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Laying power cables in the garden is possible both above ground and below ground. Our guide shows how it works and what you need to pay attention to.
In a nutshell
- protect connections
- Consider gardening when planning
- Use underground cable
- Consider isolation
- underground power cables are safer
Underground or above ground?
The first question you need to answer is the type of installation. Should the cable be laid below or above ground? Both bring advantages and disadvantages.
What is particularly important is the purpose for which the power supply is required. If you only need the electricity temporarily or only during the gardening season, an above-ground line is usually sufficient. For longer uses or fixed installations, such as a pump, however, it is better to lay them underground.
To avoid tripping hazards and tangled cables in the garden, you should lay and install a power cable in the garden.
Under the earth
If a permanent power supply is required, it is advisable to lay the power cable underground.
Benefits:
- better protected
- more durable and stable
- visually inconspicuous
- does not represent a stumbling block
Disadvantage:
- greater effort during installation
- higher cost
- If changes are necessary, cables cannot simply be laid
When applying the power supply in the garden, proceed as follows:
- Planning: Draw up a layout plan for the cable on which the route is precisely recorded. Also calculate the length you need.
- dig trench: Dig a trench at least 2 feet deep and about 8 inches wide.
- Fill sand: Fill in quartz sand until a height of about ten centimeters is reached. Then smooth it out to get an even surface.
- Protect cables: Now pull the cable through a cable protection tube. Because despite the existing sheathing or insulation, additional protection is advisable.
- Laying the power cable: Place the hose in the prepared pit and gently press it into place. Make sure that it is as central as possible.
- Fill up: Fill the trench again with about ten centimeters of quartz sand and tap it tight. After that, you can completely fill up the trench with soil and also solidify it.
For longer distances, it makes sense to rent a mini excavator instead of digging the trench by hand.
Tip: You can rent a mini excavator to dig the trench. The trench is then wider than necessary, but the amount of work is significantly less, especially with very long cables.
Above the Earth
If you only need power for a short period of time, or if you don't have the option of running the power cord underground, there are a few factors to consider. These include:
Benefits:
- more flexible in orientation
- lower expense
- lower costs
- Damage is noticed more quickly and easily
- less working time
Disadvantage:
- more prone to damage
- can be a stumbling block
- optically possibly disturbing
If you want to lay a power cable that is above ground, you have a number of options. The best way is to use a tension wire as a guide and a cable protection hose or cable protection tube as additional security.
Manual:
- Planning: Plan the exact route of the power cable. Take into account any risks, such as mowing the lawn or high-traffic areas. The transition from the lawn to lawn edging stones or directly at the edge of the path is best.
- Tensioning the wire: The wire is now stretched as a guide. Two fixed points are ideal for this. A house wall, a mast, the fence or a wall are used for this purpose, for example.
- Protect cables: Now guide the power cable through the protective hose or a pipe.
- Lay cable: Lay the prepared connection along the wire.
- fixation: Use cable ties or clamps to connect the power cable to the wire at intervals of no more than one meter.
To avoid tripping hazards, you should fix the cable to the floor.
Notice: Make absolutely sure that the power cable is not under tension when laying it. This can possibly lead to damage.
frequently asked Questions
How many wires do I need for the cable?The minimum number should be three. If you want to connect multiple devices, you should use a variant with five wires.
When must an underground cable be used?An underground cable must always be laid when a power cable lies in or on the ground, is exposed to moisture or the weather. Because this variant is insulated thicker and designed to withstand such influences.
Why is additional protection necessary?Even if you lay underground cables in the garden underground, you must attach additional protection against rodents and roots. Otherwise damage to the cables can occur very quickly.