Quick service cable question

[skeer]

Re-using downed electrical feeder lines.. we had a big storm a few months back. Lots of downed trees, and power lines. The neighbor has a coil of just such cabling.. elec guy told him they wouldn't be back for it. I can only assume because liabilities mean they can't reuse it and it's only ~60' worth. I can't read any sheath marking, individual cable OD is 5/8", Google says that's right around 000 gauge and aluminum. Is this right? Is re-using this stuff accepted? Aerial cable cannot be buring yeah?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

what are you reusing this for? i doubt its rated for in-wall use or an NEC recognized cable type.

also 3/0 would be incredibly large for a PoCo service drop

 

[skeer]

The gauge designation seem to vary depending upon cable type. Since there's no markings I can't tell but I'm assuming from what Im reading it's SEU. Definitely not reinforced or armored.

 

[skeer]

what are you reusing this for? i doubt its rated for in-wall use

In wall? No way.. no the thought was to possibly bury it in conduit to feed a shed. Or to go from shed to shed (also buried in conduit). Im sure this stuff isnt kosher to run from external to internal to a panel since 'drop-cable' is different yeah?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

In wall? No way.. no the thought was to possibly bury it in conduit to feed a shed. Or to go from shed to shed (also buried in conduit)

i doubt its direct burial rated either... post some pics of the wire

 

[skeer]

Oh no, yeah I wouldn't think so either.. Blast I didnt even think to get a pic or count the strands. But after more research I'd bet a dollar it's Triplex.

 

[TractorJeff]

Individual Cable OD is 5/8"? Not clear but I would assume he measured the OD of the Insulation?? Service Drop is probably 2 gauge at best. Triplex comment makes me think there is no Ground Cable???

 

[mike93lx]

5/8 OD would tell me about 3/0.

Did one of the conductors have yellow stripes and was it smaller? If so, I'd guess URD

3/0, 3/0 & 1/0 Hollins Aluminum Triplex URD Direct Burial Cable

600V Underground Distribution Cable. Sold by the foot.

www.wireandcableyourway.com

That would be an absurd cable for powering a shed and would not make sense considering the size of the conduits, junction boxes, and connectors, plus you have to buy a grounding conductor.

 

[skeer]

Nope, it’s not URD (no yellow stripes), it matches exactly the description of Triplex having the two insulated hots and the uninsulated neutral.
Yeah, it would be absurd lol. I’ve got a 140-ish foot run, I just saw this and wondered if it’d work and work safely.
I didn’t want turn turn this into yet another “what size wire to power a shop” thread. But in my estimations and having asked that same question here before, lol. I’d be looking at buying around 3/0 anyway. 240v @ 50-60A.

But, regardless is the consensus here that it’d be dumb or acceptable?

 

[mike93lx]

It's useless to you. You need four insulated conductors

Edit, just saw the 140' part. What good is 60' of wire then?

You don't need anywhere near 3/0 for that run at 60a. #2 AL is the right size

 

[skeer]

You need four insulated conductors

So if the feeder from the utility pole is 240, two hots/1 neutral. Your grounded at the termination point at the house/building, is a ground back to a main panel required if you are grounded at the opposite end? Just.. wanting to understand the differences.

Edit, just saw the 140' part. What good is 60' of wire then?

Take this 60-70', combine it with another 50-60' I <can> get. Anyway that would have been a follow-up question but Ill save myself the embarrassment of asking.

 

[nadogail]

That cable is probably most valuable for festoon lighting at a Carnival or Christmas Tree Lot, I doubt it will be allowed at any inspected location.

 

[mike93lx]

So if the feeder from the utility pole is 240, two hots/1 neutral. Your grounded at the termination point at the house/building, is a ground back to a main panel required if you are grounded at the opposite end? Just.. wanting to understand the differences.


Take this 60-70', combine it with another 50-60' I <can> get. Anyway that would have been a follow-up question but Ill save myself the embarrassment of asking.

You need 4 wire after the first means of disconnect. So three wire from the pole to your first disconnect/breaker, then 4 wire from there (assuming 120/240). Ground runs back to the main (may go through other panels on the way), plus you need ground rods or a ufer at all buildings

 

[skeer]

Thanks for the information!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

So if the feeder from the utility pole is 240, two hots/1 neutral. Your grounded at the termination point at the house/building, is a ground back to a main panel required if you are grounded at the opposite end? Just.. wanting to understand the differences.

yes you need an EGC for the feeder. the ground rod at the house is a completely different animal

if you want to understand the differences go read my posts (#3 and #4) about this very subject on my electrical FAQs sticky. I cover both the differences between grounding electrodes and equipment grounding conductors, as well as why you need both for a feeder to a detached building.

Electrical FAQs

Welcome All I have started this sticky as an FAQ thread for info on the basics that are encountered countless times every week on here. Hopefully this will help some. If u have a topic request, go ahead and post it. And if you have an FAQ you would like covered let me know.... Or if you...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[skeer]

 

[skeer]

Solid core wire. Wonder if I could find more and just add a 4th wire. lol.

 

[mike93lx]

Guessing you meant 5/8 for the bundle? That's tiny stuff

 

[skeer]

Guessing you meant 5/8 for the bundle? That's tiny stuff

Wait.. ****! How the hell did I come up with that? I mean seriously.... I uh. son of a.

 

[mike93lx]

Wait.. ****! How the hell did I come up with that? I mean seriously.... I uh. son of a.

I didn't see anything

 

[skeer]

Im still sitting here, baffled and to be honest concerned, at how I misread the tape measure twice.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

solid core wire? never seen a PoCo use that stuff.... definitely toss it in the scrap bin

 

[skeer]

solid core wire? never seen a PoCo use that stuff.... definitely toss it in the scrap bin

Seriously? Yeah this came right off a pole coiled up at the bottom. Utility abandoned this pole after the storm and move that houses feeder to a pole a little closer. Even left the transformer up there.

 

[skeer]

So 3/16”, 4.7mm, looks to equate to 5ga. Weird, max amperage in power transmission is 47A according to this chart.

 

[mike93lx]

So 3/16”, 4.7mm, looks to equate to 5ga. Weird, max amperage in power transmission is 47A according to this chart.

The POCO runs it in free air and isn't bound by the rules we have to play by. Don't read into it that much

 

[rlitman]

So 3/16”, 4.7mm, looks to equate to 5ga. Weird, max amperage in power transmission is 47A according to this chart.

Wire ampacity is a thermal question. Buried in insulation, heat can build up, so it is limited. Able to radiate heat in open air, it's fine with much more power.

 

[Norcal]

Other then a overhead feed that triplex is only worth whatever it would bring as scrap, it cannot be used underground, in a wall, in a conduit, it is not a code recognized wiring method.

 

[TractorJeff]

run a magnet over the uninsulated wire to make sure one strand is not steel. If it is, remove it! Then separate the bare stranded from the insulated and take both to the scrap yard. Aluminum is still up in price!

 

[skeer]

run a magnet over the uninsulated wire to make sure one strand is not steel. If it is, remove it! Then separate the bare stranded from the insulated and take both to the scrap yard. Aluminum is still up in price!

All three are AL, Was able to cut through with normal side-cutters like butter.