4 wires parallel? Outdoors in the ground. Is this an electrical wire.?

Question

I bought a older cottage style detached bungalow on a very long lot (30'x300') last year, in a downtown setting.

I was recently doing some landscaping, while turning over the grass in a section of the back yard. I found 4 wires side by side flat with a black plastic sheathing / coating. They are all connected running parallel to each other. The thickness of the wire or gauge, isn't very large.

This cable is just below the sod, I'm not using a shovel just a 4 pronged rake to lift up the grass. I would estimate the cable is 4-6" deep at most.

I was leveling the ground for a shed and pool and stumbled on this. I can't tell if it runs to the house or not it's roughly 240' into the lot or 100' feet behind the house.

If anyone is able to advise if I need to be concerned with this cable or not it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm hoping that anyone who laid a cable that has electricity running through it would have it in a conduit or much deeper than this.

Citizen X,

Durham, Ontario

Answer 1

It could be a telephone cable, most likely low voltage.

Answer 2

Probably a telephone line. They don't always bury them very deep. Mine is no more than 9" deep.

Answer 3

sure its not a dog fence