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Buried PVC conduit question

56K views 26 replies 17 participants last post by  zen 
#1 ·
My father in law is building a garage next to his house and wants to put in a 50amp subpanel in the garage. What is the depth that the conduit has to be buried? I looked at 300.5 and it is sort of vague. Any help would be appreciated. His neighbor already ran the conduit from the house to the garage and its only down about 8" (1 1/2"). This doesn't seem right to me.

Oh, and is a subpanel considered a "service" as far as the code goes?
 
#5 ·
It really depends on the conduit. I seriously doubt that they ran Rigid but if they did then the 8.5' is enough unless it is under the driveway. I bet the neighbor is not a licensed guy.
 
#4 ·
I don't see how T300.5 can be called vague. You simply draw two lines.... a vertical one in line with Type of Wiring Method or Circuit, and a horizontal one along Location of Wiring Method or Circuit. Where they meet is your answer.
 
#13 ·
That is a messy trench. I use to work with some operators that could step the trench, and excavate it so that it looked like it was done with a knife. Granted, It looks like the dirt is very soft, but it could have a better bevel.

~Matt
 
#15 · (Edited)
Thanks for the replies. My father in laws neighbor is not an electrician, and my FIL isn't getting anything electrical in the garage now. He is just getting the conduit from the house to the garage before everything is backfilled. He is getting it inspected before it is covered. It didnt' seem deep enough to me, so I thought I would ask some people that would know more than me. I am not an installation type electrician. I guess you could call me a repair man; i work on DC cranes, VFD's, PLC's, and motor controls.

On another note; does the garage need its own ground rod, or not?
 
#20 ·
My father in law is building a garage next to his house and wants to put in a 50amp subpanel in the garage. What is the depth that the conduit has to be buried? I looked at 300.5 and it is sort of vague. Any help would be appreciated. His neighbor already ran the conduit from the house to the garage and its only down about 8" (1 1/2"). This doesn't seem right to me.

Oh, and is a subpanel considered a "service" as far as the code goes?
Look @ Column 3 on Table 300.5 Nonmetallic raceways listed for direct burial without concrete encasement or other approved raceways. The depth is 18". Thats if you are using PVC.
 
#27 ·
honestly?because the job was providing power to a new atm at a bank and i just wanted it to pass inspection and honestly cause i didnt know there was pvc coated ridged,,here in texas most of the time we bury everything 24 in. schedule 80 and call it done
 
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