Splicing underground wire

[Bedlam]

I have to somehow splice three pieces of 12 2 direct burial.does anyone know the least expensive way to do this?it will be buried about 2 foot in dirt and won't be live all the time.thanks

 

[/pine]

I have to somehow splice three pieces of 12 2 direct burial.does anyone know the least expensive way to do this?it will be buried about 2 foot in dirt and won't be live all the time.thanks

They make connector kits that are meant for UF etc. type wire...Ace hardware has them...they are about $10...

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Another key thing to do is to make sure that you put some good heat shrink wraps or mastic pads with black tape to waterproof your splices, it is truly the biggest portion of the longevity of your splice.

 

[/pine]

All the kits I've seen come with heavy duty heat shrink...

Underground UF Splice Kit

 

[dlctcg]

@ /pine - I agree, I believe all kits come with some type of heat shrink or sealant... I believe they have to to be UL listed for burial....

Other brands are:

Ideal: ThermoShrink UF Splice Kit 148 AWG

Tyco: https://www.te.com/usa-en/plp/raych...ts&samples=N&inStoreWithoutPL=false&instock=N

Polaris: Manufacturer of Aluminum and Copper set screw connectors for the Utility, OEM, and Contractor and Industrial Markets

Thee are tons more... make sure it is UL listed for your application

 

[RNeumann]

Do above and put it in a box that comes to the surface. I wouldn’t splice and bury!

 

[dlctcg]

Do above and put it in a box that comes to the surface. I wouldn’t splice and bury!

I understand it's your option not to & that you wouldn't splice & bury... but just wondering why??

The company I work for repairs & buries communication & fiber lines all the time.... & the utility companies or electricians (depending on the repair site) are doing the same to the power lines right next to us. thats what most of these kits are made for & listed for; so just wondering the reasoning.... (not trying to start anything... just curious)

 

[stingray1]

Use butt splices,wrap with Scotch linerless rubber splicing tape then wrap with Scotch 33 elect.tape or use any of the direct burial splice kits. Personally I feel using a box and bringing it to the surface would be trouble later on. This repair isn’t that big of a deal. Good luck

 

[RNeumann]

I understand it's your option not to & that you wouldn't splice & bury... but just wondering why??

The company I work for repairs & buries communication & fiber lines all the time.... & the utility companies or electricians (depending on the repair site) are doing the same to the power lines right next to us. thats what most of these kits are made for & listed for; so just wondering the reasoning.... (not trying to start anything... just curious)

Same reason I run tracer wire with water lines and put 90° bends on the end of my leach lines. It’s easy to do when the hole is dug, but hard to find many years from now.....

I get splices are supposed to be “water proof”. But I believe over time the splice will be a weak point and or something else may get added or changed.

One of my first “construction” jobs was doing plumbing repairs. You learn quickly that a lot of stuff was done fast, cheap and easy- not necessarily the best way. So I tend to build things for the future- I put cleanouts where they are easy to get to and won’t make a mess when the cap comes off. I put underground wire in conduit etc etc. Other contractors, but especially home owners tend to go the other way. It’s just not the service I choose to provide.

 

[coobie]

Another key thing to do is to make sure that you put some good heat shrink wraps or mastic pads with black tape to waterproof your splices, it is truly the biggest portion of the longevity of your splice.

Great advice.Keep the water out.