So I am refurbishing a 50 metre long concrete path.
I am burying:
- NYY cable run for water pump
- NYY cable run for outbuilding
- NYY cable run for lighting
- 2 * PVC water pipes for water to and from pump
The outbuilding is already connected to electricity, so it's just a case of burying the cable, and the water pump is already in place. However I don't have lighting in place for the path, and I haven't really thought about it yet.
So my question is this sensible? Do I need to install some kind of junction boxes so it's easy to connect the cable up to subsequent lighting posts? (I have a second outbuilding that's not connected to electricity currently, I guess this might need a connection subsequently).
Best Answer
In my opinion the best thing to do with "intention of future..." is empty conduit. Under NEC rules, 18" deep unless protected by various means (such as a concrete path on top) which alter the required burial depth. Your local rules may vary, since I also don't recognize "NYY" as a cable type I'm familiar with in North America.
Buried cable is making a bet that you guessed right. Conduit lets you guess right about where it goes, without concern about the actual wiring until you get to that point, and you can change it out later if need be, without having to dig the trench again.
I like to add at least one more conduit than I know what I'm using them for - conduit is cheap, trenches are expensive.