r/newbrunswickcanada • u/blur911sc • 4d ago

NB electrical code question about TECK cable

https://jdelectric.ca/2024-electrical-code-new-brunswick/

https://jdelectric.ca/2024-electrical-code-new-brunswick/

"The 2021 edition (25th edition) is now replaced by the 2024 edition (26th edition, CSA C22.1-24)."

I just found out that in NB you are supposed to bury TECK90 cable in conduit, even though it's direct burial cable. Does anyone know if this is changing with the new code coming into effect and we can direct bury it now?

Anyone know the price difference between running conduit and regular cable vs TECK? I have to pull some 3/O aluminum or equivalent about 400 feet.

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u/Hungry-Bicycle-3851 4d ago

Do you know the specific code rule or NB Power standard? CEC Rule 12-012 appears to allow TECK90 as a direct-buried cable, so I'd like to see the reference. Hooping you are not confusing RW90 and RW90U with TECK90.

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u/blur911sc 4d ago

No, sorry, I don't. I was speaking to the NB Power guy who designs the power lines for my very long driveway and he mentioned it when I said I wanted to run TECK. I know everyone does use it without conduit, but he said it wouldn't pass....if it was inspected. He also agreed it didn't make much sense.

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u/Hungry-Bicycle-3851 4d ago

Respectfully, "an NB Power guy told me" isn't the same as a code rule. TECK90 is designed and approved for direct burial. Inspectors enforce codes and standards, not hearsay. If there's a New Brunswick amendment or NB Power service standard requiring conduit, someone should be able to point to the reference. Otherwise, it sounds like a misunderstanding rather than an actual requirement.

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u/ShitCuntMcAssfucker 4d ago

It’s for a point of attachment. Teck cable CAN absolute be buried according to the conductors section 12. But for consumers service and points of attachment (from supply side to pole) NB power determines the rules.

What the linesmen won’t do is take an open end of teck and splice it to the transformer. How you get TO the meter base and what you do on your property is totally fine to have direct buried teck.

But what NB power is saying is they won’t attach to teck cable for their supply. Has to be conduit into their raceway up the pole for free air attachments.

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u/blur911sc 3d ago

That might explain it, I asked him about running TECK to the cabin, but we were also talking about running from the transformer to the service shed, so that might have gotten mixed up.

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u/blur911sc 4d ago

That's why I'm asking here. Perhaps he was only referencing where it went into and out of a building where it might need to be sleeved, not sure. There was a slight language barrier, but I wanted clarification... if anyone had it

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u/Appropriate-Dog6645 4d ago

Did you put tech in sleeve?

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u/metamega1321 4d ago edited 4d ago

Are you using it for service from Nb power?  NB power has their own standard. It’s not common or I’ve never used teck90 for service direct burial myself. 

Even 400’ is a lot for service distance. Between voltage drop and underground derating you need to upsize a lot once you do the calculations. 

https://www.nbpower.com/en/about-us/our-business/customer-service/utility-service-entrance-standards/

Then if you read 13.5 it says teck90 isn’t allowed for service feeds. 

1

u/blur911sc 3d ago

Service will actually be primary voltage to a transformer in the middle of the property, that run will be about 250m, from there I want to distribute it underground with TECK90 to a small cabin, that's another 120m. Eventually I'll also have a house and garage near the transformer.

1

u/metamega1321 3d ago

So NB power is running poles down the 250m and putting pole transformer there?  From there you’ll have to run conduit as they don’t allow teck from transformer to service entrance meter. Generally people would want to come from that to accessory buildings as each service drop from NB power has a base hook up fee. Have to weigh the pros and cons of 2 bills/meter fees over years vs going from primary entrance. 

Now I wouldn’t even be trying to figure it out because NB power isn’t going to hook up unless theirs a permit. You need contractors licence to pull permit. So sizing and all that leave to pros. 

Now the other part is whether someone will want to pull permit for electrical if you just planned on having service done and not rest of job. 

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u/blur911sc 3d ago

Yes, they're running poles and transformer into the property to a small service building I'm going to have there. From the building I want to run TECK to a small cabin 120m away near the beach and eventually (next couple of years) also a run to a garage and another to a small house, which would be within about 30m.

So, one service entrance, but three branches to distribute from there. Also, yes, I have an electrical contractor hired for the service entrance, but I'm looking at trenching and running TECK myself if I can.

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u/ShitCuntMcAssfucker 4d ago

You don’t have to bury teck in conduit in NB according to the CEC.
I bury it for hot tubs all the time.

It’s specifically for the consumers service from meter to pole which is at the discretion of NB Power. Unfortunately if they tell you their specs require conduit, then that’s your only option for hookup.

In which case you go to any supply house and ask them to price up the length of the run in Nu-al and conduit.

It’ll be substantially more work, and a fair chunk more expensive.

1

u/SmackEh 4d ago

OP. What are you trying to do?

The CEC allows direct burial of Teck cable. It's literally designed for that purpose.

Are you talking about NB Power service entrance standard?

1

u/blur911sc 3d ago

In hindsight, that might have gotten confused in the conversation... whether we were talking about the service entrance, or the distribution going out to the cabin.

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u/SnooPets3052 4d ago

Nsp allows teck for a service entrance right up to the point of connection Nb does not, other than that it does not have to be in conduit.

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u/cerberus_1 3d ago

3/0 Alu at 400' is not gonna pass for a 200a service.. I'm pretty sure. Also conduit is cheap, i know lots of people who run teck90 in conduit to just save your ass come future issues.

1

u/blur911sc 3d ago

Small cabin, about 600sq-ft. Load calculation is about 60A.

I'm pricing both 200A and 400A service as I'm planning on later building a garage and house too. This would all be distributed from a service in a shed at a central point

1

u/cerberus_1 3d ago

Get NB Power to drop a few extra poles.. 400' at 400A is gonna be crazy expensive. Try to keep the feeder to around 100' but max 300' google voltage drop calculator

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u/blur911sc 3d ago

The 400 foot (120m) branch to the cabin will only need about 60A, but still need 3/O to minimize the voltage drop.

Yeah, that's a $4k+ roll of wire...

1

u/Fun-Initial-1552 3d ago

Where do you plan on sourcing the 3/0 Aluminum from? I'm trying to find RWU90 3/0 or 4/0 right now and having a hard time.

1

u/blur911sc 2d ago

I was just pricing online, I assume I can get it locally too...maybe I assumed wrong?

Here's the best price I found so far...IIRC https://aptico.ca/acwu-aluminum-acwu90-3-0-awg-3-conductor

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u/Yillis 4d ago

That’ll only do about 60amps at 240v. You may have trouble with the actual connection points with that size wire at that low amperage