Digging Trench with Pressure Washer

[nimblemotors]

So I needed to run power cable from the utility box to the barn, and this time I made a shortish video on
doing it using a pressure washer.
I had not seen anyone make one, though lots of people asked on forums about doing it.
I think I've had a whole 10 views on this video, so maybe worth letting more people know. or not.

Digging a Trench with a Pressure Washer - YouTube

 

[TractorGuy]

Not to rain on your parade but no way would I bury a power wire that shallow. My well has a ground rated wire buried but it was done by the electrician and I wasn't there so I don't know how deep it is. If I were doing it I would go at least 3 feet down and put it in conduit.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I have shot a hole with a pressure washer under a sidewalk to run a conduit but I've never used it to dig a trench to bury wire.

 

[Budweiser John]

Not to rain on your parade but no way would I bury a power wire that shallow. My well has a ground rated wire buried but it was done by the electrician and I wasn't there so I don't know how deep it is. If I were doing it I would go at least 3 feet down and put it in conduit.

A-men on that.
Anyone taking bets that wire will need to be replaced in less than 2 years?

B. John

 

[AchingBack]

Not to rain on your parade but no way would I bury a power wire that shallow. My well has a ground rated wire buried but it was done by the electrician and I wasn't there so I don't know how deep it is. If I were doing it I would go at least 3 feet down and put it in conduit.

I had gophers chew through the insulation of 6 gauge aluminum wire running to pump house. Had the original installation been put in conduit, (by others), I'd be 1k richer.

 

[bruceha2000]

You might want to check codes in your state. Here power cables must be underground rated, at least 18" deep and in conduit.

 

[tcreeley]

I've hand dug channels for UF wire to out buildings. Just a few inches. Just a few problems once where it crossed the barnyard. I reburied the portion that popped up. I once also ran UF wire across a lawn to get electricity where I wanted it. I found the wire lay flat and was covered over by the turf. I know it's there - electricity still runs, but I can't see it anymore. I run the mower over it all of the time. It holds up to rain, snow, frozen ground, tractor traffic.

Now I don't recommend this to anyone! But it has worked for me! Good thing the safety police are not doing their job via hi-resolution satellite imagery!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Reminds me of the trench I dug and encountered bedrock close to the surface. Tried a 7.62 FMJ NATO round or two! That didn't work at all, but it would be more fun than the ungodly mess of using a pressure washer.

I saw a huge vaccumme truck yesterday doing excavation. My thought is always how long it takes those guys.

 

[Ford850]

He did dig to 18". Not sure what type of wire used or if conduit was also used. I do like the idea of how you can cross other pipes or wires with no damage.

 

[flewism]

You might want to check codes in your state. Here power cables must be underground rated, at least 18" deep and in conduit.

18" deep hare also, **** I used and hose with a screw type nozzle duct taped to a broom handle to run pex under our sidewalk for a lawn sprinkler 25 years ago when we lived in suburbia.