In ground splice box

Status
Not open for further replies.
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
Scenario
I went to a job the other day and the builder had a beautifully dug trench about 24-30 inches deep. The run was about 200 feet. The problem there are 7 90 degree bends in the run. I will need to run #4 copper to the separate structure from the house. I installed 1 1/4" pvc and stubbed up for a box halfway thru the bends.

The Question

I want to use an inground splice box. All I can find are these 200-250 dollar boxes that are metal. I have seen some boxes that are nema 6P that are all PVC. Can these boxes be installed in ground? If not what can I use?

I guess I am looking for recommendations.

I realize I could have used USE cable but I didn't want to for various reasons. I was going to use UF cable but no one stocked it and the trench was ready. So it is what it is. Any suggestions-- I have never had to do this. The kicker is they could have done the trench with 3 90's if they did what I asked them to do.
 
electricalperson said:
how about using a green flower pot or hand hole box?
Click to expand...

I am not sure what is legal. Can I install a standard PVC weathproof box and set it in the ground if I build a hand hole around it? or does it need be a specific box fo that purpose?
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I am not sure what is legal. Can I install a standard PVC weathproof box and set it in the ground if I build a hand hole around it? or does it need be a specific box fo that purpose?
Click to expand...
ive done that method before and never had a problem with inspectors. heres a link to the boxes i w as talking about http://www.americantechsupply.com/highplastic.htm

just use weatherproof wirenuts and you wont have a problem. the power company around here requires us to use the green plastic hdpe boxes for underground services.

maybe you can get a concrete enclosure with a solid bottom

another problem might be actually supporting the pvc box inside the handhole. i used galvanized angle iron screwed to the side and never had a code issue with inspectors on that.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I am not sure what is legal. Can I install a standard PVC weathproof box and set it in the ground if I build a hand hole around it? or does it need be a specific box fo that purpose?
Click to expand...


Why do you want a box? just do a hand hole and be done with it... http://www.newbasis.com/
plasticsbiggray.jpg



And one of these.. IDEAL
thermo-shrink_splices.jpg
 
Last edited:
Dennis Alwon said:
Scenario


The Question

I want to use an inground splice box. All I can find are these 200-250 dollar boxes that are metal.
Click to expand...




You have stub up's . Are they coming all the way out of the ground? If so you don't need an in ground box. Just one suited for wet locations. Mount a plastic box on a 4x4 or two.
An in ground box would be rare because a box is suppose to be accessible.

You should have used #2 AL. direct burial. But you know that already.



Okay, I write slow. You can get one of those green boxes from the posted link at the big box store. I thought they we're for water meters
 
Last edited:
buckofdurham said:
You have stub up's . Are they coming all the way out of the ground? If so you don't need an in ground box. Just one suited for wet locations. Mount a plastic box on a 4x4 or two.
An in ground box would be rare because a box is suppose to be accessible.

You should have used #2 AL. direct burial. But you know that already.
Click to expand...
i dont like direct burying triplex. incase theres ever a problem you need to dig it all up and start over. i always sleeve my triplex in DB.
 
buckofdurham said:
You have stub up's . Are they coming all the way out of the ground? If so you don't need an in ground box. Just one suited for wet locations. Mount a plastic box on a 4x4 or two.
An in ground box would be rare because a box is suppose to be accessible.

You should have used #2 AL. direct burial. But you know that already.
Click to expand...

I deliberately didn't use aluminum-- I hate aluminum and the HO didn't want it either.

We also don't want the box above grade- yuck.

stickboy said:
Why do you want a box, just do a hand hole and be done with it...
Click to expand...

I actually hadn't thought about that-- I guess it would be legal with thhn since it is not buried in the ground.

Any idea of cost? And how would you size these boxes?
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I deliberately didn't use aluminum-- I hate aluminum and the HO didn't want it either.


I would rather have AL not spliced in the ground.
Rather then copper spliced in a "ground box" that will most likely fill up with water.
Click to expand...
 
See 314.30. Answers all your questions. Pay close attention to (C) as the wet location terminations for a #4 are not cheap.
 
buckofdurham said:
Dennis Alwon said:
I deliberately didn't use aluminum-- I hate aluminum and the HO didn't want it either.


I would rather have AL not spliced in the ground.
Rather then copper spliced in a "ground box" that will most likely fill up with water.
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats why you provide drainage and the splice has to be rated for WET location anyhow.
Click to expand...
 
sort of off topic but i recently had to troubleshoot some low voltage landscaping lighting that didnt work. the original person who installed it (probably a landscaper) put the flower pot too low and put sod over it. luckily i had a good circuit tracer that was able to locate where the splices were.
 
mdshunk said:
Use a Quazite box. For a couple 1-1/4" pipes, a box suitably sized would only be about 40 bucks.
Click to expand...

I am in total agreement with Marc...for the $......I have used them and recommended them on a strange site lighting job today as a matter of fact.
 
dcspector said:
I am in total agreement with Marc...for the $......I have used them and recommended them on a strange site lighting job today as a matter of fact.
Click to expand...


i have never seen a quazite box under 100 bucks, a 12x12x12 is $112 my cost... they are too expensive for residential IMO.
 
stickboy1375 said:
i have never seen a quazite box under 100 bucks, a 12x12x12 is $112 my cost... they are too expensive for residential IMO.
Click to expand...
I guess it might come down to popularity. I can get little one's for as little as 20 bucks. The 12x12x12 you spec'd is the one I said I get for about 40 bucks. I do see a lot of guys leaving the supply house with the green plastic one's lately, though. Some of them are only about 9 bucks.
 
mdshunk said:
I guess it might come down to popularity. I can get little one's for as little as 20 bucks. The 12x12x12 you spec'd is the one I said I get for about 40 bucks. I do see a lot of guys leaving the supply house with the green plastic one's lately, though. Some of them are only about 9 bucks.
Click to expand...


yep, I can get a 10x10 round for $14.50 from newbasis...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top