I get where you’re coming from on the conduit skepticism—water finds a way, no matter how “sealed” things look at first. But I’ve actually had pretty decent luck with rigid PVC and proper slope for drainage. Maybe it’s just my soil or climate, but I haven’t seen the kind of flooding others mention. Is it possible some of these issues come down to installation quirks, like not gluing joints or skipping those little drain holes at the low points?
That said, direct-burial gel cable is definitely more forgiving if you’re worried about critters or shifting ground. What I keep wondering, though: has anyone tried just going wireless with a point-to-point bridge instead? In one project, we skipped trenching altogether and used outdoor-rated WiFi radios between the house and shed—zero digging, zero water risk. Sure, it’s not perfect for every setup (trees can be a pain), but sometimes the simplest solution gets overlooked.
Curious if anyone else has weighed conduit vs. wireless before committing to all that digging...
In one project, we skipped trenching altogether and used outdoor-rated WiFi radios between the house and shed—zero digging, zero water risk.
That’s actually what I ended up doing at my own place—Ubiquiti point-to-point bridge, line of sight, and it’s been rock solid for a couple years now. I used to be a stickler for hardwired everything, but honestly, the hassle of trenching and worrying about water or frost heave just wasn’t worth it for a simple backyard setup. That said, I’ve seen wireless get flaky when there’s a lot of tree growth or heavy storms, so it’s not always a slam dunk. Still, for most folks, I think it’s a pretty compelling option if you can get a clear shot.
