Bringing Power In

[RobS]

Bummer EddieWalker. It's obvious you are doing your best to do the best job possible and I would encourage you to keep that theme if you can.

We ran into a remotely similar situation when buying property/building house. The developer pinched pennies and ran the electric above ground. We now look out our front windows and see power lines and poles across the street. Not a huge deal, but it certainly does spoil an otherwise natural view. Phone is all underground, go figure.

When running to our own property we asked about underground. So many feet free but we were more than that. We went ahead and paid and are very glad we did. I even asked about running under the street but that became seriously expensive (like what you're seeing) so we do have one pole on our side of the street to get the power across and down. It's not the end of the world but again, it permanently scars the view.

I would only encourage you to think long and hard. It may be a lot of money but if you ever decide to change later it will be many times more expensive /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[8NTX]

Eddie - I'm with you. Seems like a huge waste of money. If you can't save at least half of that by doing the digging and running the wire yourself, I would just look go ariel.

Steve

 

[Junkman]

If you installed everything already then there should be no difference to the utility if it is overhead or underground. It is the same amount of wire and the labor and the conduit is already done. If they want $2000 to pull the wire through the pipe, put in your own wire going up the pole and let them just tie them to the transformer. The wire can't cost $2000 or anywhere near that amount. Seems that they are being unreasonable for no reason. I would move up the line of command and then try to quietly explain the reasoning that there are going to be large trailers that could pull down the overhead wires if they were hit and that is the reason for underground. The costs to the electrical company are the same if you paid to install all the conduit. Around here they don't charge for underground unless the distance exceeds the distance between two normal poles.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

that seems like a lot of money provided you're already doing the digging and the wire is paid for. Sometimes different type wire is required for above or below ground. I really wonder if that alone could cost that much more. Especially for only 10 ft x3. It may be due to the special equipment needed or people needed to pull that size wire through vs a boom and a couple linemen hanging the overhead? I couldn't say. I know when I pulled my 0000 aluminum in that was hard enough, can't imaging with your amp capacity what that stuff is like.

It's going to come down to cost vs. function. If those lines are going to disrupt the visual appearance of your camp enough to make it worth the expense, or if having above ground lines increases your liability of someone electricuting themselves, then it may be worth it. Otherwise that is a decent amount of money to spend on 10ft.

What did you ever decide on your HVAC system?

 

[EddieWalker]

Latest update.

The wire from the meter box to the disconnect box cost me $500. Just the wire!!!!!!!

The meter box is ten feet from the pole, but it is also 3 feet in the ground and the pole is about 20 feet tall, plus the meter is around five feet tall.

So were looking at closer to 40 feet time three of very expensive wire due to the loads I'm pulling. 1,200 amps changes everything.

My electrician is also experiencing sticker shock at the price of wire for these loads.

He just called and is beginning to think that $2,000 is a pretty good price for what they will do. If I go arial, he'll have to run the wire six feet up a pole to the weatherhead, where the power company will hook up to it. Cost of the wire to handle that load is gonna be very dear indeed. I should have a quote by tommorrow evening. He's shoping around, but it doesn't look good.

This is turning into one of those situations that either way, I'm gonna pay. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Eddie

 

[HuckBB62]

Eddie, didn't the electric company tell you all this in the original job walk/bid?

 

[EddieWalker]

I was told what needed to be done to meet their requirements. I made the mistake of assuming it was just like a residential connection, just bigger. It's not just bigger, it's much, much bigger, which is resulting in some very expensive wire.

This is my first time dealing with commercial power and large loads. My ignorance is pretty much compelete here. I don't even know enough to ask the right questions. This is what's led to my suprise at costs. I just didn't realize what they would be.

Eddie

 

[kensfarm]

"I'm pulling. 1,200 amps"

Would it have been cheaper to run wire to connnect 3 400amp meters.. just curious if they gave you diff. configurations to bring in the power you need.

 

[EddieWalker]

My electrician just came by to talk about my options. If I go underground, it's $2,000. Seems pretty rediculous, but the wire is what's causing most of that expense.

If I go arial, it's gonna be under $400. I'll buy the material and build it myself according to his specifications. Then he will wire it up and I'll be ready to go.

For the money, and such a short run, I'm going arial.

Eddie




Ken

The price for the poles and wire to be installed was based on my load requirements on a single meter. Since I'm gonna be a very good customer for the power company, I get the cheaper install price.

If I only put in a 400 amp meter, or several of them, I'd still only get credit for one meter. After the first meter, I would get credit for the run to the next meter.

 

[DTCOOPER]

Eddie,
I work for an electrica lsupply house here in Dallas...
What size wire are they telling you that you need to parallel?
Let me know, send me an email to dcooper@nospamceddallas.com
remove "nospam" and let me know... I will sell you the stuff at cost... shoot me an email right quick...
Or just call me if you want 214-932-2982
I sell about 75 thousand pounds of copper per month.. we have a little bit of pull with the big 4 manufacturers.. 3 of which are local.
Daniel