If it’s not a decoder system or a vfd on the circuit you will probably be fine. I know I have some wires in a common trench with no issue. That being said I am not sure of the code.

 

If it's not a decoder system or a vfd on the circuit you will probably be fine. I know I have some wires in a common trench with no issue. That being said I am not sure of the code.

Thanks! Not a decoder system or a vfd, not sure what a vfd is...but this is just a standard Hunter Pro C with 18 guage wire run

 

you will not have any problems but 10 years from now the guys gonna curse you

 

Everybody curses everyone anyhow, might as well grow a thick skin.

GM's right, a few things are affected by "proximity" of power, decoders, relays, remotes, VFD pump systems etc but as a rule, communication cables are affected most.

 

I wonder if the power line could be encased in metallic conduit, instead of PVC.

 

Don't get me started.......

 

I was also thinking of physical durability for the power conduit, but that thinking hearkens back to the golden age of no one giving a good golly damn about how deep they buried stuff. (call it a Florida state of mind )

Metallic conduit was useful when using a dinky Pipe Piper for pulling poly, because the machine could not break it any more than it could break a buried 2x4 hit broadside.

 

Some recommend a minimum of 8" in dirt, the AC lines WILL induce a signal along the low voltage lines. You can minimize this by shielding, larger distance between them or running twisted pair conductors for the low voltage.

 

Well what is done is done. Buried em up today. Threw caution tape in the last 6 inches of trench, even though any wise future person would have any outdoor private power lines located.

the AC lines WILL induce a signal along the low voltage lines.

What exactly does this mean? If you care to elaborate

 

When you run wires with either AC or pulsing DC and there is a parallel conductor, the changing magnetic field will transfer (induce) a small voltage to the parallel wire. Usually the voltage is quite minimal at 120/240 voltages. By shielding or adding distance between them makes the signal much weaker, and twisting the pairs of conductors nulls out much of the signal transfer.

 

Ahh..I imagine I could ask that question of 95% of the electricians in my area and they would not know that...
Wire nuts and breaker boxes...easy peasy

 

Ahh..I imagine I could ask that question of 95% of the electricians in my area and they would not know that...
Wire nuts and breaker boxes...easy peasy

True
It amazes me (in a bad way) the things electricians and plumbers DON'T know when talking to them or seeing the repairs they make.

 

Some recommend a minimum of 8" in dirt, the AC lines WILL induce a signal along the low voltage lines. You can minimize this by shielding, larger distance between them or running twisted pair conductors for the low voltage.

Ahh..I imagine I could ask that question of 95% of the electricians in my area and they would not know that...
Wire nuts and breaker boxes...easy peasy

Any electrician should know not to run communications cables parallel to power.

That being said, while 60Hz interference WILL be induced on the parallel lines, every device out there designed by someone with half a brain filters out the fundamental power harmonic, as such interference is always expected. It could be as simple as a passive RC filter, or maybe something more elaborate.

Induced current is proportional to actual current flow, so devices that have highly harmonic currents (VFDs come to mind) can induce some weird harmonics in parallel wires. That 300Hz (and other frequencies, but the odd harmonics will appear a lot here, 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.) interference MAY interfere with some stuff, but I still doubt it would mess with sprinkler equipment.

 

Speaking of a Florida state of mind…. The only thing i might have done different, is to mark the lines somehow, red paint on the power. We have a property where the fiber guys ran there wire in 1” pvc. Needless to say, but when we have mainline breaks , we typically cut out the pipes above to get to it. The Fiber has been cut once or twice. By the way, it smokes and sparks when you cut it.

 

Speaking of a Florida state of mind…. The only thing i might have done different, is to mark the lines somehow, red paint on the power. We have a property where the fiber guys ran there wire in 1" pvc. Needless to say, but when we have mainline breaks , we typically cut out the pipes above to get to it. The Fiber has been cut once or twice. By the way, it smokes and sparks when you cut it.

You're supposed to have power and electrical in gray PVC, and should have a marker tape buried a foot above the conduit. Splurge for the marker with tracer wire if it's fiber.

 

@Hayduke , all our laterals, and a lot of mainlines are thin wall down here. Glad you noticed something was off , that could have been ugly.

 

I remember getting popped by a direct bury 110 wire that was right next to a 3" main I was repairing. Between the water and the electrical I got hit pretty hard.

 

Did you cut the 110?

 

Did you cut the 110?

Just the hot side. The main was in a tight rocksaw ditch with the 110V direct bury wire up against it.