What is the recommended method for protecting splices in buried irrigation control wiring?

• A. Splices should be made in accessible, sealed junction boxes at grade and then backfilled
• B. Leave splices exposed underground for future access
• C. Splices should be made without any enclosure
• D. Splices should be done with duct tape only

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to shield buried irrigation control wiring splices with a weatherproof, accessible enclosure. The best practice is to place the splice in a sealed junction box that is accessible and installed at grade, then backfill around the box. This setup protects the connection from moisture, soil intrusion, and physical damage while keeping it reachable for future maintenance or repairs. Splices left buried without an enclosure, or made without any protective enclosure, or secured with duct tape, are not reliable—they’re vulnerable to water ingress, corrosion, and damage, which can cause intermittent or total system failures.