 

[Diggin It]

I like your thinking, but I wonder how they work with a break in the wire. I'd have to identify which wire is broken (hopefully, not all of them).

Huh? There should only be one cable with three conductors. What kind of wire and lights are we talking about here?

 

[JPRambo]

Take 2 welding rods or similar wires. bend them 3 inch from one end hold one in each hand like a water witcher search for the wires

 

[herm0016]

DOWSING! ha.... i think we need a new thread to delve into that one.

as others have said or take a pick and dig a small trench 90* to where the wire should be, and then find and follow it. this is how i found my internet and cable tv cables.

 

[M5farms]

witch it. Its simple too do .

 

[laurencen]

in both my cases the wires gave up due to settling of the ground, in my case I just trenched in a new line, added a water line also