OP
heitjer
Bronze Member
Thanks! If I go overhead from pole one to the barn I may just use pole 2 for the house without coming across. That way I have no underground to worry about other than for the horse barn.
Overhead or Buried
- Thread starter heitjer
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Thanks! If I go overhead from pole one to the barn I may just use pole 2 for the house without coming across. That way I have no underground to worry about other than for the horse barn.
mikefromnh
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2009
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- 465
One more thing to think about -- Some utility companies have a minimum monthly service fee -- if you have two meters you may be paying more than if you have just one.
firemanpat2910
Platinum Member
2 minimums aint bad, if you keep 2 seperate lines of service you wont be causing interferance withb the house when you are welding/ectra at the barn. you will also have some where to plug in freezers and such in an emergency when house wires/mains/panel box/what ever messes up.
I know of some places with 3 meters, house, barn, gate. so its not that uncommon.
I know of some places with 3 meters, house, barn, gate. so its not that uncommon.
PA hayseed
Platinum Member
I don't know what the laws and rules/regulations are in your state, but there may be a thing or two to think about.
1. No matter what, make sure you get them to put a can (transformer) on your pole.
2. Buried wires never get knocked down by wind or drunks hitting poles, or have problems with freezing rain/ice, hung cables never get dug into or flooded.
3. Don't go 200 to your house if you can go 400. 400 is the future, 200 is the past.
4. some electric companies will let you run your own underground utilities (as long as they meet their inspection requirements, and some will let you drop your own poles.
5. grey (electrical) PVC has come down in price substantially since about 1.5-2 years ago. It is easy to setup, and easy to pull (with a little help).
6. Some places may make you have a panel at the pole, meaning everything else is a sub panel.
7. Figure out what all your inspections will total either underground or hung.
8. Consider running 100 amp to your barn/outbuilding. It allows many more uses and can be run from that panel elsewhere.
9. If you can keep two poles I would. I have everything off one main panel to a couple of subs. When I do woodworking stuff I draw alot of juice and it does affect the house.
The only reason I list these things is because I was where you were about 2 years ago. I decided to run underground, dropped my own pole on my land and ran my own electric. I had to sign off with the elec co that everything from the pole to my house was my responsibility. I think running the wire to the house underground with the PVC, all the inside wiring, all the buried wire to the sub in the polebuilding, hiring a electrician to check my work, and buying a friend some beer, and my inspections cost me about 1400 for everything. It may be 100-200 more, but I had some stuff on hand and did some bartering for some 3" sweeps (pricey). I love the underground wires and only having to cut around one pole on my land. The electric compnay gave me a quote of around 7400 for a pole on my land, an above ground transformer, and then everything underground from there.
Good luck.
1. No matter what, make sure you get them to put a can (transformer) on your pole.
2. Buried wires never get knocked down by wind or drunks hitting poles, or have problems with freezing rain/ice, hung cables never get dug into or flooded.
3. Don't go 200 to your house if you can go 400. 400 is the future, 200 is the past.
4. some electric companies will let you run your own underground utilities (as long as they meet their inspection requirements, and some will let you drop your own poles.
5. grey (electrical) PVC has come down in price substantially since about 1.5-2 years ago. It is easy to setup, and easy to pull (with a little help).
6. Some places may make you have a panel at the pole, meaning everything else is a sub panel.
7. Figure out what all your inspections will total either underground or hung.
8. Consider running 100 amp to your barn/outbuilding. It allows many more uses and can be run from that panel elsewhere.
9. If you can keep two poles I would. I have everything off one main panel to a couple of subs. When I do woodworking stuff I draw alot of juice and it does affect the house.
The only reason I list these things is because I was where you were about 2 years ago. I decided to run underground, dropped my own pole on my land and ran my own electric. I had to sign off with the elec co that everything from the pole to my house was my responsibility. I think running the wire to the house underground with the PVC, all the inside wiring, all the buried wire to the sub in the polebuilding, hiring a electrician to check my work, and buying a friend some beer, and my inspections cost me about 1400 for everything. It may be 100-200 more, but I had some stuff on hand and did some bartering for some 3" sweeps (pricey). I love the underground wires and only having to cut around one pole on my land. The electric compnay gave me a quote of around 7400 for a pole on my land, an above ground transformer, and then everything underground from there.
Good luck.
OP
heitjer
Bronze Member
Thanks for all your comments - I will post my update when I spoke to the Utility Company.
Soundguy
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I have burried power to my house... never regretted it.. no 600' issue for a new pole. etc.. and no downed poles due to storm.. at least on that leg anyway.
soundguy
soundguy
CurlyDave
Elite Member
I have buried power, and we still get outages frequently--at lease once every two months, just because I am near the end of the line.
I like the looks of buried better, but I am getting ready to do a couple of projects which might involve digging near the lines. I wasn't home when the contractor plowed them in, and I have no idea where they are.
If you go underground, take plenty of pictures.
I like the looks of buried better, but I am getting ready to do a couple of projects which might involve digging near the lines. I wasn't home when the contractor plowed them in, and I have no idea where they are.
If you go underground, take plenty of pictures.
mjncad
Super Member
I like underground for aesthetics and other reasons; but it's costlier. If you go underground and you do your own trenching and fill, get some 2" - 6" wide traceable marker tape to place 6" - 12" below final grade. It should be detectable with a metal detector, and if you're digging around a few years from now and snag the tape first, it will give you an early warning that something is not too far below. As I recall, code required that electrical lines be buried a minimum of 18"; but I've heard that's been increased to 24". Does anyone have information on that?
Regardless of whether you go overhead or underground, keep the distances as short as possible to minimize voltage drop; otherwise you have to go bigger with the wire to compensate.
Regardless of whether you go overhead or underground, keep the distances as short as possible to minimize voltage drop; otherwise you have to go bigger with the wire to compensate.
radioman
Super Member
It seems to me that most of the posts here are correct. Go direct underground to each barn instead of following the redeline. It gets expensive and you get more of of a power drop due to resistance if following the red line. burying deep enough will not have problems. 20 amps at the barn?! sorry , its not gonna cut it. chances are if the inspector sees that, it will fail.
This is not the place to skimp and try to save money. my advice, 1. bury electric line deep in straight line following green. 2. add couple empty conduits from house to first barn for future upgrades in same hole 3. go with 400 amps and subfeed to barn. cheaper bills
This is not the place to skimp and try to save money. my advice, 1. bury electric line deep in straight line following green. 2. add couple empty conduits from house to first barn for future upgrades in same hole 3. go with 400 amps and subfeed to barn. cheaper bills
