UF-B underground feeder cable is electrical wire that can be buried directly in the ground, with or without conduit. It is typically used as a feeder or branch circuit cable to extend electrical service underground from a main building to a secondary facility.

Which type of wiring is best for underground cables?

THWN-2 wire, for example, is a standard type for running through underground conduit. Use thick-walled conduit at least 3/4 inch in diameter for this application. Never use thin-wall EMT conduit for underground applications. Running wire through Schedule 40 PVC conduit.

What kind of wire can be buried underground?





Common types of cables with a copper conductor suitable for direct burial are USE-2, UF-B Underground Feeder Cable, and Tracer Wire. Aluminum URD Direct Burial Wire is the most commonly used direct burial aluminum wire.

Does underground feeder cable need to be in conduit?

Underground Wiring Requirements – How Deep Do I Bury the Wire? Use direct-burial underground feeder cable at 24-inches deep (or more). You don’t need to use conduit at this depth with UF cable, however, you do need to provide PVC conduit on your vertical feeds starting at 18-inches.

What type of cable is used for feeders?

Type MC cables are widely used in 600 volt and MV power, lighting and control applications. They are permitted for use on services, feeders and branch circuits for power, lighting, control and signaling circuits in accordance with Article 330 and 725 of the NEC.

What is underground feeder cable?

UF-B underground feeder cable is electrical wire that can be buried directly in the ground, with or without conduit. It is typically used as a feeder or branch circuit cable to extend electrical service underground from a main building to a secondary facility.

How deep should cable be buried?





36 inches

Direct buried cables or cables in flexible nonmetallic enclosures shall be installed at a depth of at least 36 inches.

What kind of wire can I run underground without conduit?

Direct Burial rated wire

Direct Burial rated wire is approved to be run in the earth in accordance with the National Electric Code (NEC), usually without the use of conduit to surround it. The combination of the insulation material and its thickness keeps out moisture and other harsh factors to protect the wires inside.

Can I bury outdoor wire without conduit?



Exposed or buried wiring must be listed for its application. (Type UF cable is the most commonly used nonmetallic cable for residential outdoor wiring runs.) UF cable can be direct buried (without conduit) with a minimum of 24 inches of cover.

What size wire do I need for underground?

Sizing the wires, or conductors, for an underground cable is no different than sizing for other household circuits and is typically based on the total load, or electrical demand, of the devices on the circuit.
For 120-volt circuits:

14 AWG 50 feet
12 AWG 60 feet
10 AWG 64 feet
8 AWG 76 feet
6 AWG 94 feet

Where can you use a feeder cable?



Feeders or transmission lines are used to transfer RF signals from one point to another. They are used in many areas, one common example of an RF feeder is the coax or coaxial cable used to connect a television antenna to the television.

What is an electrical feeder line?

A feeder, or main power line, carries electricity from the substation to an FPL local/regional service area. These power lines are usually along major roads and thoroughfares. A primary feeder typically consists of three individual–phase wires and one neutral grounded wire.

Is flat conductor cable permitted for use as a feeder?

Flat conductor cable is recognized for use as feeder or branch-circuit conductors. Flat conductor cable is recognized for use as feeder or branch-circuit conductors. Open wiring on insulators is a type of wiring that is not permitted to be concealed by the building structure.

What types of conductors are approved for underground use?

Below is a list of aluminum wire and cable that can be used underground:

  • Quadruplex & Triplex Direct Burial Aluminum Underground Distribution Cable. Multi-Conductor Aluminum Cabe. Rated for Direct Burial. …
  • XLP/USE-2/RHH/RHW-2 Direct Burial Aluminum Building Wire. Single aluminum conductor. …
  • XHHW-2 Aluminum Building Wire.


Is se cable good for direct burial?

SE cables simply can’t be buried, conduit or no conduit.

Why is it preferable to use a single unbroken cable from the field device to the controller?

Terminations of this sort are prime areas for corrosion, loose connections, accidental shield grounding, and the introduction of electromagnetic noise. A single, unbroken cable from a field device to the controller or control system is always the most reliable solution.

What is the recommended minimum laying depth for LT underground cables?

depth for LT cable shall be 750 mm and for 11 kv & 33 kv, it will be 900 mm and 1200 mm respectively. if there is tier formation in trenches than the vertical clearance between 02 tiers shall be 300 mm.

How often do you have to support cable tray?



Cable trays shall be supported by mild steel galvanized brackets at regular intervals of 1.2mm maximum and at 255mm from bends and tees.

How far can cable tray span?

In its heaviest form, cable trays are very efficient bridges that can span long distances, up to 30 feet, and carry amazing loads.

Can you stack cables in cable tray?

Cables 250 kcmil to 1000 kcmil are not required to be installed in a single layer and are permitted to be stacked in multiple layers or bundled. For this reason Table 392.10(A) is used to determine cable tray width.

What is the difference between cable tray and cable ladder?

Generally, cable ladders are preferred for supporting high volume or heavy cabling, especially if there are long spans between supports. Cable trays are typically used for light weight cable support, in addition to instrumentation and tubing.