I am installing a new light switch on the inside of an exterior wall in my walkout basement. Because of the floor joists and finished ceiling, the only way I can figure to get the wiring to that location is by punching it through to the outside and running it along the wall and over to the location of the switch. This run will be about 30ft long and go around one corner. My question is: Can I do this with bare UF (outdoor romex) wire? Or will the wire need to be installed in a conduit?
If it is subject to physical damage (weed eater, mower) code requires it to be installed in conduit.
You said circuit breakers. If more then one breaker is tripping you should call an electrician. If just one is tripping and you can turn off the main breaker, take the wire off the breaker and put it on another one. If it trips that one too, you have a short somewhere and should get help. If it doesn't trip that breaker then the you have a bad breaker. If you haven't worked with electricity before, don't even take the cover off the breaker box. Call someone that has.
Wires above ground should be in a conduit to protect them from abrasion. Grey romex is okay for underground without a conduit, as long as it's buried at least 18 in the soil.
