Electrical Question

[tribe_fan]

You need to find out what the code is in you area - I cant imagine getting deep enough with a pressure washer to satisfy the "depth rule" of outdoor wire that is not in PVC. I think it is 12 -18 inches. (note: I hope you used outdooor rated wire !!)

With PCV you can go much less. I want to say 6 inches, but I'm not sure.

I also agree with the other posters - I think the whole outdoor run should be GFI protected. But a GFI outlet offers just as much protection (to devices "downstream" as a GFI breaker).

[Poolidiot]

I will throw my 2 cents in on this topic, I am a Master Electrician and my advice would be for wiring around a pool you protect the WHOLE circuit not just the outlet(if the GFI outlet does trip then the outlet is dead NOT the wire, the wire would still be hot at the outlet, with the whole circuit protected with a GFI breaker then when it trips the whole circuit from the breaker is dead). 3" is NOT deep enough, code wise or saftey wise and you did say kids were involved right? I would also put the wire in conduit (PVC) also for safety reasons. Think of it this way...what cost more? renting a ditcher that will dig rock or having a small child or anyone for that matter getting hurt all because you didnt want to rent the equipment to do it right?

[CarlD]

I will throw my 2 cents in on this topic, I am a Master Electrician and my advice would be for wiring around a pool you protect the WHOLE circuit not just the outlet(if the GFI outlet does trip then the outlet is dead NOT the wire, the wire would still be hot at the outlet, with the whole circuit protected with a GFI breaker then when it trips the whole circuit from the breaker is dead). 3" is NOT deep enough, code wise or saftey wise and you did say kids were involved right? I would also put the wire in conduit (PVC) also for safety reasons. Think of it this way...what cost more? renting a ditcher that will dig rock or having a small child or anyone for that matter getting hurt all because you didnt want to rent the equipment to do it right?

Amen to that! Pools are darn dangerous things--you can't cheat or cut ANY corners on ANYTHING!

If anything goes horribly wrong, at a minimum 2 lives will be ruined--the person hurt, and yours--Plus everybody in both your lives. It's just not worth it.

I love my pool--I LOVE pools, but you gotta respect them.

[huskyrider]

3" is NOT deep enough, code wise or saftey wise and you did say kids were involved right? I would also put the wire in conduit (PVC) also for safety reasons. Think of it this way...what cost more? renting a ditcher that will dig rock or having a small child or anyone for that matter getting hurt all because you didnt want to rent the equipment to do it right?

I COMPLETELY agree with this.

I don't just apply this to underground near pools or ponds, I do it to all underground installations.

I've never ran, and never will run, UF Romex underground without placing it in conduit. The only wire I'll ever run without conduit is low voltage lamp wiring.

You could easily take a flat head shovel and waller your little trench wide enough for some 1/2" A&U (Grey sch 40 above and underground) electrical conduit without impacting the yard.

The risk of your install may seem slight but it isn't. I've hit more unprotected underground wire, with a shovel, in a lifetime of building pools than you could ever imagine. It always seems to be that the current homeowner had no idea where the electrical devices outdoors wiring laid in the yard.
Your friend may know where the energized wire is today, but I'm sure that they won't be telling the new buyer of the property at the title company during closing the sale to a new owner.


just my .02

see ya,
Kelly

[CliffTex]

Thanks for all the input! Looks like I have a spring project coming up...

[Steamer]

If you are going to go with 10 or even 12 gauge wire I would recommend using at least 3/4 inch PVC conduit, I just finished pulling 10 gauge wire through 1/2 inch PVC and it was a royal pain.