Which arrangement is used to splice a direct-buried underground cable in the field?

• A. Plastic splice box and a tape splice kit for the size cable to be spliced
• B. A prefabricated cable splice kit is used to splice the cable
• C. A thermoplastic splicing module is used to splice the cable
• D. A new cable is pulled in to eliminate the need for a splice

Answer: (A)

When splicing a direct-buried underground cable in the field, you need a moistureproof, mechanically protected junction that you can access for inspection and maintenance. A plastic splice box provides the weatherproof enclosure that can be buried or placed in a trench, offering a safe space to perform and protect the splice. Inside that box, a tape splice kit sized for the specific cable ensures the spliced conductors are properly insulated and sealed against moisture and soil, while also allowing the splice to flex and withstand backfill pressures. This setup is the practical, field-ready approach for direct-buried splices because it combines durable enclosure protection with appropriate insulation for the conductors. Other options either require different enclosures or splice methods not suited to field direct-burial splicing, or suggest pulling a new cable to avoid splicing, which isn’t practical.