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Topic: Lamp Post

User: infinity, Location: New Jersey

Asked on: Friday, January 3, 2025 at 3:41 pm EST
Answered on: Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 6:55 am EST

Question: Anyone want to take a stab at this question?A lamp post at a dwelling is fed underground with a 120 volt, 15 amp GFCI protected circuit run under a driveway. What is the permitted wiring method?a) UF cable buried 12” deepb) PVC conduit buried 12” deepc) Rigid Metal Conduit buried 6” deepd) All of the abovee) a) or b)

Okay, let's break this down using the NEC (National Electrical Code). The key is underground wiring under a driveway and the type of wiring methods allowed. NEC Table 300.5 is what we need to consult. This table specifies minimum burial depths for different wiring methods and situations. UF Cable (Underground Feeder)

Table 300.5 requires UF cable to be buried 18 inches deep under a driveway. Therefore, option

a) UF cable buried 12” deep
is incorrect. PVC Conduit

Table 300.5 requires PVC to be buried 18 inches deep under a driveway. Therefore, option

b) PVC conduit buried 12” deep
is incorrect.
Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC)

Table 300.5 requires Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC) to be buried 6 inches deep under a driveway. Therefore, option

c) Rigid Metal Conduit buried 6” deep
is correct. d) All of the above is incorrect as not all options are correct. e) a) or b) is incorrect as both options are incorrect.

Therefore, the correct answer is c) Rigid Metal Conduit buried 6” deepImportant Considerations



Local Codes

Always check local codes and amendments. Local jurisdictions can have more stringent requirements than the NEC.


GFCI Protection

The question states the circuit is GFCI protected, which is good practice for outdoor circuits.*

Underground Wiring Safety:
Proper installation is critical to prevent damage to the wiring and ensure safety. This includes proper backfilling to protect the conduit/cable. Flag for review

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