ditch digging sadness--not deep enough.....

[MikeT]

I called the power company to get permanent power hooked up.  I was sad to learn that the engineers do not think my trench is deep enough.   They are being sticklers with the 36" depth requirement...so this weekend part of it will be spent on my hands and knees using a mattock, loppers and shovels to eke out additional depth to the pedestal.  80 feet on a 30 percent slope filled with roots is not my idea of fun.   At least it won't be raining.....

mt

[glenn kangiser]

In some cases grade has been raised with additional fill on top of the ground such as when a house is above approved heights for an HOA.  Sounds like that will not work here though.

[Whitlock]

Wow 36" I just dug 300 feet 18 inches deep I'm so glad it dosen't have to be 36" Rocks,roots, and sticky clay.

I fell your pain,W

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Just a few weeks ago I had to do the same.  Unfortunately the local rental shop only had a 24" ditch witch which couldnt witch a ditch.  Had to finally rent a trackhoe to get the job done right.  36" is evidently the depth to transformer then 24" to the meter.

[MikeT]

If I could get a ditch witch to the site and use it, I would.   I am on a 30% slope and the toe of the slope has a 12' drop off.    I would only go one way (downhill) but the cost/benefit or risk/reward analysis consistently points to digging by hand....

[diyfrank]

I know where you're coming from, I've had to deal with them a lot.

I always go plenty deep when digging for power & gas. They can be difficult people to satisfy.

When they say how deep, it's cover over lines or conduits. Not to the bottom of the trench.

I don't know if the required cover changes from state to state but, every place I've dug has been 24" cover over secondary lines and 36" over primary lines.

[MushCreek]

If only they followed their own rules! Here in FL, it's 36", but when I was putting in fence posts, I hit the neighborhood supply at a whopping 12", and it wasn't even where it was supposed to be! We had to have it spliced and moved, because it wasn't along the perimeter, but headed right for our future swimming pool. It was all on their dime, because they screwed up in the first place.