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    johnjam101's Avatar
    johnjam101 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    May 22, 2013, 06:37 PM
    Broken power line under ground
    Can I repair 3 #2 Aluminum wires going from the main breaker box (200 amp) feeding a 100 amp sub panel 50 feet away in a garage shop. We accidentally broke all 3 lines while digging up a tree. Can it be patched and re buried?
    It was not as deep as it should be.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #2

    May 22, 2013, 07:45 PM
    You would need to cut back well into good wire. Do not splice it right where it broke. The cable is most likely stressed and contaminated within a couple of feet of the break.

    You'll obviously need six direct bury splices and heat shrinks, and enough wire to make up the difference.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #3

    May 23, 2013, 05:57 AM
    If the Problem is close to one end, Maybe pull new wires on the short end and have 1 set of connectors.
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
    		  
    #4

    May 23, 2013, 08:05 AM
    If this is a direct feed from your main panelboard to a downstream panelboard, you MUST have a four wire feed!

    Also, within the downstream panelboard, Ground and Neutral must be isolated from each other.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #5

    May 23, 2013, 01:23 PM
    If this is a direct feed from your main panelboard to a downstream panelboard, you MUST have a four wire feed!
    An older feed to a detached structure could very well be 3-wire and be perfectly legal. In those cases the grounds and neutral are bonded just as they are in a main panel.
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
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    #6

    May 23, 2013, 02:38 PM
    I agree, but if the cable is severed as described above, and replaced. Wouldn't need to be replaced with a new 4 wire cable?
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
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    #7

    May 23, 2013, 03:24 PM
    IMO no. It is just a repair.
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