Attaching overhead wire to trees in campground

[ponderosapines]

I'm the owner of a campground in Pennsylvania. I'm upgrading my electrical service and running overhead lines. All existing overhead lines are run through and attached to trees. Is there anything in the NEC allowing this? All I found was Article 230.10 prohibiting trees as supports. Any information would be helpful.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

It seems like you found the article that prohibits supporting service conductors with trees. Are we talking about service conductors? Not sure what more you need as there is no exception. The nec allows lighting to be attached to trees but not service conductors.

 

[infinity]

Lighting can be attached to trees but conductors cannot be strung from one tree to another. FWIW the biggest ski resort in NJ has much of their chair lift/trail lights and cables attached to live trees strung from tree to tree.

 

[ptonsparky]

Trees were not prohibited until a few years ago. Time flies so a few may be many. Your install may have been allowed at the time.

 

[ponderosapines]

It seems like you found the article that prohibits supporting service conductors with trees. Are we talking about service conductors? Not sure what more you need as there is no exception. The nec allows lighting to be attached to trees but not service conductors.

I didn't know if there are any exceptions in highly wooded, inaccessible areas where it is a hardship to take trees down and replace with electrical poles. Just trying to save myself $10,000 worth of electrical poles.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

If they are not service conductors, then they are covered by Article 225.

225.26 Vegetation as Support. Vegetation such as trees shall not be used for support of overhead conductor spans.

 

[tom baker]

If this is for feeders, you'll need to run quadraplex, as the neutral has to be insulated. Much of the tri and quad OH cables is not listed, and can't be used for NEC applications.
Wouldn't it be easier to go UG?

 

[infinity]

Trees were not prohibited until a few years ago. Time flies so a few may be many. Your install may have been allowed at the time.

Time does fly, the prohibition to the use live trees was added to Article 225 in 1987. {225.26}

 

[ptonsparky]

Time does fly, the prohibition to the use live trees was added to Article 225 in 1987. {225.26}

That dates the campground anyway.




That would have been about my 5th code change.

 

[Hendrix]

Lighting can be attached to trees but conductors cannot be strung from one tree to another. FWIW the biggest ski resort in NJ has much of their chair lift/trail lights and cables attached to live trees strung from tree to tree.

What Mtn. range is in NJ ?