Electricity and water trench

[atregent]

Hi all,

I'm planning a greenhouse and want to get power and water to it.

Can the electrical conduit share a trench with the PVC water supply? And can the electrical cable share a conduit with a cat5 data cable?

I'm not going to be doing the elec or plumbing work myself, but since I'll be digging the trench and paying for condiut, I'd like to economise as much as I can!

[Cliff Rogers]

Yes & No.

Power must be at least 600mm below the surface & in an orange conduit.
Data must be in a different conduit (usually white I think but may have to be the grey stuff 'cos it is to be buried) & should be separated from the power by a distance that I can't remember off the top of my head, 150mm I think.
It the Data is to be rated for telecommunications, it should also be 600mm down so your power needs to be deeper still.
The water can be up the top & from memory only needs to be 150mm down. (I think)

[atregent]

Thanks Cliff.

The data is only for a PC, or some basic monitoring things. But, If i'm going to dig 600mm, I may as well go 750 and do it right (in case I ever want to put a phone in the greenhouse...?)

[Cliff Rogers]

That should be 800mm deep for 25mm conduit. :;

[Ausyuppy]

Hi Atregent,
Ive got some good news for you......you only need to dig a 600mm trench. :)

Tech standard 9 (http://www.acif.org.au/__data/page/15836/S009_2006r.pdf) is the best reference in regards to comms cables

Comms cables can share the same trench as LV (Low Voltage <1000v AC / 1500v DC) if there is an insulative barrier between the two, ie conduit. The electrical conduit needs to be orange at a depth of 600mm and the comms cable must be in a white conduit, or a conduit with an impregnated white stripe. Avoid the following colours as they have other meanings see para 8.3 of reference,
- Orange
- Grey
- Yellow
- Brown
- Violet
- Light Blue

The depths required are; (see para 18.6)
- 450mm for public footways / roadways
- 300mm everywhere else
- Can be buried under 50mm of concrete IF you cannot dig 300mm due to rock.

Make sure you use correct outdoor cabling even though it will be in conduit, as conduit does leak and your cable will deteriorate.

Anymore questions, dont hesitate to contact me, but the reference above should have all the answers, but it is a bugger to read.

Cheers
Steve

[Cliff Rogers]

Thanks Steve, you can lay off the send button now. :D

[Ausyuppy]

haha, no worries.

I had this problem http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?p=434074#post434074 .

Ozwinner fixed it for me, just waiting for the extra posts to be deleted. :)

Cheers
Steve

[TheDocta72]

You will need to run a "gel filled" or "dry core" cat5 if its to be run underground :)

[peter_sm]

I just used a cordless phone and wireless alarm sensors in the garage and didn't put a data/ phone cable. I understand you may want to use it to have a PC running water timers etc, so that makes sense.

[atregent]

You will need to run a "gel filled" or "dry core" cat5 if its to be run underground :)

Ah yes, it's all coming back to me now (I was once an industrial security system installer, many moons ago). The cable we used had powder inside that was supposed to absorb any moisture and protect the cable.


I just used a cordless phone and wireless alarm sensors in the garage and didn't put a data/ phone cable. I understand you may want to use it to have a PC running water timers etc, so that makes sense.

I'm not planning on running anything in there at the moment, but I figure while I'm digging a trench and running cables, I may as well run a couple of cat5s as well. Just in case.