Like sprinkler pipes, you should bury the conduit at least 6 inches deep (sometimes more if municipal code requires). This will protect it from shovels and tillers. Conduit is not just for underground, though, and should also be used as you feed wires above ground.Hereof, does sprinkler wire need to be buried?
Sprinkler wire can generally be buried directly in the ground without conduit and you don't necessarily need to dig it below grade. A shallow burial is fine.
Subsequently, question is, how far can you run 18 gauge sprinkler wire? There are many things to consider when sizing wire: voltage coming out of the controller, the solenoid draw, how many valves you're trying to operate, quality of your wire splices, etc. For a rough rule of thumb, 18-gauge is good for 750 feet, if you are operating one valve at a time.
Keeping this in view, what wire is used for sprinklers?
Most manufacturers include recommendations about what wire size to use with their valves, but typically, you can use 18-gauge wire if the length of the wire (not the distance) from the controller to the valve is less than 200 feet, and it's being installed as a residential system.
How deep do you bury sprinkler wire?
Dig a trench and make sure to run the wire deep enough underground to avoid problems. Generally, eight to 12 inches is the ideal depth for sprinkler wiring.
Can I use thermostat wire for sprinklers?
The thermostat wire & direct burial sprinkler wire are by no means interchangeable in all situations.What is the minimum depth for 24 VAC irrigation control wiring in the backyard of a residence?
The NEC (National Electrical Code) requires that UF cable be placed in a trench at least 24 inches deep. In most communities, you will have to leave the trench open until the inspector arrives to approve the depth.How does a sprinkler timer work?
The sprinkler timer tells each valve to open at a specified time, run for a specified time, and then close. Some sprinkler timers can be connected to smart devices which automatically calculate when and how long the system should run and shut the system off when it is raining.How many zones do I need for my sprinkler system?
The resulting number will equal how many zones you need. If, for example, each sprinkler head will require a flow rate of 1.31 GPM and you have 20 of them, then you will need 26.2 GPM total. If your system can only handle 16.67, you will need to use two zones to cover that same area of your yard.Does each sprinkler zone have its own valve?
An irrigation system is typically divided into several zones, each of which feeds sprinkler heads in a different area of the lawn or garden, and each zone is controlled by a valve that receives signals from a centrally located controller. Often the valves are located inside one or more in-ground valve boxes.Is sprinkler wire low voltage?
Once the electricity leaves the transformer, it has been stepped down from high voltage (120VAC) to low voltage (24VAC). The irrigation controller and the electronic solenoid valves are powered by the lower 24 VAC voltage. 
