1. Plan your installation. The size of the conductors is primarily determined from the maximum load needed, the distance, and whether it is copper...

2. Obtain any necessary permits prior to continuing your installation. This may involve interaction with the inspections office where you may verif...

3. Determine which wiring method is the most desirable: direct burial of cable under soil or concrete, buried rigid or flexible metal or PVC electr...

4. Direct burial of type "UF" (underground feeder) cable under soil is probably the most common and least expensive method. It provides for hot(s),...

5. Select the proper diameter and number of conduits for your planned installation. There are charts or formulas in the electrical code to assist y...

6. After ensuring the minimum depth along the entire length, lay type "UF" cable in the trench. Place smooth rocks on top of the cable to keep any...

7. UF cable must be supported every 30–36 inches (76.2–91.4 cm); just like NM cable. It does not need to be supported in the trench. This cable mus...

8. Do NOT backfill the trench until the electrical inspector or "authority having jurisdiction" (AHJ) has checked the work.

9. Rigid or flexible conduit methods allow for adding circuits at will without the labor or expense of excavating again. By installing pipe a size...

10. A trench 18 inches (45.7 cm) deep minimum will generally be required for the pipe. Use "Schedule 40" PVC for the portion under soil, and "Sched...