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Section 2 Installation
Service-Entrance Cable
Service-entrance cable (SE) may be a single
conductor or a multiconductor assembly with
or without an overall covering. It is used to
bring electricity into a customer’s building
from an overhead utility pole. Underground
service-entrance cable (USE) is used to supply
electricity underground.
Stripping the insulation off the conductor
is done with an electrician’s knife. Cut into
the insulation around the circumference of
the cable, without nicking the conductor. Cut
the insulation lengthwise from the fi rst cut to the
end of the cable. Now, peel off the insulation.
Since the conductors in these cables must
be large enough to handle the power require-
ments of an entire building, they may be stiff
and diffi cult to work into position. A cable
bender is handy to create small-radius bends
in the heavy cable.
Underground Feeder and
Branch-Circuit Cable
Underground feeder and branch-circuit cable
(UF) is a nonmetallic sheathed cable that is run
underground between the service equipment
and the fi nal branch circuit overcurrent device.
A typical installation would be a branch from
the main service panel to a detached garage.
Although the materials in UF are designed for
underground use, the cutting and stripping proce-
dure is exactly the same as standard NM cable. As
with all underground cables and conduit, review
the local codes for proper burial depth.
Service-Entrance Cable: Types SE and USE — Article 338
Locations Allowed
Dry
Wet
USE only: Underground
Sizes
14 AWG
through
2000 kcmil
Maximum Mounting Distance
12″
4 1/2′
Underground Feeder and Branch-Circuit Cable: Type UF — Article 340
Locations Allowed
Dry
Wet
Corrosive
Underground
Direct Burial
Sizes
14 AWG
through
4/0 AWG
Maximum Mounting Distance
N/A
service-entrance cable (SE): The cable used to
bring power from the utility pole to the customer’s
building.
underground service-entrance cable (USE): Service-
entrance cable that is approved for direct burial in the
ground.
underground feeder and branch-circuit cable (UF):
Similar to NM, this cable is suitable for direct burial in
the ground. It is used for providing power to detached
garages, yard lamps, and outbuildings.