With the right equipment and some knowledge, running an electrical conduit beneath a sidewalk can be a fairly simple project. For digging a tunnel under a sidewalk or driveway, commercial tools are available, but homemade tools can be used almost as effectively.
You can hammer a conduit pipe under the slabs of a sidewalk or drill a hole beneath one using a flexible drill bit. You must locate the expansion joints in wider driveways, cut through them to lay your wire, and then fill the joints with joint expansion filler.
Please take your time reading this article if you want to learn how to run an electrical conduit beneath a sidewalk.
Horizontal Drilling Using Water Pressure
Step 1
Dig a trench perpendicular to the sidewalk on each side using the trenching shovel. To accommodate the drill’s slightly downward angle, create two ditches: one 8 inches deep and the other 10 inches deep. Drill through the 8-inch-deep side.
Step 2
Cut a galvanized water pipe length 6 to 12 inches longer than the sidewalk’s width. The pipe’s threaded end should be connected with a coupling and water hose. Place the drill in the trench, then have a helper turn on the water at its highest pressure. Push the pipe under the sidewalk and forward gradually.
Step 3
A hole much larger than the 1/2-inch water pipe will be created when the high-pressure water blows the soil out and away from the pipe. Insert a section of Schedule 80 PVC pipe into the hole after it has been fully drilled under the sidewalk. Make the PVC long enough to extend on each side of the sidewalk by at least 6 inches.
Step 4
Through the PVC, pass the RMC.
Horizontally Drilling Using Hammer And Pvc Drill
Step 1
As with step one above, prepare the trenches. To make a PVC drill, cut a length of 2-inch PVC Schedule 80 pipe that is 12 inches longer than the sidewalk’s width. To create the cutting wedge, angle one end of the pipe at a 45-degree angle.
Step 2
Drive the sledgehammer forward a few inches at a time while laying the drill pipe flat in the shallow trench. Twist the pipe a few full turns every three to four inches to release the soil core, and then pull the drill out of the hole. Once you have drilled all the way under the sidewalk, remove the soil core from the drill pipe and repeat the procedure.
Step 3
Just as you did in step three above, insert a brand-new 2-inch Schedule 80 PVC piece into the hole.
Step 4
RMC should be inserted into the PVC sleeve.
How Can Wire Be Safeguarded Under A Sidewalk?
If you’re using direct burial cable, there’s no need to shield the wire under the sidewalk. Since you’re unlikely to unintentionally dig up your sidewalk, wiring beneath a sidewalk is actually already protected more than another wiring. However, it’s unlikely that you will dig that deep beneath the sidewalk. Typically, the wiring should be buried between 18 and 24 inches deep.
However, accidental digging is the cause of that depth. If you later completely renovate your garden space and remove the sidewalk, forgetting about the wire, adding a conduit will at least protect it.
But that is exercising extra caution.
If you’re going to use a conduit, the metal pipe is the easiest option because you can install it using the boring method described above; feeding a PVC sleeve under a sidewalk without filling it with soil is an unnecessary challenge.
How Do I Run A Wire Under A Driveway Or Sidewalk Made Of Concrete?
- Before laying an electrical line across the driveway, some things need to be taken into account. It is impacted by everything, including soil type and electricity output. Determining which of these options is ideal is necessary for success in a task.
- The amount of earth that must be removed and the electrical voltages needed for a wire are interdependent.
- Identifying the type of soil you are working with is the first step. If you find that digging in the dirt is simple, there is no need for a metal conduit. This technique has the benefit of being less expensive while also guaranteeing thorough excavation.
- For 6 inches, it is advised to use galvanized rigid metal electrical conduit with individual conductors inside. Conductors must be waterproof. This approach works well if you only need to run wires a short distance.
- Select a PVC pipe with a higher pressure rating first. The PVC pipe can be joined to a hose on one end by using an adapter or other fittings. Make a second cut with a pointy or angled edge.
- To make this kind of tip, make a 45-degree cut with a hacksaw (don’t demand pricey applications; try using a less expensive one).
- For a user’s project, connect cables to the conduit he brought with him. At this time, pipes between them ought to have conduits and wires inserted.
- On one side of the driveway, a vertical hole can be made with a spade. You can make it as deep as you like.
- Drill a second hole on the opposite end of the driveway after it has been dug out. Remember that the size and depth of the second hole will be significantly greater than the first one.
- By directing a powerful water stream through the first hole, a PVC pipe with a pointed end can be used to construct a tunnel. You can reach the second hole more quickly by manually pushing pipes or jogging tubes.
- Using water is one of the better alternatives to using a shovel to accomplish this. A fraction of the time may be needed to complete tasks. Once installed in an adit, keep this pipe in its designated location. The best conduits for laying wires will then be accessible.
Final Words
When laying cable for your lights, you shouldn’t be concerned that you’ll have to make any significant landscaping changes to your driveway or sidewalk. By following these easy instructions, cables can be run beneath the driveway. We have assisted you by providing this article. Problems could arise from obstructions in the cavities, such as leftover concrete from construction.