Originally posted by Bill Addiss:
xformer,
Welcome to the Forum.
If you do as DS says and protect your UF cable with a GFCI before going underground you can save yourself a little digging. You'll only need 12 inches of cover by code.
Bill
I'm sorry if I am not properly responding to this topic but a closer look into the code is in order here. As my company wires over 250 swimming pools a year in a multi-jurisdictional tri-state area a better understanding of direct burial is in order here. NEC 300-5 states that direct buriel i.e. UF cable must be 24" covered not 18". If THHN in PVC conduit is used 18" is permitted. Concrete encasement does diminish this by 6" either way. The exception is only if the circuit is GFCI protected from the panel and not at the pump. The easiest method is to use #12 THNN in IMC or RIDGID conduit where 6" buriel is all that is needed. A foutain pump on 120 requires GFI protection on residential use. If the pump is 240 hard wire it requires no GFI protection on residential usage.
