

This is the case when the rating does not truly reflect the circumstances. Metal conduits could be helpful and area common choice for burying THWN.ĭo note that you should never use a conduit that is too thin, such as EMT, even though it might be rated for direct burial. The material from which the conduit is made is also a concern. One thing that should be considered is that you need to use an appropriate type of conduit and adhere to all the rules of burying the wires in conduit, especially when it comes to the distance at which you place the conduit underground. When it comes to THWN- yes, indeed, it can be placed in conduit, and there are no issues with it at all. Can a THHN/THWN wire be placed in a buried conduit? If you are not sure about a specific type of conduit, always check applicable regulations, including your local ones. Whatever you do, never use EMT conduit as it will not survive the conditions of direct burial. If you go for a non-metallic conduit, you may consider encasing it in at least three inches of concrete. The type of conduit you also use matters, as you cannot simply go for a thin one, it will be damaged in no time. Therefore, always check the label and make sure that the cable is double-listed as THHN/THWN-2. The cable with only a THHN rating will not last long in the conduit underground because of the degrading soil impact. Please note that the cable you bury in conduit should have a THWN-2 rating and not just THHN because it is supposed to be waterproof. If you are thinking of a wire similar to THHN/THWN-2 for direct burial, the obvious suggestion is UF-B. The confusing idea that THHN or THWN-2 can be directly buried stems from the fact that UF-B wires from some producers are sometimes double-listed as THHN or THWN-2. UF-B and USE-2 are the standard direct burial cables. THHN and THWN-2 Copper Building Wire is only approved to be buried in conduct, as it lacks the characteristics that would make it eligible for direct burial.
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You may also want to approach a professional electrician to establish a clear plan suitable for your particular circumstances.

Still, if you think that you do, it is best to analyze all aspects of your electrical project, including the state of the soil, the overall cost, and other possible concerns. It would be best to be mindful that installing a conduit will make your electrical project more expensive and more challenging to handle in installation and the work required.Īll in all, you do not need direct burial cables with the conduit in most cases. However, in most cases, the additional protection of the conduit is not required, and a direct burial cable performs amazingly by itself. In short, a conduit makes sense if the cable needs extra protection. Installing the wire in the duct might also be needed because of the local regulations that may sometimes differ from the standard requirements imposed by the National Electrical Code. If you deal with an incredibly challenging electrical project, installing the conduit cable may help it run more efficiently.Īll of these possible benefits genuinely depend on the particular requirements related to your electrical project, such as the state of the soil, etc. It also offers an easier way to locate the cable if it is in need of service, even though a competent installation is enough to find the cable most of the time. The clear benefit of doing so is that the conduct can help to withstand the challenging environmental conditions better.
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Theoretically, you can, of course, install a direct burial cable in a conduit, but you have first to ask yourself why. The wires buried in the conduit are not suitable for direct burial because of their construction, so the conduit helps to use them for underground purposes. These cables have the construction that guarantees perfect soil and water resistance to operate under the ground for years as long as they are correctly installed. The term ''direct burial'' means that the cable can be installed directly into the ground without the conduit. No, direct burial cables do not need conduit for cable. Does a direct burial cable need a conduit? Here is the compilation of the three most common questions our customers ask on our 24/7 chat regarding burying electrical cables. Most of them are related to the mistaken notions about the ways of burying THHN/ THWN electrical wires.

Yet, there are many misconceptions and mistakes when it comes to burying cables underground. Whether in a DIY project or a professional application, direct burial is one of the most common processes when it comes to the electrical project.
