Finding power lines

   / Finding power lines #11  
Locating natural gas lines around here can be something of an issue as the recent pipes are all plastic.

All the best,

Peter

It’s always been code to install locate wire with the plastic pipe for just this reason. Wire might be deteriorated or broken rendering it useless, but it pays to look carefully to see if there’s a wire exiting the ground with the pipe.
 
   / Finding power lines #13  
What make/model locator do you guys with their own locators recommend?
I think that starts getting into what you are trying to locate and how deep you need it to be.

My need was buried power wires, with a faint hope of finding metal pipe. I have a Progressive Electronics Model 501 System Cable Locator (basically an AM transmitter with a clamp on antenna, and a second one built into the case, with a receiver wand). I bought it used, figuring I could repair the electronics if needed, but it turned out to be in mint condition. I've used it to find buried conduit and cables, and the locations and depths have been very close. The company is now Tempo, and the updated product looks identical;

But you could spend a lot more if you have more complex needs.(Ground penetrating radar anyone? But those can do 20' below grade and find all sorts of pipes and obstructions. Not too shabby for testing tree health, too.)

All the best,

Peter
 
   / Finding power lines #15  
me too
it's called a backhoe bucket

oops
welp glad I've got a backhoe, now I can fix that too
🤣

Effective, but not my preferred method. I use a trencher to excavate the wire by spooling it up!

👍👍
 
   / Finding power lines #16  
I need to mark a 120 volt line that runs from the house to our horse barn. If I call our utility will they do that? Or will they only come out and find/mark their underground lines?
Since it's after the meter, I do not believe the Utility Company will come out and find the line for you. They only do that for their lines.

Odds are very good that the line is the shortest distance between both buildings. I would pick a building, either one, and figure out where the line is coming into that building. It will mean some shovel work, and maybe even removing what's on the wall.

Is this a dedicated line from a breaker? Is there anything else on that line? like an outlet on the outside of your house? If it was run after the house was built, a lot of people will put an outlet on the outside of the house, then dig the trench from there to the barn.
 
   / Finding power lines #17  
Do you have Dig Safe in your area.
 
   / Finding power lines #18  
I use dowsing rods
Never hit a underground wire or pipe
Same here.
Had an old fellow tell me to try a couple of pieces of coat hanger bent into an L shape. Worked perfectly.
Found the line going from the house to the barns, lines going from outdoor wood boiler to the house and the propane line from the tank to the house. I was amazed how well it worked.
 
   / Finding power lines #20  
Since it's after the meter, I do not believe the Utility Company will come out and find the line for you. They only do that for their lines.

Odds are very good that the line is the shortest distance between both buildings. I would pick a building, either one, and figure out where the line is coming into that building. It will mean some shovel work, and maybe even removing what's on the wall.

Is this a dedicated line from a breaker? Is there anything else on that line? like an outlet on the outside of your house? If it was run after the house was built, a lot of people will put an outlet on the outside of the house, then dig the trench from there to the barn.
Thanks, this put a smile on my face. Ideally, sure.

But...the farm we had as a kid had galvanized water pipes with lots of bends in them, and when there was an issue, we had to dig end to end because there was no accounting for the path it took. I strongly suspect the original farmer used bent left over pipe from somewhere else, and played with the pipe to get from "A" to "B". That experience taught me to be careful about assuming. A great life lesson for me.

On this ranch, the reason that I bought a locator beyond the "assuming issue", was the power line from the barn. I was worried about where it might go because I had a couple of projects involving excavation, one deep, one not.

Standing at the barn, there was an easy due south then west line. It would have been parallel to a barn wall, then crossed one driveway at a 90, then continued 30', made a second 90 and gone straight to the house. The original water line did something close to that.
But no...

The line that I was concerned about actually headed from the barn (which runs E-W) due west for about 120', which is away from the house, crossing one access road along about the longest possible crossing path, then went under a guard rail that could have been avoided if the line turned south 8' sooner, having gone under the guard rail headed S, in a not entirely straight line, for 110', under the driveway the whole time, and then takes a 45 degree bend to head south west to head under a small retaining wall, a larger retaining wall, then some stairs, for another fifty feet, and then skirts a 2'x2' masonary column, where it turns due S, before eventually turning W to meet the house. Total length is probably double what the "nice" route might have been and about 3X the straight line route.

Did I mention that I was very happy to have bought a locator?

My takeaway is that there is what the plan has, and there is what someone actually did on the day, which depending on the locale, the person, and the subsurface conditions may be something else again. I have no insights to the chosen route. It seems bad from any angle I can think of, except it might have allowed a NEC minimum burial depth for most of the run, but at the cost of twice the conduit and twice the wire.

YMMV... so my takeaway for me is to buy or rent a locator, or be willing to take care of the consequences.😱🤣

All the best,

Peter
 
Last edited:

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2007 PARK SEPARATOR (A47001)
2007 PARK...
ATTENTION PLEASE READ (A46443)
ATTENTION PLEASE...
Takeuchi TB290 (A46443)
Takeuchi TB290...
Trash Combo Trailer (A45336)
Trash Combo...
2016 Bobcat T650 Compact Track Loader Skid Steer (A45336)
2016 Bobcat T650...
Stump Grapple (A47809)
Stump Grapple (A47809)
 
Top