burying wire with subsoiler advice

[gabby]

hey guys, thanks so much for taking the time to give me such useful detailed advice. the more i read, i think this might be one of those projects left to the pros, or at least get a certified electrician, to come out and look at the job, and tell me what would be better for this application. thanks again so much

I have plowed in lots of wire, from 12 gauge to 2 gauge. I always pull it through the ground like a rope. You will be surprised how little resistance it has. You can usually move it by hand when you're done. It creates its own tunnel through the dirt.

I have also plowed lots of PVC pipe, from 3/4" to 2 inch.

You will have trouble going 18 inches deep with 22 hp. You will have to make several dry passes first. You might also find that your 3ph doesn't have enough range to raise it clear of the ground.

I use 80 hp to make it in one pass. Good luck!

 

[jsborn]

Gabby
How do you attach the PVC pipe to your plow and do you use glued pipe in 20' lengths?

 

[kthompson]

jsborn, but if you plow around the stump where is the fun in that?

And mind telling how you know about the bumble bee's speed? No need, wasp are also faster. That is why I keep spray on my excavator and tractor if bush hogging.

 

[Redbug]

Good question Jsborn...I was also going to ask that, also. I have not tried pulling the PVC, just trenching and doing it piece by piece. What say you, Gabby?

 

[ArTrvlr]

Good question Jsborn...I was also going to ask that, also. I have not tried pulling the PVC, just trenching and doing it piece by piece. What say you, Gabby?

Also... I can see where the 20' PVC with the bell ends, so you connect them without couplings, would be a "slicker" pull, IF you pull with the straight end of the pipe. That way the bell end gives a tapered coupling area that wouldn't snag on a root or rock as you pull. But, have you done this with separate couplings, which would have a square shoulder that could snag on something in the ground? Also, how long do you let the glue dry before you continue to pull?
Thanks, jp

 

[bbowman]

I couldn't find my code book but if the foggy old brain works you need 12 gauge minimum for 300" and 15 amps, 10g would be better depending on total amp load plus current drop for the distance.
You might consider using 12/3 with ground, that will give you 2 separate circuits in one wire and pull.
I'm sure that theres a master electrician out there that will give us the correct info/specs.

As far as pulling the subsoiler 18" dep with 22hp, its doable ,depends on 2 things; traction and soil type. I've pulled my CK 20 HST 12-18" deep in one pass in sandy loam. In heavy clay Ive had to make 2 or 3 passes to get full 18". Of course roots and rocks don't count.

Have fun. Joe

I am new to this site, and have really enjoyed reading all the opinions and knowledge on this website!


Joe48,

You said that you have pulled up to 18" deep with a subsoiler. I would like to pull some flexible 3/4" pipe that deep to supply a "garden shed" that I am building for the wife.

I am a newbie to tractors and their implements. Does it depend on the subsoiler as to the depth it will "cut?" Or, are all subsoilers not created equally?

Thanks guys!

 

[dqdave1]

I have a TC 29 and it will not pull a wire at 18". That takes alot of HP and traction.

As for the 300 foot run. Pull #2 wire and wire it for 240 volts. set a sub box at horse barn . You will be able to run more circuits and voltage loss will not be as crucial.

 

[8934]

I never direct bury wire any more.

Years ago when I build my first house. I hand trenched 3' deep several hundred feet to my well, installed 3 conductor #10 direct bury cable, and covered every thing up.

Several months later the pump quit working.... One of the wires, just one, either had a manufacturing defect and broke, or some critter chewed into it.

I had to redig everything, since then I have been using pipe.

 

[jsborn]

I understand the debate between using conduit and direct burial and that is fine ,my question is how do you attach the conduit to your subsoiler and pull it with out filling it with dirt ? I know you could use tape and drill a hole in the pipe and tape it closed but there seems to be better ways? Also Gabby can you expound on how you pull PVC conduit ? do you use 20 ft sticks glued together and if so how long can you pull without putting in a splice box? Do you have problems when you try to turn a curve?

Tks

 

[gabby]

Good question Jsborn...I was also going to ask that, also. I have not tried pulling the PVC, just trenching and doing it piece by piece. What say you, Gabby?

Glue it up like a long rope and plow away. So easy to do you can't believe we used to trench and then backfill and watch it settle and need filling again and again.