montelatici
Platinum Member
I am installing a gate opener and I have to dig a trench to bury power cable. Using the backhoe bucket seems an overkill and will ruin my lawn.
Can the Brotek Ripper be used efficiently to dig trench for low voltage wire?
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Mowbizz
Platinum Member
montelatici said:
I don't see why not...how deep are you burying the cable? would you use the backhoe or just set the depth of the tooth and drive forward on the tractor?
I've seen a video of someone doing just that with the with ripper with the trench option attached...depends on your soil too if you're just going through loam and grass it would probably work great...just make sure you're not going over any existing buried stuff...
BTW, I have a BroTek tooth but have not used it to do any trench work yet...
OP
montelatici
Platinum Member
I think it would do the trick. I don't think I need to go more the 2 feet down. Thanks.
RayCo
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Personally, I'd use the backhoe. In my township, electrical lines must be three feet down for one. Also, putting down some screening and an obvious layer of stone on top is something else I'd do for anyone who may wind up digging later on.
texasjohn
Super Member
There have been a number of TBN threads where people use a subsoiler to pull pipe and/or wire into the ground with minimum surface disturbance.
I have personally burried lots of black plastic pipe with an electric fence charger wire inside. It is amazing how easily the pipe will pull into the ground for quite an extended distance. Depends on your soil type, depth, rocks, horsepower, etc. I have HST and the speed control it affords is critical, IMHO, to this kind of operation.
Me, I'd insert the low voltage power wire into 3/4 inch or 1 inch black plastic roll pipe and pull it with a subsoiler. Am not sure what a Rrotek Ripper is... maybe that is exactly the right tool.
I have personally burried lots of black plastic pipe with an electric fence charger wire inside. It is amazing how easily the pipe will pull into the ground for quite an extended distance. Depends on your soil type, depth, rocks, horsepower, etc. I have HST and the speed control it affords is critical, IMHO, to this kind of operation.
Me, I'd insert the low voltage power wire into 3/4 inch or 1 inch black plastic roll pipe and pull it with a subsoiler. Am not sure what a Rrotek Ripper is... maybe that is exactly the right tool.
MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
better to use a subsoiler than a ripper tooth I am sure.
KeithInSpace
Veteran Member
My friend just used a subsoiler to install over 600 feet of underground cable. Said it worked like a charm.MessickFarmEqu said:
If you look at the picture in Wikipedia, you can add a thing to the back to make burying wire a snap...Subsoiler - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tractor Supply Company has an XB series made for SCUTs that has both a subsoiler and middlebuster blade included for ~$140. It's even the right color! This is the one my friend used...Tractor Supply Company - XB Middle Buster/ Sub-Soiler
I'm going to pick mine up today!
Tom_H
Veteran Member
This ripper tooth without the trenching attachment is going to be very similar to a subsoiler. If you don't have position control, you should have more control with the ripper tooth than a standard subsoiler. The subsoiler shown in the Wikipedia link that Keith posted has an adjustable extender. A typical inexpensive Howse or King Kutter model from Northern Tool would not have that extender.
It sounds like this is not low voltage wiring. With low voltage, I would not worry much about depth. With 110 or 220, I personally would go a min. of 4' deep in conduit with warning ribbon at the approriate level above that, which would mean using a rotary or ditch witch (looks like a giant chain saw) style trencher or a backhoe. But that's just me; I prefer to reduce the chance that someone will someday stomp a shovel into a buried wire and get electrocuted.
sub soiler from Northern Tool + Equipment
It sounds like this is not low voltage wiring. With low voltage, I would not worry much about depth. With 110 or 220, I personally would go a min. of 4' deep in conduit with warning ribbon at the approriate level above that, which would mean using a rotary or ditch witch (looks like a giant chain saw) style trencher or a backhoe. But that's just me; I prefer to reduce the chance that someone will someday stomp a shovel into a buried wire and get electrocuted.
sub soiler from Northern Tool + Equipment
KeithInSpace
Veteran Member
Benefit, though, is that the wire can be laid directly by a subsoiler through the pipe attachment at the back of the device. Can't do that with a ripper tooth. And there is the added benefit of having a middlebuster plow in your back pocket. And for long runs, you can just sink it, 4WD, Low Range, and GO vs. having to re-set along the way with the ripper tooth.
Of course the benefit to a ripper tooth is you have it on hand the next stump you plan on pulling. And you can get the WHOLE way to the house instead of having to hand-dig the last foot or two.
Benefits to both.
Of course the benefit to a ripper tooth is you have it on hand the next stump you plan on pulling. And you can get the WHOLE way to the house instead of having to hand-dig the last foot or two.
Benefits to both.
texasjohn
Super Member
The OP put "low votage" in the title. If this isn't true, then he should say so... and plan depth of burial/sheathing accordingly.