How can I protect underground wiring from water?

Question

I am doing some underground wiring. It is about half a foot deep.

The wires are going through pipes, but there are a few spots where the wires are being split, or have a connection between them (because one wire was too short)

How can I make the connection area secure from water and other damages.

Thanks

and what is a ground default interpreter?

The wiring is for internet, phone, and cable

Answer 1

Well you've indicated in your updates that this is all low voltage stuff. (No need for ground fault related equipment.)

If you treat the conduit (pipes) correctly, I'd use PVC, there should be little if any water in there if you seal them good. Home Depot sells splices that have sealant in them. I've seen than at the store, but couldn't find them on their website just now. (Lowes has phone splices that have a gel sealant, see link below.) In the Garden Center they have low voltage wiring splices - a little oversized for what you want, but if there's room in the pipe, they'd work as they seal as well.

Answer 2

If you are going with 110/220v, a Ground Fault Interrupter is critical to the safety of this circuit.

Buried mains should be in conduit appropriate for the use, and all splices are technically junctions, and should be enclosed as such.

6 inches is not deep enough- at least 18" if not 24", possible more based on local code and frost depth.

Additionally, get some of that cheap yellow plastic warning tape and lay it 4 inches above the cable, so any digging will find the tape before the cable.

It is not my intention to be a wonk, and I know I am submarining any hopes of getting the best answer here, but if you have these kinds of questions about the project, hire it out. Electric, especially hidden electric, is a safety issue for every tradesman, guest and home owner that will follow you.

Answer 3

I'm amending my previous answer now that you've cleared up that it's communications wiring. Again -- you need to bury it deeper or you run the risk of having it damaged, even if you have it in conduit. I'd recommend a minimum of 18 inches. Use PVC conduit with glued fittings -- splices will be OK but try to use as few as you can. It would also be a good idea to bury "line tape" just above your conduit (this is 3" wide plastic tape with "buried line" marked on it that will warn anyone who starts to dig in the area that there is a buried line there. You can get it at building centers.)

I think the first guy meant "ground fault circuit interrupter" or GFI which are the outlets (or circuit breakers) with the red "re-set" button that shut off automatically to prevent shocks. You see them in bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor wall outlets.

You might want to check with your phone and cable companies about whether they advise installing these cables in the same conduit run -- make sure there are no signal interference issues.

Answer 4

If these are cables installed by your phone, cable and internet company, and you are concerned, contact them and have them inspected. If they are original installations they are probably O.K. The company should not charge you for an inspection of their equipment.

Answer 5

put in a ground default interperter.