How To Repair Underground Wire

Prepare Underground Wiring

Updated: Jun. 30, 2022

Make a splice that will last longer than the wire

FH08MAY_UNDWIR_02-2 Family Handyman

Accidentally cut an underground electrical wire? The easiest way to repair it is with an secret splice kit, which uses a rustproof connector to repair and seal the break.

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Assess the damage

If y'all're digging holes in your backyard, you should always call 811 a few days beforehand to mark all the hush-hush utilities. Unfortunately, privately owned wiring will not exist marked, so it's notwithstanding possible to strike an electric cable. It's specially probable if you're digging between the house and a freestanding garage, shed or yard light. If you do cut a electric line, though, it'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to set. Here's how.

Kickoff turn off power to the electrical device fed by the cleaved cable at the circuit panel. Then dig 12 in. on each side of the interruption in the wire and gingerly work your way to the cable. You'll detect the cable anywhere between 12 and 24 in. deep. When you locate the cable, use a noncontact voltage detector to ensure there'southward no power.

If you have a broken underground line and no clue where the interruption is, hire an electrician with an underground open/short locator. The electrician will exist able to locate and marker the underground cable, make up one's mind how deep the cable is buried and pinpoint within a few inches where the trouble exists.

Two Splice Kits

Underground Air conditioning splice kits come up in two varieties: heat-shrinkable tubing and gel-filled shield. Both use a brass splicing block to connect the wires. Just they differ in how they protect the splice.

The virtually mutual type of kit protects the splice with an 8-in. length of heat-shrinkable tubing filled with watertight hot-melt agglutinative. (The Gardner Bender HST-1300, available through our amalgamation with Amazon.com, is shown here). Slide the tubing over the cable before you connect the wires to the splice block. Then slide the tubing over the connector and shrink it with a heat gun (all-time) or a torch (gently!). The other type is a corrugated plastic shield filled with an encapsulating gel. (The Tyco Electronics PowerGel WrapAround UF Splice Kit, too available through Amazon.com, is one brand). Information technology'southward twice the cost, but information technology installs much faster, is goof-proof and is very long lasting.

Heat-shrinkable tubing repair

Hush-hush connector

Apply a splice block to set a severed cable.

Photograph 1: Join the wires

Insert the wires into the splice block connectors, making sure the colors match upward, then tighten the screws.

Photo 2: Seal the connection

Slide the rut-shrink tube over the connector. Use a heat gun to shrink it and seal the connectedness.

Replace the whole section of cable that y'all dug up with the same estimate UF (underground feeder) cable. Cut the cablevision about 12 in. on either side of the break. Then strip dorsum the sheathing ii in. and the wire insulation 5/8 in. Utilise two special surreptitious splice kits (sold at home centers) to connect the new cable section. Slide the heat shrink tube over one end of the cablevision, then connect the wires to the contumely connector (Photo ane). Do this on both ends of the new cable. Once the damaged cablevision is replaced and the wires are joined with connectors, slide the estrus-shrink tube over each connector (Photo two). Estrus the tube with a heat gun until information technology shrinks tight on the connector and sealant bubbles out the end.

Gel-filled splice kit repair

Photo 1: Twist and pull to separate

Take hold of each of the side conductors with pliers. Then twist your hands in contrary directions to showtime the tear. Pull the conductors 180 degrees away from each other to separate and betrayal a length of 1-1/2 in. Strip 3/iv in. of insulation off the black and white wires.

Photo two: Friction match the colors and splice

Slide the black wires into opposite ends of the contumely butt and tighten the screws. Then practice the same for the white and bare copper wires.

Photo three: Position the splice on the shield

Place the splice block dead-center over the gel-filled shield. Clean off any debris that may have fallen into the gel. And so press the splice into the gel.

Photo 4: Gyre and snap

Gyre the shield effectually the splice and align the plastic latches. Snap the latches, starting at the center and working toward the edges. So install the zip ties and tighten with pliers.

Photo 5: Mark the location

Tie bright-colored surveyor'due south tape around the splice and fill the hole with soil. Replace the grass and trim the tape at soil level and then you lot can discover it once more.

Starting time past cutting out the damaged sections. Then cut, separate and strip the ends of the buried cable (Photo i). Do the aforementioned for the boosted section of cable (if needed). Side by side, secure the wires in the brass holder (Photo 2). Locate the splice block in the protective shield (Photo 3). Wrap the shield around the splice and secure information technology (Photo iv). Then repower the excursion to make sure the splice works.

To make it easier to locate the splice in the future, mark it with bright-colored surveyor'south record (Photo 5). And then refill the hole.

Splicing Low-Voltage Cable

As well clandestine power cablevision, information technology's likewise possible to slice through low-voltage lighting, irrigation and telephone cable and coaxial cable. Since they're depression voltage, you may exist tempted to just twist the wires and wrap the splice with electric tape. It won't work. Instead, head to a home middle and go a couple of low-voltage connectors for direct burial. They rely on gel to encapsulate the splice to prevent water intrusion and corrosion.

For low-voltage stranded cablevision, similar you might notice on lighting, use the wire nut/gel-filled tube style. Twist on the wire nut, plunge the connector into the tube until the gel oozes out the top, then snap the lid. For solid irrigation and telephone wire, shove the wires in an insulation piercing gel-filled connector and snap information technology closed.

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY projection lined up earlier you first—you lot'll save time and frustration.

You'll besides demand a heat gun for the estrus-shrinkable tubing.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of fourth dimension. Here'south a list.

Originally Published: June xx, 2022