Crossing small pond to power other side . What method to use ?

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Davebones

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Was asked about running power across a small pond to the other side . Would you use submersible cable , pvc weighed down , etc to accomplish this ? Was told people fish the pond so hooking it is possible . The length is about 60 ft across the pond , 150 ft total length from the house ...
 
Was asked about running power across a small pond to the other side . Would you use submersible cable , pvc weighed down , etc to accomplish this ? Was told people fish the pond so hooking it is possible . The length is about 60 ft across the pond , 150 ft total length from the house ...
Too far to go around . He doesn't want to run overhead due to looks . Its at a home in Texas . 120- 220 v 30 amps

I have never tried this but what about just using Rigid conduit to protect the conductors.

You will have to trench up to the edge of the pond on both sides anyway. The rigid should be heavy enough to sink into the mud at the bottom. Doubt if they will use hooks big enough to snag the conduit. Wouldn't be very expensive .
 
Most ponds eventually have to be dredged. it will be hard to dig the silt out if you have conduit running through it without damaging the conduit. Cable can be disconnected at one end and pulled out during the dredging operation.

For such a small pond, going around it seems like your best bet. Just trench around the pond and drop in some UF. Probably cheaper than going through the pond with submersible cable.
 
Small bore cheapest I’ve found around is about $25 per foot.
About double what trenching costs but in this case it is maybe a third of the distance to go under the pond then around it so maybe it makes sense.

I did not realize the directional boring was that expensive. I had read it was under $10 a foot if there are no obstructions like rocks.
 
Flexible pvc tubing, thick wall. Density is about 1.4, along with the cable, so it will sink. Appropriately sized inside diameter for your wire.. ,... (8awg I assume because of the distance, but I would upsize, eventually they always want more, and the bigger the tubing, the less chance of a hook snagging, unless your fishing marlins).

Assume the lowest temp at the bottom will be 36° for contraction purposes.

Junction box at each end and as mentioned, if there is ever a need you can just pull it out.
If it needs maintenance, you can use any still viable conductor to pull a rope, or again, just pull it out and redo.

Our high school’s pond’s aerator/fountain is plumbed this way.
 
I've never done it but I would B-line it from point A to point B in PVC (primer and cement the crap out of it out of the pond and let it sit a day). Do whatever to submerge it.
GFCI protect it.
Pray that it holds
 
I've never done it but I would B-line it from point A to point B in PVC (primer and cement the crap out of it out of the pond and let it sit a day). Do whatever to submerge it.
GFCI protect it.
Pray that it holds
what is the point of using pvc at all? in any case it is not that simple. how are you going to do the bends along the floor of the pond in any kind of conduit?
 
A number of marinas around here have "G" or "W" cables underwater (sleeved with PVC above water).
Has lasted for years. Almost indestructible.
 
what is the point of using pvc at all? in any case it is not that simple. how are you going to do the bends along the floor of the pond in any kind of conduit?
Why use PVC? Because I want to and the poster was concerned about catching a cable with a fishing hook so the PVC would hopefully allow the hook the slide off unless it's are real big hook.
Curves on the floor of the pond? I'll take my chances that there are no sharp drop offs on the 60' pond that would cause the conduit to fracture.
If G or W cables are rated to be directly submerged that's fine too.
There are always "what ifs".
In trade school in the late 70's early 80's we used to ask "What if" a lot. Sometimes the instructor would get fed up and respond
"What do mean what if!? What if my grandmother were a man"!?
Not to far fetched any more ;)
 
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