[ksguy]

I've got a permanent above ground pool that I'm running electrical for. There's already electrical at the deck next to the pool, but I need to run about 40' from the box on the deck to a box for the pump at the far side of the pool.

I've built a short (14") retaining wall from limestone boulders, with a trench drain behind it that isn't backfilled yet. The wall extends basically the entire run that I need to make.

I have on hand 12/2 UF-B cable and a bunch of 3/4" liquid tight flexible conduit. My original plan was to run the cable in the conduit for the whole run but I've learned that this stuff is way too stiff for that.

Is it acceptable to run the cable I have at the base behind the retaining wall before I backfill? It will be alongside perforated drain tubing, and actual burial depth will be about 12". I'd still use conduit where the cable enters and exits the earth.

Side question, how close to the ground can a junction box be?

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[surferdude2]

There is no code for j-box to grade. As for the cover for various types of conduit and cable, see the attached table.

 

[ksguy]

Since this isn't rigid it sounds like I'd be stuck going down to 24”, same as with no conduit. Bummer. Thanks for the info though.

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[seharper]

It’s not “way too stiff to pull”, at least if you are building your conduit correctly. (Accessible access points, sweeps where curves cannot be accessible, etc., and finishing conduit assembly before pulling any wires).

What is it, is “rather stiff compared to stranded THHN which is what you should be using”.

It’s still pullable, just, you’ll need a reasonable supply of swear words.

This is why I say “Buy the wire LAST”. Everyone has this same thing happen: in the course of doing their research they find a different wire would be a better fit.

 

[ksguy]

This is why I say “Buy the wire LAST”. Everyone has this same thing happen: in the course of doing their research they find a different wire would be a better fit.

The plight of the homeowner doing their own work.

I learned this morning that the NEC is now free to browse online and found that based on my install, I am OK with 12 inches of cover over just the direct burial wire so long as the whole line is protected with GFCI, and I'm replacing the inside breaker with a dual purpose AFCI/GFCI breaker so I think I'm set.

 

[anyacolo]

Is it acceptable to run the cable I have at the base behind the retaining wall before I backfill? It will be alongside perforated drain tubing, and actual burial depth will be about 12". I'd still use conduit where the cable enters and exits the earth.

if it was my own house, and my own property, i would do it