Repairing underwater connections.

[markebenson]

I need to replace a 10 ft underground section of schedule 80 pvc going to a boat dock. When the water level is high enough you can dig a hole and it will fill up with water in this location. The repair must be able to survive this. What materials do you suggest I use to make the connections?

thanks

 

[electrofelon]

I need to replace a 10 ft underground section of schedule 80 pvc going to a boat dock. When the water level is high enough you can dig a hole and it will fill up with water in this location. The repair must be able to survive this. What materials do you suggest I use to make the connections?

thanks

If your concern is keep the repair watertight, I wouldnt worry about it. Many/most underground raceway systems are filled with water due to non watertight joints and/or condensation.

 

[ptonsparky]

I agree, water in the conduit is normal. I am surprised we don't have more conductor damage due to ice when it freezes at ground level.

 

[markebenson]

I agree, water in the conduit is normal. I am surprised we don't have more conductor damage due to ice when it freezes at ground level.

I made a similar repair with an outdoor lb connector before and 3 weeks later salt walter had gotten inside and destroyed the connections. This is why i ask.

 

[petersonra]

I made a similar repair with an outdoor lb connector before and 3 weeks later salt walter had gotten inside and destroyed the connections. This is why i ask.

any conduit underground or underwater will get water in it.

they do make some splice kits that are waterproof that could have been used if it was just a splice.

the conduit won't care if it gets wet though.

 

[markebenson]

any conduit underground or underwater will get water in it.

they do make some splice kits that are waterproof that could have been used if it was just a splice.

the conduit won't care if it gets wet though.

I have a friend thats used a kit that was said to be waterproof but turned out to be only water resistant and had a similar problem as me. Normal situations I agree it does not matter but property with waterway behind is different. Sometimes if you dig a hole only 12 in deep it is full of water depending on the conditions. I would guess that if you want to buy a splice kit you should evaluate the ip rating of the kit?

I am thinking that i will cut the pvc pipe back and make a splice, solder the connection and heat shrink the connection then slip new pvc over the connection, cement as usual.

Thoughts welcome!

 

[petersonra]

I have a friend thats used a kit that was said to be waterproof but turned out to be only water resistant and had a similar problem as me. Normal situations I agree it does not matter but property with waterway behind is different. Sometimes if you dig a hole only 12 in deep it is full of water depending on the conditions. I would guess that if you want to buy a splice kit you should evaluate the ip rating of the kit?

I am thinking that i will cut the pvc pipe back and make a splice, solder the connection and heat shrink the connection then slip new pvc over the connection, cement as usual.

Thoughts welcome!

you are not understanding what we are telling you.

nothing that you do is going to keep water out of the conduit, so don't even try.

what you need to make waterproof is the wire splice because inevitably eventually it will be sitting in water. what you are suggesting will not waterproof the splice. Buy a waterproof splice kit. I think sometimes they are called submersible pump splice kits. Your local electrical supply house will have them.

 

[Chamuit]

Without know the whole scenario, would it be easier to remove the wire replace the damaged conduit and re-pull the wire. At the least, pull the wire to a level above the water saturation point?

 

[Ponchik]

Regardless of the water issue, as mentioned earlier you underground/underwater conduit will fill up with water.

On a second note, If I understand correctly, you are splicing a damaged conductor and the splice will be left in the conduit?

 

[ptonsparky]

Regardless of the water issue, as mentioned earlier you underground/underwater conduit will fill up with water.

On a second note, If I understand correctly, you are splicing a damaged conductor and the splice will be left in the conduit?

In a heartbeat. Not very many of my ag customers want me to replace 1500 feet of 350 kcmil just because of a splice.

 

[Ponchik]

In a heartbeat. Not very many of my ag customers want me to replace 1500 feet of 350 kcmil just because of a splice.

I would think you make your splice in a box not in the conduit.

 

[KnightPower]

So I totally agree with making the splice waterproof and there "exist" such a thing.. but id splice in a quazite box with splice pointed up, waterproofed and siliconed maybe taped. Or theres the option of backing up and pole mounting a 3R enclosure (w/o knowing lay of land) with weep holes..

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[ptonsparky]

I would think you make your splice in a box not in the conduit.

And bury the box three feet down or make them farm around it?

 

[kwired]

In a heartbeat. Not very many of my ag customers want me to replace 1500 feet of 350 kcmil just because of a splice.

Same here.

I would think you make your splice in a box not in the conduit.

You need to put that box at least 3 feet deep or it will get trashed by farming equipment.

And bury the box three feet down or make them farm around it?

If you fixed it today, they will farm around it right now when they are planting, if it don't get damaged by other operations before harvest, by fall it will have either crops or weeds hiding it and will get trashed by harvest equipment, you know that as well as I do, but edward must not know that.

Quazite box will not stop a 300+ HP tractor pulling any soil tilling type of equipment, it will catch a conductor(s) and pull it and parts of the equipment it terminates in right through the raceway and leave it laying on the ground in the middle of the field, had to fix such things several times in the past.

 

[KnightPower]

Thought we were talking marina not farmland.. there are numerous better fixes but the air gap should keep water at bay til worse conditions. If theres earth moving equipment please advise. I could kick in a quazite box btw.

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[Ponchik]

And bury the box three feet down or make them farm around it?

I have not been around farm electrical, So I guess that is the way it is.

 

[kwired]

I have not been around farm electrical, So I guess that is the way it is.

It is the way it is. If you damage that 1500 foot long line going out to an irrigation well and your price to fix it includes installing all new conductors, you will not get the job or ever work for that guy again if the next guy only patches it in place. Either way you don't bring anything out in the field to a point above three feet below grade or it will get damaged by normal farming activity as some point in time. They do sometimes pull what they call a ripper through a field, and it can be up to nearly 24 inches deep. It is just a chisel plow that cuts a groove in the soil to let in air, water, fertilizer, etc. instead of just letting them sit on the surface. When applying anhydrous ammonia they inject the ammonia into the same hole right behind the plow teeth and the ammonia clings to moisture in the soil.

 

[kwired]

I need to replace a 10 ft underground section of schedule 80 pvc going to a boat dock. When the water level is high enough you can dig a hole and it will fill up with water in this location. The repair must be able to survive this. What materials do you suggest I use to make the connections?

thanks

Can use about any splicing method you want, but seal it with heavy walled shrink tube that has a sealant on the inner walls.

When I first read this I though you were maybe needing to make the splice while it is under water - that could be tricky, but I don't think that is what you were looking for after further reading.

If the run is not long like the 1500 foot run mentioned to an well in the middle of farm ground, your best bet is to pull new unspliced conductors. Is it a 10 foot run or is there 10 feet of a longer run that is damaged? If it is only a 10 foot run it will cost you more to splice it then it will to replace it.

 

[big john]

I agree replacement should be your first option.

But if you really feel compelled to bury a splice then use crimps and a couple layers of marine-grade 600V heat shrink. Stagger the sleeve ends so each layer seals to the conductor.

I don't like the solder idea, seems more likely to fail.

Also, be a pal and put a note for the next guy on one of the terminations to explain why these can't be repulled.

 

[markebenson]

you are not understanding what we are telling you.

nothing that you do is going to keep water out of the conduit, so don't even try.

what you need to make waterproof is the wire splice because inevitably eventually it will be sitting in water. what you are suggesting will not waterproof the splice. Buy a waterproof splice kit. I think sometimes they are called submersible pump splice kits. Your local electrical supply house will have them.

Thank you for your input.

I went to Rexel and City electric today and the both offered the kit in the photo. This is the same worthless kit that only lasted 3 weeks on the other job. It says it is waterproof but it lists no IP rating. That one was used with burial wire but you are saying the conduit will fill with water anyway so i will have the same problem. Unless you can direct me to a particular part # with a ip 68 rating I am looking at doing a repull then.