Running Electric service

[NIdaho]

...but i personally would not risk it. What i tend to do with new properties (AND I DID ON MY OWN) IS TO LOCATE A 400 AMP meter with 2 - 200 amp breakers and a small sub panel equil distance between the house and the future shops. set this 50-60 feet from each. then have utility place transformer next to this meter.then you have your electrician run the 60 foot feeds to the house (200 amp) and 60 foot feeds to shop. I usually insta;ll my meter section with the small subpanel so i can add future things later...like wells, water trough heaters, etc. hope this helped

Great Minds think alike!

I would also recommend (and what I did at our place) using a meter pedestal. I then ran feeds to the house, to the Well, and to the Shop. In my case the Well was between the house and the shop (not directly but close) so the pedestal is actually closest to it. The house, well, and shop each have their own panels (that are actually sub-panels from the pedestal). All of the wiring is underground. At our lake place in Montana the feed is overhead with a panel on the pole and then the feeds to the cabin and well are underground.

grsthegreat, where are you located at? I am North of Rathdrum in the Twin Lakes area.

 

[ch47dpilot]

Thanks a lot for all the info. I already figured I'd get the best advice from the PWR company but was afraid there may have been large expenses with underground, it appears not from what has been said. As far as the trench, how deep and wide? I know it's dependent on location, we have now frost issue in Alabama. I have an old case trencher(16+4) and does about a 6" x 3-4ft deep trench. Can't increase the depth but the width can go to 12". Will this work or will I need to get a bigger unit to go deeper.

 

[RobA]

As far as the trench, how deep and wide? I know it's dependent on location, we have now frost issue in Alabama. I have an old case trencher(16+4) and does about a 6" x 3-4ft deep trench. Can't increase the depth but the width can go to 12". Will this work or will I need to get a bigger unit to go deeper.

My power company dictated the trench requirements, fill material and wanted the power cable lower than anything else in the trench (phone, cable, etc). They wouldn't do overhead power lines and wouldn't allow me to run conduit except for under the driveway and creek.

I think you really need to contact your local power company.

 

[grsthegreat]

Great Minds think alike!

I would also recommend (and what I did at our place) using a meter pedestal. I then ran feeds to the house, to the Well, and to the Shop. In my case the Well was between the house and the shop (not directly but close) so the pedestal is actually closest to it. The house, well, and shop each have their own panels (that are actually sub-panels from the pedestal). All of the wiring is underground. At our lake place in Montana the feed is overhead with a panel on the pole and then the feeds to the cabin and well are underground.

grsthegreat, where are you located at? I am North of Rathdrum in the Twin Lakes area.

athol myself....were almost neighbors

 

[grsthegreat]

Thanks a lot for all the info. I already figured I'd get the best advice from the PWR company but was afraid there may have been large expenses with underground, it appears not from what has been said. As far as the trench, how deep and wide? I know it's dependent on location, we have now frost issue in Alabama. I have an old case trencher(16+4) and does about a 6" x 3-4ft deep trench. Can't increase the depth but the width can go to 12". Will this work or will I need to get a bigger unit to go deeper.

again it depends on your utility and local codes...the utility company here requires 36" coverage...but the national electric codes only require 24" coverage for direct burial and 18" coverage for conduit encased pipe as long as its not subjected to traffic.....if it crosses a driveway, i usually go 36". also, here what we generally do is share a trench. we dig a 50 -60" deep trench (for our frost issues) and put the water in. fill this with 2' of dirt and place power. then fill 12" of dirt and lay phone, cable and gas.....you can also place gas and elect side by side as long as there 12" separation...again, that's Idahos way of doing it...... your state may be different. we do alot of trenching with 6" buckets here

 

[Pirate]

I am planning on hooking up stuff to my RV pad. It would work out perfect to run a 3" septic line in the same trench as my electric service from the house, which would be in conduit. Ever heard of this being done to code? I know I "could" do it but.....

 

[grsthegreat]

I am planning on hooking up stuff to my RV pad. It would work out perfect to run a 3" septic line in the same trench as my electric service from the house, which would be in conduit. Ever heard of this being done to code? I know I "could" do it but.....

errrrrr. ive never heard of that being done. not even sure if it legal. that would be an inspectors call.

 

[Samandothers]

CH47D
You have found there are a lot of possibilities. Contact your utility before planning a great deal. They will help you to understand the possibilities and what your options are.

K7LN, Pete described better what I was trying to explain. Clearing a Right of way, cutting trees,which would probably require a signed easement/Right of way, would be required for underground or overhead. Less is usually required with underground and therefore the cost comparison between overhead and undergound is reduced.

 

[grsthegreat]

CH47D
You have found there are a lot of possibilities. Contact your utility before planning a great deal. They will help you to understand the possibilities and what your options are.

K7LN, Pete described better what I was trying to explain. Clearing a Right of way, cutting trees,which would probably require a signed easement/Right of way, would be required for underground or overhead. Less is usually required with underground and therefore the cost comparison between overhead and undergound is reduced.

and more importantly.....the place will look way cleaner and modern without overhead crap. always remember to run phone,internet and if possible gas to all outbuildings. has saved me lots of redigging time. i also ran empty conduits between buildings. ive used one of them to install 3way switches from house to barn so i can control barn lights from inside house 300 feet away. conduit is cheap compared to new trenches

 

[lectro88]

Just food for thought. Rather than a large single feeder such as 500mcm/kcmil. They may be able to run parallel 350 which equals a 700 kcmil. But all these ideas are just talk. As others have said, you need to contact you local utility company. My "guess" is they will run a 4160 volt or 12.5k primary set. And step down somewhere you probably will regret 1 day. So my advice is figure where a xfmr. will be out of the way and hope they listen to you.