How do I spool 350' of 3 x 6 AWG Direct Burial Cable into a Trench?

[growler]

You will have the backhoe on site. Hang the reels from the bucket and have the operator drive along the trench. Pull the wire off the reels and into the trench. Easy job.

I don't think you understood what the posts you are responding to are saying. They were not going to pull the wire through the trench.

Through the trench or into the trench ?

I'm saying that it's often easier to pull the wire from the reel before putting it in the trench.

There isn't just one way to do a job like this. When you are at the job site you use your best judgment based on condition and what materials and equipment you have available.

 

[growler]

Depends on the reel and cable and other conditions. The reel's circumference/diameter is fixed, and longer than that of the wire spooling off of it, which gets smaller and smaller as more cable comes off. It will want to drag the cable with it partially, or need to slip while rolling.

If it drags the cable forward a bit then, so what, you drag it back.

The best way is if you have some jack stands handy but he may not have them and the spools may be delivered in a flat bed truck so they may not have a way to elevate the reel.

A least half the little jobs I have done like this were done without having the proper tools and equipment but that's life.

 

[oldsparky52]

Through the trench or into the trench ?

I'm saying that it's often easier to pull the wire from the reel before putting it in the trench.

There isn't just one way to do a job like this. When you are at the job site you use your best judgment based on condition and what materials and equipment you have available.

I agree each site may have different conditions requiring different methods. As far as through or into the trench, I was responding to the 1st sentence in the quote below.

Since there is a backhoe on site, I would have someone drive the backhoe adjacent to the trench while suspending the reel so it can easily spin, then someone would be pulling the wire off the reel and dropping it into the trench instead of the adjacent ground (probably 2 someones on the reel/trench).

Why do you guys want to pull the wire through the trench ?

The trench may not be all that straight.

I would normally spool all the cable off beside the trench (straight line) and then come back and put the cable in the trench. Then manually (with a shovel) put some soft dirt over the cable to hold it in place and protect the cable as the trench is being back filled.

 

[ptonsparky]

Take the time and bundle the wires somewhat if you're not going to put them in conduit. I had a temporary, one year only, setup that I feel would have benefitted from bundling when a fault did occur three or four years later. The wires were laid in the trench in a very haphazard fashion with dirt going in immediately after.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

Why do you guys want to pull the wire through the trench ?

The trench may not be all that straight.

I would normally spool all the cable off beside the trench (straight line) and then come back and put the cable in the trench. Then manually (with a shovel) put some soft dirt over the cable to hold it in place and protect the cable as the trench is being back filled.

Wow! I didn't realize it was a winding trench.

That works too. I typically do it that way with wire or conduit in some circumstances.

 

[FionaZuppa]

To answer the threads' topic question

You hire extra crew with bongos, hardhats, and a motivational speaker :lol:

 

[sameguy]

Is it me or what?
#6 paralleled on one reel ~ 100lbs. Going 350', what's the problem? You two better have it in and backfilled by coffee don't forget the danger tape!
Set the reel at the center pull one way then roll the other; many was to do a simple simple job.

 

[oldsparky52]

Is it me or what?
#6 paralleled on one reel ~ 100lbs. Going 350', what's the problem? You two better have it in and backfilled by coffee don't forget the danger tape!
Set the reel at the center pull one way then roll the other; many was to do a simple simple job.

It is rather light, I'm used to working with wire and reels that weigh well over 1,000 pounds. As far as rolling the reel while the wire is already stretched out .... bad idea. (that different diameter thing that causes the wire to hold the reel back or the wire to follow the reel).

 

[electrofelon]

Is it me or what?
#6 paralleled on one reel ~ 100lbs. Going 350', what's the problem? You two better have it in and backfilled by coffee don't forget the danger tape!
Set the reel at the center pull one way then roll the other; many was to do a simple simple job.

I agree. Some overthinking going on here. Set it up and pull it off. I have done much longer and larger. I'd do this by myself in like 20 minutes once setup.