pat32rf
Veteran Member
Seems to me that down the middle pretty well blocks both sides during install or repair. Going down one side leaves the other side for travel
Underground utilities. Pros and cons
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BHD
Veteran Member
most likely this is the high voltage transmission line and would be connected to a transformer and then meter after that then lower voltage (220)
the high voltage to transformer, I would probably go with the over head,
lower voltage 220 I would go under ground around the buildings, in conduit (use bigger than necessary conduit) (if any thing needs to be added, you will thank your self later,
the high voltage to transformer, I would probably go with the over head,
lower voltage 220 I would go under ground around the buildings, in conduit (use bigger than necessary conduit) (if any thing needs to be added, you will thank your self later,
coobie
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Being a retired electric lineman if you ever have to splice or repair the line it,s a pain in the arse for the home owner to access there drive while repairs are being made.IMHO put it off to one side.
ultrarunner
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Thanks for the comment...
I most likely will have to do some heavy duty trenching for utilities at some point... the area is very heavily forested except for the long drive with swales and berms...
Jim Timber
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I'm currently trying to get my utility company to allow me to be metered at high voltage so I don't need to step up for transmission across my property only to then step down again at the buildings. They insist on having an engineer come out to look at the site before discussing my options.
Either way, I'll have a meter placed at the edge of my property, and I'll do all the trenching, line boring, stringing needed. We're nailed with a monthly "maintenance" surcharge for buried lines, and that's just silly if you ask me. Why should I have to pay extra so you can have lines that are virtually impossible to damage? Utility company is responsible for everything up to the mast head connection here. So it's in their best interest to bury the cables.
If you're over a few hundred feet in a run, you'll be dollars ahead finding a large "universal" transformer used in industrial installations to bump your transmission voltage up. Higher voltage = lower amps = smaller wires for the same wattage. My street is 1.5 miles long and I'm at the dead end of it. They have a step down transformer at every point load (service connection) for the 5 houses opposite my lot's frontage. I should be able to get my request, but I don't know what the price tag is yet.
Either way, I'll have a meter placed at the edge of my property, and I'll do all the trenching, line boring, stringing needed. We're nailed with a monthly "maintenance" surcharge for buried lines, and that's just silly if you ask me. Why should I have to pay extra so you can have lines that are virtually impossible to damage? Utility company is responsible for everything up to the mast head connection here. So it's in their best interest to bury the cables.
If you're over a few hundred feet in a run, you'll be dollars ahead finding a large "universal" transformer used in industrial installations to bump your transmission voltage up. Higher voltage = lower amps = smaller wires for the same wattage. My street is 1.5 miles long and I'm at the dead end of it. They have a step down transformer at every point load (service connection) for the 5 houses opposite my lot's frontage. I should be able to get my request, but I don't know what the price tag is yet.
ultrarunner
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I've got a step down transformer too.
Cable was direct buried by the utility in 1977... Utility has had to come out and splice repair twice the last 10 years.
Last time the foreman said they no longer direct bury and my line is nearing the end of it's useful life and would need to be replaced in it's entirety should breaks continue.
Not a happy prospect when it would be at my cost.
Cable was direct buried by the utility in 1977... Utility has had to come out and splice repair twice the last 10 years.
Last time the foreman said they no longer direct bury and my line is nearing the end of it's useful life and would need to be replaced in it's entirety should breaks continue.
Not a happy prospect when it would be at my cost.
paulharvey
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Underground is several magnitudes more expensive to repair then aerial. They also cost way more when they need moved in the future for new construction and road moves. I know we all think out of site out of mind, but if underground was far and away better; you would see new aerial lines. They (power company) has to pay to have it located every time someone's calls 811.
Part of the reason you see so much new phone/fiber underground is the phone companies trying to avoid monthly pole charges from power company. It's not huge($4/line/pole in my area) but multiplied over 10,000s of poles it's real money every month.
Part of the reason you see so much new phone/fiber underground is the phone companies trying to avoid monthly pole charges from power company. It's not huge($4/line/pole in my area) but multiplied over 10,000s of poles it's real money every month.
OP
mdjohn1427
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Well, I've got my answer. The landowner next to me has agreed to allowed me ROW (thank you Lord) for underground installation. So, it will be about 1200' from source to site. It will cost about $20K for Power. Next up, Water. The good thing about water is I can do the work and save on the installation. it will cost in the $3K range. Still need to get a data line installed. Was wondering if I could do that when the water was being laid down?
breadtrk
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For the solar guys....
For Solar to EVER come close to paying off you need to sell the excess back to the power company... You figured in how you are going to get that excess back to them? In buckets?
For Solar to EVER come close to paying off you need to sell the excess back to the power company... You figured in how you are going to get that excess back to them? In buckets?
ultrarunner
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Several of my neighbors are very happy with net metering and find it quite favorable... they all did their own installs with permits...
One is now 80 and he says every morning it puts a smile on his face seeing his credits build... even converted several gas appliances to electric because of the excess from his 3 ground mounted PV arrays.
One is now 80 and he says every morning it puts a smile on his face seeing his credits build... even converted several gas appliances to electric because of the excess from his 3 ground mounted PV arrays.