UF-B Direct Burial Cable vs. USE Direct Burial Cable: What Is The Difference?
UF-B Direct Burial Cable vs. USE Direct Burial Cable: What Is The Difference?
Both USE and underground feeder cable UF-B are some of the most popular direct burial wires on the worldwide market. The wire and cable industry establishes strict rules for direct burial; however, USE and UF-B are still getting confused pretty often. Want to settle the UF-B vs. USE debate once and for all? Read this blog.
Understanding USE Cables: Specifications and Common Applications
USE cables are mainly designed for utility applications, meaning they carry the power between utility transformers and individual homes. The term "USE" stands for an underground service entrance cable.
These electrical service cables are outdoor-friendly, moisture-resistant, and designed to withstand all types of environments. As a rule, they are only used under the ground. USE cables are mostly installed and handled by the representatives of the utility companies.
USE/USE-2 cables are usually color-coded in black. There are different less commonly available colors on the US market; however, black insulation provides a much-needed resistance to sunlight, so most aim for a black cable.
One of the most important things about USE-2 is that it is banned for interior wiring by the National Electrical Code because it does not have a flame-retardant covering. USE and USE-2 are also never used above the ground, aside from when utility professionals need to discharge the service equipment.
According to the National Electric Code, if the USE/USE-2 cables have a gauge of 4/0 AWG or smaller, they can be used for underground electricity applications, for which UF-B cable is a common choice. However, they are not used above the ground or to connect interior and exterior wiring. Utility applications are the main ones for USE cables, and it is rare for someone to decide to use them for another underground purpose aside from utility applications.
USE vs. USE-2 Cables: Ampacity and Temperature Concerns
USE and USE-2 are cables with an identical purpose; however, they have different ampacity and temperature ranges that might be important for your electrical project. USE Cable has 155 amps at 75C, whereas USE-2 is rated at 155 amps at 75C. In addition, the insulation of USE is double-rated as RHW or XHHW, whereas the insulation of USE-2 is double-rated as RHW-2 or XHHW-2.
Understanding UF-B Underground Feeder Cables: Specifications and Common Uses
UF-B cables can also be applied both outside and inside for direct burial purposes. They carry the energy from the residential and commercial buildings to the outdoor constructions. Their design is the most similar to the NM-B wire. The name "UF-B" means underground feeder cable. Unlike USE, UF-B cables are permitted to be used in exterior constructions above the ground by the National Electrical Code; however, they need to be in conduit for extra protection.
Aside from direct burial purposes, they can be used as the NMB wire inside the house as long as they comply with the requirements of NEC 2008 AND NEC 2011. The homeowners often use them to connect the outdoor constructions in their houses, such as garages, pumps, or lighting fixtures with the interior wiring. UF-B cables are often colored in gray, though it may vary depending on the producer.
UF-B vs. UF: Do Not Confuse Them
UF-B cables are often confused with UF cable, another type of underground feeder electrical wire. However, it is the letter B that indicates the cable is suitable for direct burial. The regular UF cable is well-suited only to be buried in conduit. The difference between them is UF-B construction indicates a better resistance to water and corrosion, as well as a superior temperature range.
UF-B vs. USE Direct Burial Cables: The Bottom Line
All in all, USE is a utility service entrance cable that is used exclusively outdoors and underground, whereas UF-B is a more versatile direct burial cable that is used for mixed interior and exterior applications. If you are an individual user installing cables on your property, you are way more likely to encounter and use UF-B than USE. USE cables have way less versatility to them and are managed by utility experts most of the time. Since USE cables have an aluminum conductor, they are slightly cheaper than their UF-B counterparts. When working with USE and UF-B direct burial wiring, it is important to know the difference between USE/USE-2 and UF/UF-B.
Nassau National Cable offers you a choice of Aluminum RHH/RHW-2/USE-2 90°C XLPE Insulation 600V, XLP USE-2 RHH RHW-2 Copper Conductor Building Wire, or Underground Feeder Cable UF-B Copper 600V. All of these are excellent underground electrical wires made from the best materials by the top manufacturers.
