Looking for Comments from Experience
 

"tg" wrote in message
...
I just did this! The trencher is a real back saver. I did not put mine
below
the frost line. I will just blow it out with an air compressor in the
winter. I used it to add an automatic water top off system to my skimmer.
I
had to add a pressure regulator to my line because the 90 psi line
pressure
was blowing the fittings off of my top off system. I regulated it down to
25
psi. You can find them in the water heater or irrigation (drip pressure
regulator) areas of Home Depot/Lowes type stores. I trenched mine only 8
inches underground, but as I said, I will blow it out in the fall with an
air compressor. I used 3/4" schedule 40 pipe.

I am planning on using something flexible. I was worried about the PVC
cracking over time as the ground heaved.

For the electric, there are codes on the depth of the wire - if contained
in
conduit you can bury it 6" underground. If using just UF(underground
cable)
I think it must be at least 24" deep and you should cover with a redwood
board as well. Check for your area. Also, conduit and a junction box must
be
used to transition from inside to underground. Someone recommended getting
a
roll of yellow tape that says something "underground wiring buried here" a
put it above your wiring in the ground. Make sure to use the correct
exterior junction boxes and gang outlet boxes. The new ones have a large
plastic cover that flips over the front. I have a four gang at my skimmer
for the pump and UV lights. Leave enough for low voltage lights and other
expansions as well. Note: underwater lights from Malibu must be wired
directly to the power pack.

I have an electrician in the family. No worries. :)

BV.

Looking for Comments from Experience
 

"Mike Patterson" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 26 May 2004 11:20:04 -0400, "Benign Vanilla"
wrote:

The SO approved me renting a trencher so I can run power and water out to
the pond. When I mentioned I could T off and put a spigot in the garden,
she
instantly approved the rental.

Before I do this...Any thoughts? gotchas? wish-I-had-done-this's?

BV.

Since you're gonna have the trench open anyway, spend $10 extra and
run an extra 1.5 or 2 inch flexible pipe in there. Great for running a
phone line or cable TV wire or network cable etc. in later if you get
the urge.

My electrician friend (like a brother to me) and I are both techno-geeks. We
have already planned for a CAT5 line, some video cable, and some speaker
wire in the trench. Right now, the big hurdle is the trench and it seems the
wife is allowing it. The rest will be easy.

BV.

Looking for Comments from Experience
 

1. Put everything in a conduit so that you can make changes later. And
it is much safer anyway.
2. If you need 3/4" conduit, put in 1". If you need 3 conduits, put in 1
more extra.
3. Put in your pull string as you go!
4. Will you ever be in need of gas line down there later. The yellow
plastic gas line is incredible! Lay it down now with tracer wire if you
think you may ever need gas!

Congrats on the SO letting you do this utility extension.

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"Benign Vanilla" wrote in message
...

"Mike Patterson" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 26 May 2004 11:20:04 -0400, "Benign Vanilla"
wrote:

The SO approved me renting a trencher so I can run power and water out
to
the pond. When I mentioned I could T off and put a spigot in the
garden,
she
instantly approved the rental.

Before I do this...Any thoughts? gotchas? wish-I-had-done-this's?

BV.

Since you're gonna have the trench open anyway, spend $10 extra and
run an extra 1.5 or 2 inch flexible pipe in there. Great for running a
phone line or cable TV wire or network cable etc. in later if you get
the urge.

My electrician friend (like a brother to me) and I are both techno-geeks.
We
have already planned for a CAT5 line, some video cable, and some speaker
wire in the trench. Right now, the big hurdle is the trench and it seems
the
wife is allowing it. The rest will be easy.

BV.

Looking for Comments from Experience
 

"Benign Vanilla" wrote in message ...
The SO approved me renting a trencher so I can run power and water out to
the pond. When I mentioned I could T off and put a spigot in the garden, she
instantly approved the rental.

Before I do this...Any thoughts? gotchas? wish-I-had-done-this's?

BV.

This may have already been posted but in a lot of states it's illegal
to dig with power equipment until you call their, "One Call" number.
When you call you tell them where you are and all the utility,
pipeline, etc etc people come out and mark where their stuff is.
You're usually granted X amount of time to dig before you have to call
again. In PA you call and have to wait 3 days for everyone to come out
and then you have 10 days to dig.

http://www.paonecall.com

Believe me when I say that more than enough people have died trenching
over power lines they didnt know were there.

Sam

Looking for Comments from Experience
 

"Benign Vanilla" wrote in message ...
The SO approved me renting a trencher so I can run power and water out to
the pond. When I mentioned I could T off and put a spigot in the garden, she
instantly approved the rental.

Before I do this...Any thoughts? gotchas? wish-I-had-done-this's?

BV.


Here's the master list of one call centers for each state:

http://www.undergroundinfo.com/ucedi...l04onecall.pdf

Looking for Comments from Experience
 

"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
om...
"Benign Vanilla" wrote in message
...
The SO approved me renting a trencher so I can run power and water out
to
the pond. When I mentioned I could T off and put a spigot in the garden,
she
instantly approved the rental.

Before I do this...Any thoughts? gotchas? wish-I-had-done-this's?

BV.

This may have already been posted but in a lot of states it's illegal
to dig with power equipment until you call their, "One Call" number.
When you call you tell them where you are and all the utility,
pipeline, etc etc people come out and mark where their stuff is.
You're usually granted X amount of time to dig before you have to call
again. In PA you call and have to wait 3 days for everyone to come out
and then you have 10 days to dig.

We have Miss Utility in MD. A couple years back we had an invisible fence
installed so we had the entire yard marked. We have nothing in our backyard.
So unless some utility snuck in, buried some lines, and replanted the grass
without me knowing, my trench path is safe.

BV.

Looking for Comments from Experience
 

Pretty good link there.

Sam Hopkins wrote:

Here's the master list of one call centers for each state:

http://www.undergroundinfo.com/ucedi...l04onecall.pdf