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Discussion Forum

Underground Electrical Splice

runnerguy | Posted in General Discussion on April 25, 2009 10:30am

I’m hooking up the power for a pump to a fish pond. Misjudged the distance (the trench is pretty zig zaggy to miss plants and such) and came up 12′ short.

Thought 50′ of wire would be enough. Obviously not (I know, I know, I know! Measure twice, saw once. Learned that lesson….again ).

Options are of course is to get a longer wire (nothing’s backfilled yet) and have to reattach the wire to the recepticle on the pond end (took me an hour to do it the first time so I wouldn’t be looking forward to that) and end up with 50′ of wire I really wouldn’t need or splice the thing underground.

Any suggests on how or even if there is a way to do this and have it last?

Thanks!

Runnerguy

PS: Sorry, just noticed the post title said “Slice” in lieu of “splice”. Apparently the title can’t be edited.


Edited 4/25/2009 3:35 pm ET by runnerguy

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Replies

  1. gfretwell | Apr 25, 2009 11:08pm | #1

    They make underground splice kits but a much safer way is to bring that end up into a box above ground (maybe a spare outlet could go there) and start fresh from there.

    1. runnerguy | Apr 25, 2009 11:16pm | #2

      Yeah, in researching online, the above gound box was mentioned but the location would be smack dab in the middle of a section of lawn adjacent to the front walk. I'll probably end up biting the bullet and getting a longer wire.

      But thanks for the suggestion.

      Runnerguy

      1. User avater
        maddog3 | Apr 25, 2009 11:59pm | #3

        how about moving your 50' to the other end, where's the splice then ?or just use an inground handhole, one brand is Quazite, it's probably be cheaper to run new wire.

        .

        .. . . . . . . .

  2. peteshlagor | Apr 26, 2009 01:18am | #4

    Run your 50' to a close by post or wall.  Then place a cutoff, run from there to the fishy pond.

  3. renosteinke | Apr 26, 2009 01:50am | #5

    The absolute best thing to do is to instal a 'handhole.' HD has a proper electrical one for about $27. Not quite as large as a 4 gal bucket, made of grey PVC, and open on the bottom.

    Dig your hole extra deep, and use gravel on the bottom. This will help the box drain, and help you level it as well.

    It's best to bring the wires up into the bottom. Join the wires in the air, near the top, with an approved method; thise blue grease filled wire nuts ought to work fine.

  4. [email protected] | Apr 26, 2009 02:56am | #6

    Get one of the 3m splice kits from a good electrical supplier.

    The kits come with the correct crimp connectors, and whatever else is required to complete the splice. You will have two basic choices: cold shrink, or resin systems. For your application they will probably recommend a cold shrink kit.

    I've seen them used on 4160-Volt feeder lines, so they definitely are available and suitable for your use.

    1. gfretwell | Apr 26, 2009 03:32am | #7

      The next question is do you have the suitable crimping tool? That is not vice grips or pliers.

    2. CardiacPaul | Apr 26, 2009 06:22am | #8

      When you say "Cold shrink" what do you mean, how does it work.

      I've seen them use crimp connectors & shrink tube used on submersible well pumps & torch the shrink tube for sealing and of course this works under water.

        No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

      1. User avater
        BillHartmann | Apr 26, 2009 06:27am | #9

        I am not sure if this is the same thing. But I have some samples of cold string tubbing. It uses chemicals to relax it. Then it is put in a sealed package.After opening then it shrinks back was the chemicals evaporate. Don't remember how long it takes to change..
        William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe

        1. CardiacPaul | Apr 26, 2009 05:16pm | #11

          Thanks Bill,

          Always leaning something here.

          Paul No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

      2. [email protected] | Apr 26, 2009 07:01am | #10

        It is an elastomeric plastic sleeve, with a stiff plastic coil inside it that looks kind of like the outside of flex conduit. When the plastic coil is removed, the sleeve shrinks down onto the conductor similar to heat shrink tubing. The result is a water proof sleeve on the splice. The cold shrink I have seen was for a 480-Volt, 3-phase repair. The 4160-Volt repairs I have seen, used a tape wrap, followed by a two part liquid that was poured into a plastic mold that came in the kit.

        1. CardiacPaul | Apr 26, 2009 05:18pm | #12

          Thanks No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

  5. User avater
    ottcarpentry | Apr 26, 2009 05:49pm | #13

    I just watched a Phone repair guy repair a section phone line I severed w/ a shovel. He used an epoxy/resin kit to water proof the splice. He took the tube that contained the epoxy, cut off the bottom, mixed the epoxy in the tube, and stuffed the wire into the epoxy in the tube. He left the tube standing to harden. Not very pretty, but I buried the wire w/ the shrub I was planting.

    It was a simple and very effective way to waterproof the splice. I assume something like that should be available in a local electrical contractor supply store. If not, I'd try something from Lowe's or HD using a similar technique.

    Ott

    1. renosteinke | Apr 26, 2009 06:18pm | #14

      I have to disagree as to the use of the various 'in the ground' splice methods.

      Forget 'code' or ' what the label claims ... my experience keeps teaching me: use a hand-hole! If nothing else, you'll be able to readily find the splice, and check it, when something else breaks.

    2. User avater
      Haystax | Apr 26, 2009 06:22pm | #15

      We have to splice underground service lines serving irrigation systems from time to time. There are crimp connectors color-coded by wire size that make a splice fairly bulletproof. I always use heat-shrink material, never been around the cold shrink. I would be wary of the wire-nut type connections, seems like a high resistance and potentially troublesome connection to me.What is your voltage? They also make splice connectors with screw terminals that eliminate the need for the special crimper tool and dies. Are you running in conduit or direct burial? I would trust a splice in conduit forever, stagger your splices on each wire over a 12" distance so the cable doesn't get to "fat" for the pull. I would trust a direct burial splice for about as long as I would for the rest of the wire being attacked by burrowing rodents...

  6. runnerguy | Apr 26, 2009 07:38pm | #16

    Thanks everyone for the help and informative responses.

    After thinking about it I ended up getting a longer wire. I figured with the splice kit cost and having to buy another 20' of wire anyway it would be easier just going a longer wire route. Rewiring it into the recepticle took only 10 minutes as opposed to an hour yesterday (amazing what you learn the FIRST time you do something. The second time is SO much easier).

    Anyway, there's power to the pond as I'm typing this and everything's backfilled.

    Sooner or later I'll need some 12-2 so it won't go to waste.

    Thanks again for all your suggestions.

    Runnerguy

    1. GregGibson | Apr 26, 2009 08:00pm | #17

      I run a lot of wire, little jobs for my rentals or the farm, big jobs like my flip houses and workshop - but the only wire I ever have left over in quantity seems to always be UF. Son-of-a-gun to strip and use, but I use it for every application that requires a short run, inside or out. Hate gray romex. Greg

  7. jimjimjim | Apr 26, 2009 10:32pm | #18

    Runner,

    I'd replace the short cable with another that would make the distance.  But I'd have another use for 50' of UF.

    I generally agree with Reno and Fret, but for your fish pond pump I'd recommend you buy a splice kit and bury the splice.  Leave some slack at the splice point.  Pull a tape to 2 corners of your house or to other landmarks so you can find the splice in the future in the slight chance you lose connectivity.  Note the depth as well.

    Good luck,

      --Jim x 3

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