Crossing Stream with Electric Line

[CurlyDave]

I need to cross a winter creek with a 120 volt electric line.

The basic question is do I go over it, or under it?

The stream bed is 10-12 feet wide and at some times the water is 12" or so deep.

I can burry a plastic conduit up to about 6' deep if necessary, but I worry about any small leak causing it to fill with water.

Another possibility is to erect two poles and cross with an overhead line.

I also have some spare 20' sections of 6" steel well casing. I could cross with one of these with a vault at either end and run plastic conduit inside the steel casing. I would go underground to the two vaults. This actully seems like the safest and best way to me, but I also think it is totally non-standard and would not meet any building code known to western civilization. The steel well casing would be about 12" above the high water line.

Any other ideas? Direct burial cable?

Suggestions for which way to go?

 

[PAexcavator]

I would use direct burial cable and put it in either the steel or plastic as a conduit. If you use steel make sure the casing is grounded.

 

[vallyfarm]

I had the same problem several years ago, I put a T-post on either side of the stream to carry the wire well above the water. That must be around 10 yrs ago, and it's still there. Haven't had a problem yet. Easier than digging, and next to imposible to short out, but Martha Stewart might not like the view. Mike

 

[WhyNot]

I would just put in direct burial cable if it is deep enough I would think that the cable would be just as damp as if it was 3' under your yard. The conduit would be a waste unless you wanted it for peace of mind or to be able to replace the cable without having to dig up the stream bed. I say this because I have pulled a lot of cable through buried conduit and the conduit is always full of water. Seems as though there is no way to seal it good.

 

[randy41]

i think the conduit is not to keep the cable dry but to protect it from being cut by either abrasion or digging. so bury it in conduit.

 

[CurlyDave]

I have pulled a lot of cable through buried conduit and the conduit is always full of water. Seems as though there is no way to seal it good.

I have pretty much the same experience. The conduit seals well enough to keep water in, it just doesn't keep water out.

 

[tallyho8]

Either way, I would be sure to have the line protected with a gfi.

 

[EddieWalker]

Hey Dave,

I'd put it in conduit and bury it if I could. To keep moisture out, I'd fill the ends of the pipe with silicone before glueing them together. Even if you have perfect seals in conduit, the air that's in the lines will form condensation and you will have water puddle at the lowest point. Some guys just blow out the lines every know and then, but I'm not gonna do that myself.

I like to seal up each section of pipe knowing that the only condensation I'll have is what's in that length of conduit.

Eddie

 

[gordon21]

Use a GFI breaker AND GFI outlets at all locations at the end of the line. There's no sense killing anyone over $40 in parts. I would put the UG cable in conduit to protect it from abrasion, roots, etc.

 

[SPIKER]

I didn't see anything about this being a temp thing or perminate thing?

You can go either way but personally I wouldn't waste a lot of effort on 120 volt line unless this is something that HAS to run 24/7 365days a year. for simple light or to go to a gate or back to something used rarely I wouldn't bother burrying it...

mark M