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Hi,
I've got a couple places in my yard that I want to keep located because of underground wires. I don't, for instance, want to put my snow fence pole right where I have a shallow ( but legal) underground electric cable. I also don't want any more things to mow around.
So, I put a couple of lag screws in the ground on either side of where I want to place the posts. I have a map to help me out, but these are for fine tuning.
I have a pick up magnet on a stick (steeck ) that I hope to use to find them later. I tested it out, and it seems to work -- of course, I can see everything right now.
Maybe put them inside some PVC pipe that's sealed up and shoved further into the ground. Less chance of the popping up enough for the mower to get them. If the PVC pops up, you will see it easier than the screw.
Not an authority; agree with comment about running wire thru underground heavy gage plastic conduit. Although, may be an issue running a Romex type wiring, don't know if there would be if ran individual strans?, suggest check w/ electrician. Found it convenient, several years after wiring for outside lighting I was able to pull additional wiring thru the conduit and add an auxilary panel. If I were to run a Romex type of wiring thru conduit I would leave substancial clearance between the wire and the inside dia. of the conduit.
What the OP is talking about is having a magnetic "marker" for his wires. His lag bolts in the ground will be detectable with a magnet.
As far as wire:
For 120/240v you can run UF wire underground in most cases.
If you run conduit, you run individual wires, not romex. I've put romex through 1/2" conduit and I can tell you it isn't a good idea. That was since "corrected".
Low volt stuff has direct bury wire that looks like heavy lamp cord.
Take a flat (4L x 1W) piece of tin, paint it road worker orange mount it to the end of 2 pieces 1x1x4L pieces of wood/stake the ends and hammer them in flush the ground.
Actually put the wood in first then screw the metal on the ends position them on each side of what ever you want to be able to find easy.
I am not saying nothing about what you have buried, that your business.
With the lag bolt idea the heads are small and to get lucky and find with a magnet, unless you tape measure or string out a map off known reference points like a building corner, tree ect...
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