Depth for GFCI protected circuit underground. opinion

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AC\DC

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Florence,Oregon,Lane
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EC
So I have a long Trench job and it has to be done by hand. location of trench is just in her yard running through flower bed. I generally Put my GFCI protection in the panel. Though I always go 18" just from habit. Would you feel safe at 12" don't know how I feel about that, would save some time. and easy on back.
 
Assuming this is a residential application, Column 4 of Table 300.5 specifically permits the 12" where the GFCI protects the cable in the trench.
 
Sorry was not more detailed. Yes I will be using 12-2 UF and it is residential following under the " all location not specified" column 4.
electrofelon said:
You can go 6" with RGS or IMC......
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I have none about that but never really done it before. I live on the coast so almost everything I use is PVC.

I never went less than 18" before was wondering what you felt about 12" depth for in someone's garden.
 
AC\DC said:
Sorry was not more detailed. Yes I will be using 12-2 UF and it is residential following under the " all location not specified" column 4.

I have none about that but never really done it before. I live on the coast so almost everything I use is PVC.

I never went less than 18" before was wondering what you felt about 12" depth for in someone's garden.
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Although I despise most burial depth requirements, thru a garden may be one of those situations where common sense comes into play and RGS/IMC or increased depth is prudent.....
 
In my opinion, if it’s a 120V GFCI protected circuit. Depth should be at your discretion, considering it’s a garden bed, I would at least go 12”.
 
I hate trenching so I almost always install rigid conduit which only has to be buried 6" as others have said. Small diameter rigid bends easily with a hand bender. You can actually charge less because even though the pipe is more expensive, you save a lot of trenching time. IMC (if you can find it) is even easier to bend.
 
Coppersmith said:
I hate trenching so I almost always install rigid conduit which only has to be buried 6" as others have said. Small diameter rigid bends easily with a hand bender. You can actually charge less because even though the pipe is more expensive, you save a lot of trenching time.
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Yes and with the brown bed edger with a 1" rotor, perfect size for 3/4 RGS/IMC. Super low impact, literally push the dirt back in with your foot. I ran a 1900 foot line through my woods with it.

BedEdger

brownproducts.com brownproducts.com
 
Coppersmith said:
If you are referring to the use of rigid at 6" depth, not true. Rigid pipe can be buried at 6" regardless of how many circuits it contains or the voltage (up 600 or 1000 volts, I'm not sure)
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Sounds more like he was responding the the OP. But you're correct RMC can be used for more than 120 volts and more than 20 amps at only 6" of burial depth.
 
While the 12" depth is legal in or out of a flower bed, if I was in a flower bed I would protect it with something.

It is true that you could install it 12" down outside the flower bed and as soon as you leave the driveway it becomes a flower bed.

If it was me I would go down 12" in IMC or RMC in the flower bed.....a sleeve and go Uf on the ends. I guess then you would have to ground the metal pipe which shouldn't be hard.

UF meets code .....just makes me feel better
 
I’m not sure about all of the concern because of a flower bed. I’ve never seen anyone dig a foot deep when planting flowers.
 
If there is a concern with only 12" of depth in a flower bed then bury a marker tape above the UF cable.
 
In instances where I've felt a little extra protection is a good thing even when the trench depth met minimums (flower bed or the like), I've buried cheap concrete pavers over the PVC pipe as I've filled in the trench. A paver aught to stop a shovel or garden spade. They're less than $0.50 each at Home Depot. Cheap insurance.


SceneryDriver
 
SceneryDriver said:
In instances where I've felt a little extra protection is a good thing even when the trench depth met minimums (flower bed or the like), I've buried cheap concrete pavers over the PVC pipe as I've filled in the trench. A paver aught to stop a shovel or garden spade. They're less than $0.50 each at Home Depot. Cheap insurance.


SceneryDriver
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That's a good idea
 
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