Electric transformer in front of house (on ground)

[Steppenwolfe]

Nope, for 3phase 6in is the spec. Single phase is only 3in.

Real fun to work with, especially when the trench floods and floats it after only part of it had been backfilled.View attachment 701730

3 phase for residential???

 

[Midniteoyl]

Pretty much all new housing developments bury their electric service now around here. Have been for quite a while. For more remote rural new construction (those not in housing developments) they are also tending to bury the lines. People don't want to look at the poles and transformers, and, storm damage from wind and falling trees do a lot of line damage annually around here. So buried has been the trend.

REMC just replaced all the lines and poles around here. Was hoping they would bury, but was told they couldn't as it would be too costly... Yet power goes out every planting and harvest season due to farmers hitting poles..

 

[MossRoad]

REMC just replaced all the lines and poles around here. Was hoping they would bury, but was told they couldn't as it would be too costly... Yet power goes out every planting and harvest season due to farmers hitting poles..

Yep. Farmers. Drunk drivers. Tornados.

You can drive down many country roads in NW Indiana and see all of the poles leaning to the northwest. Kinda interesting.

 

[fried1765]

We've got one of those transformers sitting in front of the house. Wife L.O.V.E.S. it (highly dripping with sarcasm)

It happens to be in a spot where it was once clear.....but since she detests looking at things like that, she planted some roses near it, there are some natural vines near it.....so today, you would literally run into it before you knew it was there (all the growth not withstanding)

What I'm wondering is, are there any codes or general rules for things like this?

I personally think it might need more room to breath/cool than having all this greenery growing on it. Heck, for all I know, the vines might be able to work their way into a crevace and explore inside (but I have no clue)

I just cringe whenever I see it all covered up with growth (as in 100% covered) and SHE cringes anytime she sees it standing on its own.

I might add we put a little white picket fence around it (maybe 4-5 feet square?) to hide it but that only gave her more support for the vinery.

I'm working so can't go out there for closer shot, this is from my office.
By the way, much of that greenery is laying on top or hanging over the top.

Any thoughts?

I am with your wife on this one!
Let the ugly green box be completely hidden!
The electric company can deal with it.....if they ever need to.
Transformers can last for decades!

 

[coobie]

3 phase for residential???

Farm/agriculture maybe? Quite a few 3 phase pivots for farm sprinklers

 

[MossRoad]

Farm/agriculture maybe? Quite a few 3 phase pivots for farm sprinklers

Farm/ag/small business/apartment complexes/commercial

 

[TMGT]

3 phase for residential???

Its the second line for my shop at my house, we can get a second metered line at no cost. The 3phase was available so I spc'd it. House is single phase.
If 3phase is on the pole on your property here its an option. I really like dealing with NOVEC.

 

[lman]

REMC just replaced all the lines and poles around here. Was hoping they would bury, but was told they couldn't as it would be too costly... Yet power goes out every planting and harvest season due to farmers hitting poles..

I don't believe any REMC's service lines are buried. My line is buried about 600 ft. to the REMC pole at the road.

 

[ponytug]

3 phase for residential???

Yup. We even have two meters; one for three phase, one for "single" phase. Three transformers sitting on two poles to make it happen.

Why?

We have a deep well, some distance from the power poles, and power losses scale as current squared times resistance. Three phase has lower power losses, yielding more water pumped per watt. Going to three phase halves the power loss for us compared to single phase.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Midniteoyl]

I don't believe any REMC's service lines are buried. My line is buried about 600 ft. to the REMC pole at the road.

Wish mine was buried.

 

[Frankenkubota]

As somebody noted, all utilities seem to be different. Mine would go something like 150' from the road for no special charge if you went overhead. They'd add one pole if necessary. Beyond that there was a charge. If you went underground, you had to do it or have it done at your expense, but they would set the equipment at no charge.

In this area with a co op the first 1000ft were dirt cheap, either overhead or underground.

Anything beyond 1000 ft is much more expensive.

I think my 2600 ft underground with 2 in pipe and two coupling boxes....about $14K....I think