Line clearance question.

[pdqdl]

For all those guys that followed this thread: Thanks for the help. Sadly, in the final analysis, this was pretty much a waste of time, because I never needed any line clearance advice for this problem, once I was there.

(Sorry I forgot to post an update sooner.)

This bid was almost a joke. The utility company didn't care what was near the wire, but the electrical contractor needed the branches whacked out of the way to lift the wire, 'cause he was on an extension ladder 20' up the side of the house.

The customer was only moving the service line from a low point on the side of the house to just under the corner eave closest to the pole on a 2 story house. None of the trees was bigger than 6" caliper, and most of them were little scrub trees that should all have been wiped out. They were all the wrong plants in a bad location, but the customer wanted to keep them.

I tried to talk him into taking out all but one tree in a cluster of weed trees, but he wouldn't do it. So...I left a nasty little siberian elm hanging over the new service drop (already installed while we were there). My mechanic and I did the whole job in about 40 minutes with a Stihl power pruner. $150.00

I was thoroughly disillusioned that anybody dealing with contractors while doing a re-hab could be so incompetent at describing what they wanted over the telephone.

 

[jefflovstrom]

For all those guys that followed this thread: Thanks for the help. Sadly, in the final analysis, this was pretty much a waste of time, because I never needed any line clearance advice for this problem, once I was there.

(Sorry I forgot to post an update sooner.)

This bid was almost a joke. The utility company didn't care what was near the wire, but the electrical contractor needed the branches whacked out of the way to lift the wire, 'cause he was on an extension ladder 20' up the side of the house.

The customer was only moving the service line from a low point on the side of the house to just under the corner eave closest to the pole on a 2 story house. None of the trees was bigger than 6" caliper, and most of them were little scrub trees that should all have been wiped out. They were all the wrong plants in a bad location, but the customer wanted to keep them.

I tried to talk him into taking out all but one tree in a cluster of weed trees, but he wouldn't do it. So...I left a nasty little siberian elm hanging over the new service drop (already installed while we were there). My mechanic and I did the whole job in about 40 minutes with a Stihl power pruner. $150.00

I was thoroughly disillusioned that anybody dealing with contractors while doing a re-hab could be so incompetent at describing what they wanted over the telephone.

We (you know who), never said ' Not rubbing' was a spec. Now I think you know what I mean.
Jeff

 

[ropensaddle]

We (you know who), never said ' Not rubbing' was a spec. Now I think you know what I mean.
Jeff

No Jeff, what do you mean ? I called it a rule of thumb, in line clearance some things are considered such. In some cases contracts call for different specs. It is a rule of thumb and proper clearance to at least get minimal clearance on drops. It is also good to clear overhead stub pole and guy's some do and some don't, I always did, if your going to do a job do it right!

 

[jefflovstrom]

No Jeff, what do you mean ? I called it a rule of thumb, in line clearance some things are considered such. In some cases contracts call for different specs. It is a rule of thumb and proper clearance to at least get minimal clearance on drops. It is also good to clear overhead stub pole and guy's some do and some don't, I always did, if your going to do a job do it right!

I said that 'Not rubbing' is not a spec. You use the phrase ' Rule of thumb', I think we are on the same page here if you go back and read some.
Jeff

 

[itsmyblood]

I do not think this is right-of-way clearance for a service line installation, I think it is only a line drop from pole to building. The customer only referred to one tree needing trimmed, so I think he is just moving the service line.

He told me that the line would go right over (or through) the tree, and that he did not want to top the tree.

In Kansas City, the utility company is responsible for all the wiring up to the meter box, so I doubt if the electrical contractor will be pulling the line through any recently created hole in the tree, and I suspect that KCPL will not be terribly willing to do it either.

Comments?

I'v done line clearance for 13 years in three states and triplex service drops if thats what your refering to only need enough clearance so nothing is pushing or pulling on the wire ... With that said they are stringing a new line and the linemen will need enough room to get the wire into place. So use your judgment and try to picture the pole and the weather head and the path of the service drop.

 

[Labman]

We had a scheduled outage to clear the line down the way last summer. I knocked a big hole in my osage orange tree by my service line when I had a chance with the power off. My goal is to die of old age before it grows back.

 

[squad143]

I had to trim and remove some trees for a customer who was having a new service connected (by Ontario Hydro) to a new residence a few years ago. If I recall, I was required to clear a straight path from the pole connection to the mast and four feet around that straight line. Plus, the vegatation from line to ground had to be removed (for line installation).

I'm sure each area has their own regs.

 

[millbilly]

I would think the utility company would do the trimming

As far as i know the utility co.would have there own tree crew come in and the job engineer would tell the forman what has to be removed to install the new service loop.

If it were me I would tell them to run it underground which is almost code every where.

As for trimming the service loop, crews used to do it to get their tree count up so it looked good on paper.

The utility company around my way won't even trim bare secondaries hoping they bun down so they can replace them with triplex, since funding comes out of a different budget.

Also don't be fooled into calling it insulation, its actually weatherproofing, calling it insulation gives one a false sence of security

 

[millbilly]

i forgot one thing

service drops are only 110 volts

 

[itsmyblood]

service drops are only 110 volts

Actually 220 volts two 110 volt and a nutral.

 

[ropensaddle]

Actually 220 volts two 110 volt and a nutral.

Lol actually 240 to 880

 

[ropensaddle]

As far as i know the utility co.would have there own tree crew come in and the job

If it were me I would tell them to run it underground which is almost code every where.

Underground is not code it has to meet code and is at a cost to customer in most cases. Also bare in mind, if your objective for underground is to save trees you will likely be surprised in two years when the trees die you were attempting to save!

 

[itsmyblood]

Lol actually 240 to 880

Your right i'v seen them come in at many different voltages i think the only thing that matters is that there over 220

 

[ropensaddle]

Your right i'v seen them come in at many different voltages i think the only thing that matters is that there over 220

Lol yup and 1/10 of one amp in 12vdc can kill so all are dangerous. I always say it is not amps or volts that determine a fatal electrocution it is the ohms or lack of that do.

 

[itsmyblood]

Lol yup and 1/10 of one amp in 12vdc can kill so all are dangerous. I always say it is not amps or volts that determine a fatal electrocution it is the ohms or lack of that do.

your right and even on distribution lines you dealing with about 60 amps min.

 

[jefflovstrom]

I got a shock from a phone line house drop. Never expected that.
Jeff

 

[ropensaddle]

I got a shock from a phone line house drop. Never expected that.
Jeff

Lmao yup the ringer wire is a little hot sob I been bit by it too. Been touched by 12500 indirect once as well. Early in my career it was a monthly thing getting a little charge always scary but mostly minimal contact due to high ohms.
I learned how to do trees on fire with out being bit through the years by staying out of the path of least resistance. It doesn't matter the voltage until it gets high enough to have wild voltage or in other words arc. If your not touching it usually your not exposed.

 

[millbilly]

lol

I knew I could get fools to bite on this hook. I love snow days.

 

[ropensaddle]

I knew I could get fools to bite on this hook. I love snow days.

Who you calling fool fool lol


YouTube - I pity the Fool

 

[nba123]

service drops are only 110 volts

You R wrong service drops can be a minimum of 240v to a residence, and up to 480v. Do not give people false info also It is not the same as in ur house where u have a 100 or 200a breaker, There is to much to tell in just a few words here, the main thing is to avoid contact and asume the highest voltage. I am a Journeyman lineman for a large power comp and do service drops for trimmers all the time. I also will install cover up if they request it, and in many cases have put cover up on a service with intent to leave it so wire could rub on the tree because homeowner wouldnt here of there tree being trimed, and as a utility ur trimming rights stop at the primary, the cust can let the secondary grow up as much as they want. If it rubs the wire in two we just have to fix. I have cleared built and maintianed power lines from 240v to 500kv, the clearence part was only when its in my way. In my career as a troubleman I have refused countless primary lines, helped many trimmers who had ropes smoking on pri and put up 100s of service lines on trim jobs that didnt go as planed. At the power comp I work for it is free to have us come out and that is cheap insurance. In the town I live in all the trimmers have my number and I help them any way I can. James