Electric transformer in front of house (on ground)

[Richard]

We've got one of those transformers sitting in front of the house. Wife L.O.V.E.S. it (highly dripping with sarcasm)

It happens to be in a spot where it was once clear.....but since she detests looking at things like that, she planted some roses near it, there are some natural vines near it.....so today, you would literally run into it before you knew it was there (all the growth not withstanding)

What I'm wondering is, are there any codes or general rules for things like this?

I personally think it might need more room to breath/cool than having all this greenery growing on it. Heck, for all I know, the vines might be able to work their way into a crevace and explore inside (but I have no clue)

I just cringe whenever I see it all covered up with growth (as in 100% covered) and SHE cringes anytime she sees it standing on its own.

I might add we put a little white picket fence around it (maybe 4-5 feet square?) to hide it but that only gave her more support for the vinery.

I'm working so can't go out there for closer shot, this is from my office.
By the way, much of that greenery is laying on top or hanging over the top.

Any thoughts?

 

[Username Taken]

I'm with you. Something like that could cause a serious accident by fooling somebody into thinking there's nothing there. Why would someone want to disguise an obvious hazard??

I feel your pain.

 

[kenmbz]

I let stuff grow around mine, but keep a small path and about 5 feet or so clear around it.
Maybe it can be painted ?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

You don't own that, it belongs to your electric provider. Better check with them. Ask me how I know....

 

[5030]

Utilities can set a pad transformer about anywhere they want to.

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, it's in the other bushes.

But seriously, I'd not have plants growing on it just from the aspect of if it every needs to be serviced, the poor technician(s) will have to deal with it. I always look at stuff from a service tech's point of view. Give it at least 3' clearance on all sides and maybe run around it with a weed eater or push mower every few weeks.

 

[grsthegreat]

they do produce a bit of heat, but nothing needing breathing room. if you ever have trouble, codes require a 3' clearance of all obstacles, so technically they could opt not to work on it until its cleared.

ive been called to look at exterior electric meter sections that are overgrown by roses or other obnoxious plants and refuse to work on it till there cleared up. i have no intentions of getting all cut up servicing the thing. i have a ground mount on my property, no problem at all.

that being said i do have a client that had a fiberglass hollow rock made to cover her own transformer. looks pretty cool actually.

Big Fake Rocks For Big (Ugly) Electrical Boxes ⋆

If you’re a homeowner there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the big green ugly electrical utility boxes the power companies place in the yard. For easy access, many of these electrical boxes are placed in the front yard out near the road where they are easy to find and easily visible. Many...

rocksfast.com

 

[coobie]

Utilities can set a pad transformer about anywhere they want to.

Not true.Power company needs to "SIGNED" documents from land owners to get right of way to set overhead/underground poles transformers and such.OP please be CAREFULL around that Underground transformer I have seen where the primary/secondary connections have come lose in the transformer and have energized the steel cabinet ..

 

[Richard]

To clarify.... there IS a fence around it. We took some lattice and surrounded the transformer. The lattice has maybe 18" of clearance between the lattice and transformer. The greenery is just an absolute mess. (drives me nuts and I salivate every time I have the string trimmer in my hands BUT, I see her look of consternation grow as I get closer)

In the beginning, if someone needed to work on it or get into it, we'd simply move the lattice out of the way. Now, the lattice is interlaced a bit with some of the vines and that mass is growing above it so it would have to be hacked away (makes me smile just thinking about that!)

I have always felt that the greenery acts a bit like a blanket on there keeping some of the airflow impeded.

 

[Diggin It]

To clarify.... there IS a fence around it. We took some lattice and surrounded the transformer. The lattice has maybe 18" of clearance between the lattice and transformer.

You're gonna need to add a bit:

if you ever have trouble, codes require a 3' clearance of all obstacles, so technically they could opt not to work on it until its cleared.

 

[Alan W.]

Your electric company will give you a sheet or have one on their website detailing clearances needed for transformers.
If I remember correctly more clearance is required on the side that opens so they have clearance to use their sticks to turn the electric on or off.
And those clearances are as binding as any other right of way.

 

[plowhog]

I'd consider whether you want to keep some clearance around it, so that you can do it the way you want it, or lose control of that.

At some point it will need service. If you are not home the utility worker(s) will probably hack it up-- any way they want, and maybe send you a bill for the effort.

 

[bcp]

Make a lightweight cover or walls that look like a house for your garden gnomes.

garden gnome house at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Bruce

 

[newbury]

Roundup can be your tool.

 

[orezok]

Not true.Power company needs to "SIGNED" documents from land owners to get right of way to set overhead/underground poles transformers and such.OP please be CAREFULL around that Underground transformer I have seen where the primary/secondary connections have come lose in the transformer and have energized the steel cabinet ..

 

[orezok]

Not true.Power company needs to "SIGNED" documents from land owners to get right of way to set overhead/underground poles transformers and such.OP please be CAREFULL around that Underground transformer I have seen where the primary/secondary connections have come lose in the transformer and have energized the steel cabinet ..

Not true for my property. My ground transformer is located 700’ off the main line. It only serves me. I asked if they need an easement. They said NO. If you won’t let us access it, we just shut you off. Now, if it serves multiple properties, its a different story.

 

[coobie]

Not true for my property. My ground transformer is located 700’ off the main line. It only serves me. I asked if they need an easement. They said NO. If you won’t let us access it, we just shut you off. Now, if it serves multiple properties, its a different story.

You do not need right of way on your own property

 

[TMGT]

The one for my shop required a signed easement agreement which included the area where the underground line ran (about 250ft).

The offsets for buildings/ landscaping around the transformer should be available from your electric company.

 

[Frankenkubota]

I had a 2600 ft wire burried 4 ft underground, directly down the middle of my driveway, just prio to gravel. I don't remember any details re easements etc. TheY asked me where I wanted the transformer.

It's just for me. I think the guy said it was about 15K volts?

What got my attention was....they put in 2 big green boxes along the way, similar in size and shape as the xformer.

Turns out they can only pull about 800 ft of wire so they had to build in 2 couplings.

The buried pipes had filled with rain water so when they blew them out it looked like yellowstone park.

 

[TMGT]

I had a 2600 ft wire burried 4 ft underground, directly down the middle of my driveway, just prio to gravel. I don't remember any details re easements etc. TheY asked me where I wanted the transformer.

It's just for me. I think the guy said it was about 15K volts?

What got my attention was....they put in 2 big green boxes along the way, similar in size and shape as the xformer.

Turns out they can only pull about 800 ft of wire so they had to build in 2 couplings.

The buried pipes had filled with rain water so when they blew them out it looked like yellowstone park.

They mist likely have an easement where the line is, if they need to dig it up they can. I provided the PC the drawings of where I was going to run the line and had to sign an easement agreement.

I buried my own conduit and have a 75kva trans, it requires a little extra clearance around it.