Problem with outside wire, no power...?

Question

I have a wire going to a lamp post in my yard. It has worked fine for the past 4 years, but has been there much longer. Just now, it stopped working, no power at light. I checked the wire and the power stopped about 20 feet from the junction box going to light. I then tried to repair it by splicing in new wire and found that some of the wire was corroded and wet. The wire was just buried underground, not in a pipe or anything, what is the proper way to do it when I replace it. I dont even know if it is outside wiring that was used... Thanks

Yeah, wire was not labeled, seems to be indoor wire. Would water get into indoor wire over time and make it short out.

Exactly, someone else's botched job....the whole house was this way!!! handyman wiring. Thanks for all the info.

Answer 1

You can use romex that is approved for direct bury applications, it is labeled outdoor wire.

I prefer to put this wire into plastic conduit. It's cheap, you just glue it together and then things like a shovel or driving a stake into the yard will not bother the wire.

I would say, just replace it all, it was the wrong wire to begin with.

John

Answer 2

Hoo boy! I hate fixing someone else's botched job, don't you? Sounds like some previous owner just went with the cheapest way. Now you've got to make things right.

Ace has a good site: http://www.acehardware.com/sm-installing-outdoor-wiring-lighting--bg-1284747.html
This will give you an idea of what's right.

But the best answer depends on your local codes. NEC is basic, Wikipedia gives you a basic idea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_wiring

Without knowing more about your particular situation, it's hard to give you a good answer about what's best or right for you.

One alternative to all the NEC and wiring could be a photovoltaic light for you. Try your local Home Depot-type store and see if there's something there that will give you light with *no* wiring, just a PV setup. Good luck with your post lamp.

Answer 3

The original could have been UF cable, which is rated for direct burial. But it must be buried two feet deep under the lawn to meet code, which is a lot of work without a trencher machine. I've had buried UF cable last 15 years, so it's not necessary to put it in conduit.

Answer 4

There is a wire that you "supposedly" could use without any conduit. I never bought it. Dig the old wire up, make a trench big enough to run some 1" pvc pipe. Run your wire through it. bury it. Call it good for a hundred years.

Answer 5

you cant use nm cable underground thats not to code or in wet locations.use uf cable and if your splicing underground use a underground splice kit for direct burieal or if your splicing in a kristy box in the ground use waterproof wirenuts.

Answer 6

John's answer is correct. Do the job once correctly and then you'll never have to worry about it again.