Underground service longevity

[bluedog225]

Thanks.

Pretty sure there is no authority having jurisdiction that has adopted electrical standards in the rural county I’m in. Could be wrong. But Texas y’all.

 

[bluedog225]

Three two gauge conductors and one 4 gauge. All insulated.

Also coded exist everywhere and you are subject to them, you may just not have an inspection

Power doesn't need to be anywhere near 48" deep. 2' is what you need for direct burial

I think he was looking for separation from the water.

 

[LiketoFix]

Don't have to tell me brother I made a living and a fortune off of others mistakes!

Preach to da choir!

Merry Christmas!

LTF

 

[mike93lx]

I think he was looking for separation from the water.

That's a lot of extra trenching for some separation.

 

[Bert_]

I've buried power and water together quite a bit. I put them at the same depth and I bury the wire in conduit.

 

[gleman]

Thanks.

Pretty sure there is no authority having jurisdiction that has adopted electrical standards in the rural county I’m in. Could be wrong. But Texas y’all.

My county in N. MI was really pleasant to deal with as well as the Co-op power guys. It's quite rural and relaxed I'd guess your county is likely the same.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I know that the code doesn't allow the two utilities to be installed underground closer the 3 feet apart

Can you give us a Code Section please?

 

[LiketoFix]

HAHAHA!

I can smell a set up a mile away! LOL! But I'll PLAY! LOL!!!
Local codes are one thing whether you follow or believe or even use them, that's your business. The National Electrical code will always take precedence. No Biggie. It's your project do it how you want.
Like someone above suggested as to put it in conduit. Absolutely! Especially with ground conditions that have Rock, Sharp Shale,etc...
Had a Customer years ago that had the $$$ to remodel a Century old Mega Mansion and with that on his 150 acre estate he wanted all new Utilities ran from the Country High End Rural road that he lived on about a Mile and a half and his wife loved trees and didn't want any trees removed knocked down or trashed. Heck I brought in a tree spade and removed them and reinstalled all of them. The front half was a pristine rolling field. The Specs called for a minimum of 6" of Sand under all utilities and a minimum of 1' of sand cover over top. It's easy when you've got the funds $$ to do so. So I Excavated gradual winding 8 foot wide trench a Mile and a half with the water being the deepest,(below Frost line 4'), any where from 4.5-5' deep and keeping all the other utilities,(Electric, Phone, communication,Fiber optic, and Natural Gas), stepped up and apart, PER CODE, not only did we pass inspection with flying colors but we won an award for that Utility job. Big Deal! I was taught if your gonna do it then do it right so you don't have to do it again down the road. Different Strokes! Good Luck on your project as I wish you nothing but the Best!
Merry Christmas!
LTF

 

[alfredeneuman]

LiketoFix,
You still haven't given us a Code Section, NEC or otherwise.
Talking about 1 customer years ago doesn't cut the mustard.

 

[35Ford]

There's a difference between code, spec, and best practice. Separation is good but as far as I know, there is nothing in the NEC that prevents electric and other utilities being in the same trench. Other utilities and codes may say different.

 

[Norcal]

Another entry from the Urban Legend Code.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

@LiketoFix Im gonna give you a big hint. No such code exists.

 

[mrbill55]

Talk to the power company about running the wire and putting the xformer and meter close to the cabin

THIS!!!!!

Not sure about others, but Duke will pull power, at their cost, to wherever they decide to place the meter. In our case, to the house. They are then responsible for the underground utility up to the meter. Have a problem, between the meter and the street, it is on them.

Again, worth a call one way or the other.

Bill S.

 

[mike93lx]

THIS!!!!!

Not sure about others, but Duke will pull power, at their cost, to wherever they decide to place the meter. In our case, to the house. They are then responsible for the underground utility up to the meter. Have a problem, between the meter and the street, it is on them.

Again, worth a call one way or the other.

Bill S.

Addressed in post 18

 

[fitter30]

I don’t need much power. Small place. I was thinking fewer watts needed, less ampacity, smaller/cheaper wire

240 or 120vac use the same watts. Voltage doubles amp fall to half.
120vac 10 amp load = 1200 watts
240vac 5 amp load = 1200 watts
Volts x amps = watts
Do it right the first time or be pissed till you get it right.
240 only takes one more wire than 120.

 

[toplessHO]

can you set a short pole next to the utility pole and mount a disconnect and meter on it?
100A meter base and service
then a 30 A breaker for your feed.

 

[mrbill55]

Addressed in post 18

Missed that, thanks.

Maybe solar is the way for the OP to go in the long run.

Bill S.

 

[mike93lx]

Missed that, thanks.

Maybe solar is the way for the OP to go in the long run.

Bill S.

Lol. Read the thread. He already has a sizable solar setuo

 

[mrbill55]

Lol. Read the thread. He already has a sizable solar setuo

Oldtimers is setting in

 

[bluedog225]

can you set a short pole next to the utility pole and mount a disconnect and meter on it?
100A meter base and service
then a 30 A breaker for your feed.

I don’t see why not. The only limits are the utility's voltage and the 800’.

 

[alfredeneuman]

240 only takes one more wire than 120.

240 takes 2 wires.
120 takes 2 wires.
120/240 requires the 3rd wire.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

240 takes 2 wires.
120 takes 2 wires.
120/240 requires the 3rd wire.

To be technically correct, 240 and 120 both require 3-wires (dont forget about the EGC), and 120/240 require 4-wires

 

[bluedog225]

I’ll have to feed the inverter with 120. There are transformers though. So maybe 240 with 3 wire would work?

 

[alfredeneuman]

To be technically correct, 240 and 120 both require 3-wires (dont forget about the EGC), and 120/240 require 4-wires

120/240 Service entrances don't have a ground.
120 and 240 only takes 2 wires to work if you don't care about safety

 

[wyliesdiesels]

120/240 Service entrances don't have a ground.
120 and 240 only takes 2 wires to work if you don't care about safety

Because PoCos dont distribute EGCs nor would they have a need to…

 

[alfredeneuman]

and 120/240 require 4-wires

To be "Technically Correct" you didn't exclude the Service Entrance.
Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

[walta]

There's a difference between code, spec, and best practice. Separation is good but as far as I know, there is nothing in the NEC that prevents electric and other utilities being in the same trench. Other utilities and codes may say different.

I recall there is a code prohibition against potable water and sewage in the same trench for good reasons.

Walta

 

[65ranchero]

I recall there is a code prohibition against potable water and sewage in the same trench for good reasons.

Walta

At my 1st house when we were able to hook up to town sewer we put sewer and town water in the same trench. With the blessing of the of the AHJ.
Schedule 40 for sewer at at least 5 ft. and rolled copper on top ( I can't remember if there was any dirt separating them)

 

[fitter30]

Delete

 

[bluedog225]

Turns out one brother of the guy doing my clearing, and trenching works for the power company, and his other brother works for the water company.

My worry about whether to go one inch or inch and a quarter line have gone away. As have all my worries about where I can get 250 psi pipe. I think I’m getting 300 psi pipe from the same place the water company gets its pipe. And he says it’s just easier to order inch and a half so I’ll have availability of whatever parts the municipality use. Nice.

Also, looking at extending the powerline about half of the 800 feet I was looking at with a new pole. That’s going to reduce my underground line size pretty significantly.

 

[dcg9381]

Thanks.

Pretty sure there is no authority having jurisdiction that has adopted electrical standards in the rural county I’m in. Could be wrong. But Texas y’all.

Likely your county HAS an "adopted" NEC standard that is set in writing somewhere. But if your county is like mine, because they don't require electrical permits and as such do not do electrical inspection, the only good a "standard" does is set a requirement for contractor's paid work in the area.... Your "authority" is not paying the bill until the job is done to whatever NEC code the county references. You'll have hire your own inspector as the county doesn't provide one, if you want inspected work.