dcsva@aol.com
Senior Member
- Location
- Virginia
What is the burial depth of the 240VAC/1PH service from the POCO to my house?
POCO Power Cable to my house
- Thread starter dcsva@aol.com
- Start date
- Status
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
The NESC requires 24 inches of cover. The various electric utilities may require more but never less. IPL requires a 36" deep trench to put the cable into and allows up to 4" of grading after installation.
The NESC requires 24 inches of cover. The various electric utilities may require more but never less. IPL requires a 36" deep trench to put the cable into and allows up to 4" of grading after installation.
dcsva@aol.com
Senior Member
- Location
- Virginia
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
We accidentally dug it up today and we were only about 18" down. I knew the power line was there so we were being very careful, I was very concerned when we came across it soooooo early.
We accidentally dug it up today and we were only about 18" down. I knew the power line was there so we were being very careful, I was very concerned when we came across it soooooo early.
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
Depends on the route taken and whether it is in raceway or not. See Table 300.5
Somewhere between 0-24".
Depends on the route taken and whether it is in raceway or not. See Table 300.5
Somewhere between 0-24".
dcsva@aol.com
Senior Member
- Location
- Virginia
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
It was a PVC outer shell
It was a PVC outer shell
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
I should have also said that it depends on where your meter/main disco is. This directs you to the NEC or NESC.
I should have also said that it depends on where your meter/main disco is. This directs you to the NEC or NESC.
dcsva@aol.com
Senior Member
- Location
- Virginia
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
The meter is mounted to the back of my house near the back entrance door. The power extension comes from the far back left corner of the property. Approx. 100FT
The meter is mounted to the back of my house near the back entrance door. The power extension comes from the far back left corner of the property. Approx. 100FT
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
Did you dig a section on the utility side of the meter, or your side of the meter. If utility side, then NESC. Your side, then NEC. The NEC would have required 18" in PVC.
Did you dig a section on the utility side of the meter, or your side of the meter. If utility side, then NESC. Your side, then NEC. The NEC would have required 18" in PVC.
dcsva@aol.com
Senior Member
- Location
- Virginia
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
It was the utlility side
It was the utlility side
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
The bottom line is that the cable, whether protected or not, should have been located before digging. I suspect you will be required to pay the piper.
It could have been "cable in conduit" which would have been a black HDPE conduit. Of course, it could have been PVC. Anyway, the NESC says in Rule 352D2b "Lesser depths that indicated above may be used where supplemental protection is provided. The supplemental protection should be sufficient to protect the cable from damage imposed by expected surface usage."
The bottom line is that the cable, whether protected or not, should have been located before digging. I suspect you will be required to pay the piper.
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
Hi Charlie,
I know you are electrical.
Do you have any IURC info on gas line depths.
On a Sunday, years ago I was roto-tilling, at no more than 6 inches and dug-up and cut-into the gas line.
That was the servicemans' first words also.
I suppose I was lucky and never heard about the service charge again, but at 6" ??.
Actually the Gas pipe was only down about 4".
The Poco's, CATV's, and Telephone services should be required to be down at least 24" to the top of their laterals, but what does the URC say?
edit " forgot to include Gas service lines. "
[ April 21, 2003, 07:48 AM: Message edited by: gwz2 ]
Hi Charlie,
I know you are electrical.
Do you have any IURC info on gas line depths.
On a Sunday, years ago I was roto-tilling, at no more than 6 inches and dug-up and cut-into the gas line.
That was the servicemans' first words also.
I suppose I was lucky and never heard about the service charge again, but at 6" ??.
Actually the Gas pipe was only down about 4".
The Poco's, CATV's, and Telephone services should be required to be down at least 24" to the top of their laterals, but what does the URC say?
edit " forgot to include Gas service lines. "
[ April 21, 2003, 07:48 AM: Message edited by: gwz2 ]
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
torint,
Marking is only required for undergound service conductors that are not encased in concrete and not installed by the utility. See 300.5(D)(3).
Don
torint,
Marking is only required for undergound service conductors that are not encased in concrete and not installed by the utility. See 300.5(D)(3).
Don
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
Don, I read 300.5(D)(3). Thank you for showing me that. I have read many of your scripts that say the code is a bare min and I agree. What are your feelings on making it a code requirement to place a warning ribbon on all buried conductors? For the sake of safety and to warn others from causing a disruption of power. I do it all of the time and even the home owner that is planting bushes or re cementing yards will have a "heads up".
Don, I read 300.5(D)(3). Thank you for showing me that. I have read many of your scripts that say the code is a bare min and I agree. What are your feelings on making it a code requirement to place a warning ribbon on all buried conductors? For the sake of safety and to warn others from causing a disruption of power. I do it all of the time and even the home owner that is planting bushes or re cementing yards will have a "heads up".
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
DC
I would bet that the grade was changed after the installation. Was the unearthing at the driveway?
My POCO places the underground at 4' and requires schedule 80 any place it cross a driveway.
Mike P.
DC
I would bet that the grade was changed after the installation. Was the unearthing at the driveway?
My POCO places the underground at 4' and requires schedule 80 any place it cross a driveway.
Mike P.
doug glasscock
Member
- Location
- Virginia
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
okay...okay...
we were digging because we got a bob-cat stuck up to its belly when we were spreading some crush-n-run to extend the driveway to the back yard.
The power line was about one-foot outside the edge of the drive and would not go under crush-n-run surface. But we got stuck, As soon as I saw the power line we hooked chains to its bucket and choked the chain around a big tree and pulled itself out.
[ April 21, 2003, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: doug glasscock ]
okay...okay...
we were digging because we got a bob-cat stuck up to its belly when we were spreading some crush-n-run to extend the driveway to the back yard.
The power line was about one-foot outside the edge of the drive and would not go under crush-n-run surface. But we got stuck, As soon as I saw the power line we hooked chains to its bucket and choked the chain around a big tree and pulled itself out.
[ April 21, 2003, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: doug glasscock ]
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
torint,
It would be a good idea. To do it correctly, it is an expense, as you have to fill the ditch a foot or so over the conductors, lay in the marking tape and then complete the filling of the ditch. This almost doubles the labor hours requried for the backfilling of the ditch. The next issue would be where the conductors are installed by directional boring, would you require a second bore for the warning tape?
Don
torint,
It would be a good idea. To do it correctly, it is an expense, as you have to fill the ditch a foot or so over the conductors, lay in the marking tape and then complete the filling of the ditch. This almost doubles the labor hours requried for the backfilling of the ditch. The next issue would be where the conductors are installed by directional boring, would you require a second bore for the warning tape?
Don
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
Actually, the conductors could be lowered. You really need to get the local electric utility involved. You may have damaged conductors that will fail in the future and will be billing the owner for your mistake.
Actually, the conductors could be lowered. You really need to get the local electric utility involved. You may have damaged conductors that will fail in the future and will be billing the owner for your mistake.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
Torint, the underground warning ribbon is a nice idea, but I have seen many times where the ribbon and conduct was dug through together. Also its hard to get the ditch backfilled half way and then put the ribbbon in. The backhoe folks want to cover and go.
But if you know its there, the ribbon is a heads up. the best way is to put sand around the cable or conduit, when you see the sand, you are almost there.
Torint, the underground warning ribbon is a nice idea, but I have seen many times where the ribbon and conduct was dug through together. Also its hard to get the ditch backfilled half way and then put the ribbbon in. The backhoe folks want to cover and go.
But if you know its there, the ribbon is a heads up. the best way is to put sand around the cable or conduit, when you see the sand, you are almost there.
frenchelectrican
Senior Member
- Location
- Nord'est Wisconsin et Paris France
Re: POCO Power Cable to my house
tom i do agree with you about burying the power cables but the instering twist compound here in state of wisconsin the poco required the seconary line to be buryied at least 30 inches (3/4 meter) deep but if it is primary cables then therefore it go more deeper depend on voltage and classation (type) useally 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet deep i just have one job site the primary cables were buryed at 2 meter deep (6'7" ) it was 14.4 KV primary wye connetion then to underground transformer pad then termated the seconary line run at good 4 FEET deep ! it was 1600 amp 480 volts system
the gas pipe that do varis alot but it fall under national gas fuel code (aka natural gaz for multi puropse) for drop (from main line at street to the gaz meter it is will typically buryed at 2 1/2 feet for small one for large one it can go deeper for main run ( main gas line) it is buryed at 4 to 6 feet deep but it can varis depend on location ...
enough of my chatting here but main point is call the digger hotline or marking company to mark down all the uilites line etc before start digging etc .. ( state of wis say it is a law call 3 days before starting expect emgercy call will charge the trip to mark it down ) i am sure most other state do the same too
merci marc
tom i do agree with you about burying the power cables but the instering twist compound here in state of wisconsin the poco required the seconary line to be buryied at least 30 inches (3/4 meter) deep but if it is primary cables then therefore it go more deeper depend on voltage and classation (type) useally 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet deep i just have one job site the primary cables were buryed at 2 meter deep (6'7" ) it was 14.4 KV primary wye connetion then to underground transformer pad then termated the seconary line run at good 4 FEET deep ! it was 1600 amp 480 volts system
the gas pipe that do varis alot but it fall under national gas fuel code (aka natural gaz for multi puropse) for drop (from main line at street to the gaz meter it is will typically buryed at 2 1/2 feet for small one for large one it can go deeper for main run ( main gas line) it is buryed at 4 to 6 feet deep but it can varis depend on location ...
enough of my chatting here but main point is call the digger hotline or marking company to mark down all the uilites line etc before start digging etc .. ( state of wis say it is a law call 3 days before starting expect emgercy call will charge the trip to mark it down ) i am sure most other state do the same too
merci marc
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