Crossing Stream with Electric Line

[BTDT]

It seems that crossing the stream with the electric is the easy part. How are you planning to get the RV over there?

 

[CurlyDave]

It seems that crossing the stream with the electric is the easy part. How are you planning to get the RV over there?

There is a gravel road, which was built up specifically to get to an RV pad on the far side of the stream. The stream crosses the road in an 18" plastic culvert.

I have thought about running the power along the side of the road, and therefore above the stream, but that would mean an exposed conduit.

 

[BTDT]

What are the chances of getting your power co. to set another meter back there? Usually (here at least) they will tie on to last power pole and run a new line a max. of 300' no charge, setting poles and stringing wire. I guess they think they will make enough money off of the new meter to offset the cost over time. Last time we did this was 5 years ago. That's how folks around here decide where to put house/shop/etc., anything over 300' you have to pay extra.

 

[EddieWalker]

There is a gravel road, which was built up specifically to get to an RV pad on the far side of the stream. The stream crosses the road in an 18" plastic culvert.

I have thought about running the power along the side of the road, and therefore above the stream, but that would mean an exposed conduit.

Funny nobody thought of this sooner. hahahaha Kind of seems like the obvious way to do it, so I'm curious why you don't think so? Is it that much longer of a run?

Why would the conduit have to be above ground? Seems to me you could put it on the downstream side, and bury it just above the culvert. You probably have a foot of dirt on top of the culvert anyway, so it should be easy to cover it up.

I like this idea allot better than a whole new stream crossing.

Eddie

 

[CurlyDave]

Why would the conduit have to be above ground? Seems to me you could put it on the downstream side, and bury it just above the culvert. You probably have a foot of dirt on top of the culvert anyway, so it should be easy to cover it up.

What I have on top of the culvert is about 3' of pit run rock, which, in these parts, is rock in chunks from bowling ball size down to maybe hen's egg size. Clearly crushed and very angular.

The entire roadbed is built up above natural grade. The stuff has an angle of repose of about 45-50 degrees. (Vertical is 90 degrees). Any trench is going to be more of a shallow V shape than the usual square-cornered trench, and the pit run is not suitable for backfilling.

The roadbed has been compacted with a vibratory roller. If I dig a trench in it, the trench wiil be at least 6' wide for a 3' depth, and I am going to have to re-compact whatever I backfill. I don't have a roller, and renting one would be a lot more expensive than puting the trench below natural grade.

Same for the transformer idea. Around here the power company charges ~$3000 each, I know since I have two already. And, I still would have to dig the trench & lay the line to the transformer. In Southern Oregon, that is the customer's job. All the power company does is inspect before they will energize your lines.

I already have a separate transformer feeding the wellhouse, with 200 Amp service. I now need to put about 75-100 feet of line from the wellhouse to the RV pad.

 

[Dusty]

How about using steel conduit for the section that has the rocks, and lay it on top of the rocks?

 

[CurlyDave]

How about using steel conduit for the section that has the rocks, and lay it on top of the rocks?

I didn't like steel at first due to corrosion potential, but looking at this & thinking about it is pushing me in that direction also.

Fortunately I have until next summer to actually do anything, so I can think, ask advice and then ask more advice.

Any ideas on how to anchor steel conduit laid on a steep, irregular stone surface? Plastic conduit, I can just burry in the ground, but exposed steel has to be anchored.

Any clue on whether it meets code? Not that this is a killer, but it would be nice.

Any any ideas on how to bend, say 2" steel conduit, in the heaviest gauge made? I don't own a bender, and I don't want to turn a $1000 job into a $2000 job...

 

[Dusty]

I know that you can purchase 2" steel electrical conduit that is galvanized and they make threaded sweeps also. I don't know how you would bend it without a hydraulic bender, and they are quite pricey. How to anchor, might be a problem, but you could always pour some concrete sona tubes at grade and anchor the pipe to that. You will just have to become creative in this project. If it isn't going to be inspected, you do have some wiggle factor, but it still needs to be safe. I had to get creative once with PVC electrical conduit and use a plumbing fitting. There was no way around it, and the electrical inspector said that it wouldn't be seen once it was covered over with sand and cement. The piece I needed just wasn't made in grey electrical PVC, so I improvised and it worked fine in the end. As with anything, you have to weigh the probability with the possibility and make the determination based on your best guess.
Dusty