On Aug 19, 12:46*pm, "RBM" wrote:
wrote in message

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On Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:26:27 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I'm helping a friend install a solar pool heater for an inground
pool. * There will be a solar pool controller mounted on the side of
the house. *This controller runs the pump and valves and basicly turns
the pump on and repositions a valve when pool heating is needed and
it's hot enough to do so. * * It has a low voltage, 24V section that
gets connected to the motorized valve and also to a temp sensor that
goes into a line bringing water from the pool. * The motorized valve
and sensor are on the cement pool equipment pad that is located just a
few feet from the solar controller mounting location on the house.

Here's the issue. *The sensor and the valve motor have low voltage
wiring that are outdoor rated, but apparently not direct burial
rated. * So, how to get from the solar controller on the house over to
the pool pad? *This area also needs to be accessible, so whateve is
done needs to go underground.

My current thinking is to use multiconductor sprinkler cable which is
direct burial to go from the controller over to the edge of the pool
pad. * At that point, mount a weatherproof PVC junction box that has
only one 1/2" fitting. * On that 1/2" fitting, attach a 90 PVC elbow
that will extend down below grade. * That will put the end of the
elbow about 6" underground. * The sprinkler cable will come up through
the elbow into the box. * Drill two small holes in the other end of
the junction box for the sensor and motor cables to come in through,
make the connections in the box, then seal the sensor and motor cable
entry points with silicone. * Complete the rest of the wire runs on
the pool pad, using cable ties, etc.

Sound OK? *Meet code? * Is leaving the end of the elbow that is buried
open OK? *How does one normally transition from direct burial to above
ground? * * Any better ideas?

Why not just run the whole thing on PVC conduit?

or a combination of pvc and Carflex- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Reason for not using conduit is that the solar controller on the house
only has one hole for low voltage cables. It's located on the bottom
of the controller box and has one of those split rubber seals for
passing the cables through. And as RES pointed out, there is another
low voltage cable that gets run to measure the solar temperature. I
guess the hole with the seal is probably just a 1/2" hole and I could
remove the seal and connect conduit, but not sure. But if I use it
for conduit, then I have to mount a second weatherproof box on the
side of the house below it to split off the other cable run and it
isn't going to look very good. Using the underground sprinkler wire,
I can just wire tie the cable to one of the 2" pool water pipes that
run down the side of the house right next to the controller, through
the ditch, etc. I'll think about it though. If I did mount that
second PVC box, how do I bring the other cable out? Just drill a
small hole in the bottom and silicone seal it?