Underground electric question

cc-rider · #1 02/03/10, 12:30 PM

Help! The guy is coming over tonight to quote me on running the electric from my pole, underground, to my house, and to the box. The box isn't mounted yet.

Two questions....
Should the wire ENTER the house underground, too? I can cut a hole in the basement. It would then enter near the box. Or should it go up the side of the house and enter through the bandboard and then run down the wall to the box?

Also, how deep would it have to be underground? I will have it in PVC conduit. Is 2' enough in Ohio? It's about a 30' run from the pole, and I'm sure I won't be planting anything around or nearby.

Thanks for all your help in the past!!!!
CC

fishhead · #2 02/03/10, 12:37 PM

It has to go through a meter somewhere. Where is that?

Mine is overhead but it comes to the peak of the house and then down through a meter and through the basement wall to the panel from the meter. From the peak to back of the panel it is in steel conduit.

**Kris in MI** · #3 02/03/10, 12:38 PM

Mine is underground. But, like fishhead said, it has to go through a meter somewhere. Mine comes up a piece of conduit at the foundation of the house, up to a meter about 5' off the ground that is attached to the house, and then in from there.

Darren · #4 02/03/10, 01:09 PM

Talk to the electric utility to find out what their requirements are. The person coming over may know, but it's up to the power company to decide whether or not they hook up the meter if they have a problem with your underground installation. Find out for yourslf.

I would go deeper than 2'. Probably at least 36". Talk to the utility to find out for sure, You can buy the gray PVC conduit at any big box store like Lowes or Home Depot. When you dig the trench use sand as bedding and sand to cover the conduit. After that use the native soil. You'll need a pull cord in the conduit. Use a long sweep elbow at the pole and below where the meter will be set.

The power company will handle everything down the pole to your conduit including the rain shield.

Again, call the power company.

Windy in Kansas · #5 02/03/10, 01:12 PM

When said it is coming from the pole I would assume that meant a rural meter pole and maybe transformer pole as well.

cc-rider · #6 02/03/10, 01:22 PM

Oops. I had a meter put on the pole when I put it in 4 years ago. There is also a box on the pole that has a half-dozen breakers and outlets in it so I could run power to build the house, to the coop (chickies need light, you know!) and the well pump.

I'm assuming he will just be running from that box/meter on the pole. Is that what you asked?

CC

oneokie · #7 02/03/10, 01:38 PM

He would need to connect the house service wires to the service lugs in the meter base.

OkieDavid · #8 02/03/10, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

I'm assuming he will just be running from that box/meter on the pole. Is that what you asked?

CC

Then what you are looking at is burial of secondary cable in conduit. At 24inches depth and sleeved in conduit you will meet the NEC code requirements. It's not enough to say "I will never dig or plant anything there".... Have to think about the folks coming along years afterward. As to getting the cable/power into the structure- However you want to. You can come out of the ground in rigid steel conduit and run it up the side of the house into the attic or punch a hole. Whatever method, stay with rigid steel conduit in the house until you get to your circuit panel.

deerhunter5555 · #9 02/03/10, 02:11 PM

I would also recommend rigid steel 90's as well....makes it much easier when pulling the wire. The pull string will cut into pvc 90's but not rigid steel.

fishhead · #10 02/03/10, 04:06 PM

If you have rodents that burrow and you go with pvc make sure it's at least 1 1/2" schedule 40 pvc. I didn't do that and pocket gophers ruined 800 feet ($500) of buried electric line before I could even get it hooked up. They didn't leave a chunk longer than 20' without nick marks in it. Most of it was nicked at least every 2".

rambler · #11 02/03/10, 04:54 PM

Yup, they will track 4 wires out of that distribution box you have in the yard.

Most often I see the wire come up the side of the house in conduit and go through the wooden sill plate as you describe, but other options work too.

--->Paul

cc-rider · #12 02/03/10, 05:24 PM

I was over there tonight. If I go straight from the house to the pole, it's 30'. Then I'd come in at the sill, but would have to cut through probably 1/2 dozen joists to get it over to where it needs to be. And then come down.

I think it will be more practical to dig it angled over to where it needs to be and just come in straight underground through a 2-1/2" hole in the basement (the pvc is 2"). Then it will go UP about 6" to the box, and the final wiring can then come from the top of the box and out to all the outlets, etc. Might look cleaner, too.

Do you see any major flaws with that line of thinking??

danielsumner · #13 02/03/10, 05:31 PM

A couple of years ago with our new house in Ga, it only cost $20 for the power company to dig the trench, and run the line to the house and install the meter. Check to see if the power company will do it instead of the electician.

Daniel

cc-rider · #14 02/03/10, 05:44 PM

This is AFTER the meter. I've got a feeling the power company would say that was "my baby"

Gianni · #15 02/03/10, 06:12 PM

Most codes require 18" depth, that is the standard in MT and we get a lot of frost. Make sure you use grey elec conduit not pvc water lines.

oneokie · #16 02/03/10, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

come in straight underground through a 2-1/2" hole in the basement (the pvc is 2"). Then it will go UP about 6" to the box, and the final wiring can then come from the top of the box and out to all the outlets, etc. Might look cleaner, too.

Do you see any major flaws with that line of thinking??

Water in your basement.

Why not come up on the outside and go through the sill plate, then drop back down inside the basement to a level that gives a straight run to the service panel in the basement?

danielsumner · #17 02/03/10, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

This is AFTER the meter. I've got a feeling the power company would say that was "my baby"

You can always ask, the worse that can happen is they say no.

Daniel

GoldenCityMuse · #18 02/03/10, 07:48 PM

Underground all the way to house, then up outside wall above ground level, and then thru wall.

Oldcountryboy · #19 02/03/10, 07:59 PM

Is this house in town under any ordinances? If so you will have to contact city officials to find out the depth they require. Some towns require up to 3 ft. depth. If it's out of town and no ordinances then you will have to go by the NEC code book. Basically you have to bury the pipe/cable at least the depth of the frostline in your area. Which most places is 18 to 24 inches but could be deeper futher up north.

Nec code also requires rigid conduit from meter to and including the 90 degree elbow underground and 90 degree elbow underground up to LB fitting or box on house. In other words from the elbow at the pole to the elbow at the house can be PVC only. This is new requirements in last edition of the NEC Code book for service entrance.

Question about your house. Is this a finished house with sheetrock or is it still just rough framed? Is the panel box gonna be located on a interior wall and if so, can you come out the bottom of the panel box and run pipe toward the bottom through the studs to an outside wall? On the wall outside you can put on a LB fitting and run the conduit underground from their to the pole. (LB fitting: a Sharp elbow with a cover on it)

cc-rider · #20 02/03/10, 08:08 PM

It's in the country with no zoning or inspections required. I'm a bit concerned because this guy is saying I don't need conduit between the pole and house....he wants to run the conduit from the meter to a couple foot underground, then bare wire to the house, with conduit just going through the wall and up to the box.

r.h. No, it's an exterior wall on cement.

To further complicate the matter.... I've got to run electric from the well to the house, too....and was thinking of just running it along the perimeter drain (I've already put conduit down there and a rope before I backfilled). I figured I'd have to drill a SECOND hole in the basement wall to run that electric in, just like I'm running it in from the pole. Is that correct? I assume that electric line will run from the well pump in the well, into the house through a hole in the basement wall, and connect to a box at the pressure tank??