🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <52ruhf$t10@samba.rahul.net>, Stephen P. Pope <spp@rahul.net> wrote:
>Mark Rosenberg <mnr@netcom.com> wrote:
>
>>We are remodelling and yesterday when the contractor was digging a new
>>trench he discovered the dramatic way that the service line from the
>>street to my house was not in conduit! 
>>
>>This has to be against code. Right?

Nope.  It should have been buried at least 24" deep and they will use USE
rated cable as mentioned below.  In this area (Chicago region) there is a
1-800 number (JULIE) to call for underground cable location and it is
*required* to do so prior to any digging.  There is no charge for the
service. The owner/operator is required to do this or be held liable for all
damage.  In the village I live in, you are required to call in the "Julie"
number (a call number you receive upon placing the dig request) to the
permit office so that it can be recorded with your building permit.

One question, if he was digging with power equipment (a ditch-witch for
example), I wonder if conduit would have helped all that much anyway?

>You'd think so, but in fact it's legit.  Per Richter, "Wiring
>Simplified":  "Underground wiring is by using conduit, or special cables 
>designed for direct burial [...] Underwriter's type USE cable is
>designed to be buried directly in the ground without further
>protection."
>
>USE stands for, I think, "underground service entrance", which
>is what you got.
>
>I'll stick with my overhead service feed, thank you :)

Actually, we went the opposite direction.  Overhead feeds are subject
(around here) to wind damage, falling branches, ice damage, wayward tall
trucks (some of the entrance cables I have seen are fairly low and a moving
truck driven by someone not paying attention), etc...

I know where the cable is and I can choose to dig or not.  I cannot hold
back the weather :-)  (Trees are the biggest problem).

Jerry
-- 
Jerry Fountain          | Laboratory for Fluid Mechanics, Chaos, and Mixing
gof@chem-eng.nwu.edu    | Northwestern University
(847) 491-3555 (Office) | Department of Chemical Engineering
(847) 491-3728 (FAX)    | 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL  60208