Can the Brotek Ripper be used efficiently to dig trench for low voltage wire?

[ore540]

Whoever suggested the TSC subsoiler, many thanks. The thing works great with the single tooth. As I was digging the trench with it, it also pulled up roots from vines at the edge of my property therefore it may also help in stump removal along with the BX-24's backhoe. The plow part is off, but it looks like the right implement for potatoes with the plow part on.

Thanks for the follow up. So your BX didn't have any trouble pulling it? I've wondered since I have a BX24 and there have been several posts about its limited ability to pull ground engaging implements. How deep (and wide) was the trench and did you pull the wire as you went or go back and put it in the trench?

 

[ampsucker]

nobody else has jumped on this yet, so let me be the first.

220-240 volt is just two legs of 110-120 volt line. you don't gain any voltage or assistance in distance by going to the higher voltage. you just have to run two legs of the same lower voltage line. then you have to transform it back down or balance the legs somehow if you want to retain your efficiency or run the much more common 110 volt appliances (openers, christmas lights, motors, pumps, etc.)

the only way to have less voltage drop is go bigger conductor or actually use transformers like the utility company does.

my BIL (electrician) reminds me that i sound like an amatuer when i refer to wiring as 110 or 220 or whatever. it is referred to by the wiring code such as 12-2 w/ ground (normally used for 20 amp 110 volt service meaning it has 2 strands of 12 gauge wire plus a bare ground strand, aka romex) or 10-3 plus ground (3 strands of 10 gauge plus ground, often used to run both legs of 30 amp 110 for 220 volt service plus neutral and ground). there are codes for maximum run with acceptable voltage drops in the handbooks. check it out to make sure you run what you need to run and aren't disappointed after a lot of hard work.

amp

 

[montelatici]

Thanks for the follow up. So your BX didn't have any trouble pulling it? I've wondered since I have a BX24 and there have been several posts about its limited ability to pull ground engaging implements. How deep (and wide) was the trench and did you pull the wire as you went or go back and put it in the trench?

It disturbs about 9-10 inches of soil at the surface but the trench itself is only about 3-4 inches wide. I am using the single tooth, not the plow (it comes with both). About 12 inches with a single pass. I am going to have to do two passes to get 18-24 inches. I am digging the ditch then laying the wire manually. It's only about 100-150 feet I need to lay.

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

It disturbs about 9-10 inches of soil at the surface but the trench itself is only about 3-4 inches wide. I am using the single tooth, not the plow (it comes with both). About 12 inches with a single pass. I am going to have to do two passes to get 18-24 inches. I am digging the ditch then laying the wire manually. It's only about 100-150 feet I need to lay.

Montelatici, can you actually acheive 18 inches in depth? My buddy was kind enough to ask that I do some Kubota work at his place (yes, I still look forward to any and all projects that involve the 'bota) and trenching 18" for a cable is on the to-do list. If your experience indicates that you can get a fairly clean trench down to 18" or lower, then I'm buying the same ripper.

Thanks
Jesse

 

[Tom_H]

can you actually acheive 18 inches in depth?

Jesse,

My ripper is in transit to me right now. Mine will be used in the duripan (very hard silica cemented hardpan) where the 9" bucket can't even scratch unless the pan has been soaking all winter from rain. I hope to be able to get 2 to 3".

Your soil type and conditions could be a big factor in the depth you can go.

Also be aware that Richard still has pics on his site of the old riper which was single shank. The new version has a perpendicular plate welded to the top half of the shank (like a T bar) for reinforcement. This may affect how deep the tooth can go, again with soil conditions having an interplay on that. ChuckinNH has a thumbnail in the following post. You can click on the thumbnail to see the reinforcement piece.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/118258-subframe-bx24-3.html#post1395068

When you go to Richard's site, the old ripper without this extra plate is what you see. (See 1st pic on left.):

Bro-Tek: Tractor Add Ons

 

[montelatici]

"Montelatici, can you actually acheive 18 inches in depth? "

Yes, I have already. It took three passes in some sections with a lot of big tuber roots, which you have to break lifting the hitch and going forward a few times. But in the clay we have around here, without roots it can be done in two passes. It's only $129, a must have at the price.

 

[montelatici]

Have to thank KeithinSpace for the recommendation of the TSC subsoiler, great idea for the type of trenching I am doing. Funny thing at TSC. I asked a salesman about the implement and told him my plow that fit my B5200 would not fit on the BX (too long). He asked me why I downsized to a tractor with "itty bitty" wheels and grumbled about tiny tractors all the way to the implement area. He then found what looked to be it but said that they weren't in stock and that they only had the subsoiler, no tooth. I asked if they had teeth alone that I could add and he said no. So I looked at the thing closely and saw that the tooth is actually mounted to the back of the plow to be removed and mounted on front with the plow removed if it is to be used. I told him I'd take the plow anyway.

 

[Tom_H]

Don't worry too much about the depth even if it is "line voltage"

I apologize to everyone in advance, 'cause I know this is totally way off topic, but Paul, I just gotta ask. That little girl in your avatar pic is just too cute. Is she your daughter, granddaughter?