RVA
Ambassador
Wow, 90 feet that deep is a lot of digging! What a great way to start your new year. I hope all that giving comes back to you every day of 2019!
Happy New Year From The Ranch:
- Thread starter Inspector #20
- Start date
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
HAH @ shovel cam. When we gonna get Silverburst Cam shots?
Happy New Year, Robert and of course everyone else.
Happy New Year, Robert and of course everyone else.
OP
This project kind of took priority over everything else, since electricity was down and out and we needed to get it back up. There hasn't been much music time...
That soil looks fairly sandy.
OP
It is in most places, thankfully. In a few places, you hit red clay, about a foot down, which you have to break with a pick. We also hit a lot of old glass bottles and 1/4" thick plate glass shards.
During trench digging, I found this interesting adjustable wrench at about the 24" mark. It was wrapped in an oiled leather pouch and was incredibly preserved. A little steel wool and WD-40 and the adjustment started working. Tool is marked "Mossberg Tool Co. Attleboro Mass USA Pat. November 19 and December 31, 95...as in 1895:
Not being an electrician made the work tougher. We ended up running (4) individual (braided) 125 foot, 8AWG conductors encased in used 1-1/4" PVC, which we pulled from the well refurbish job two years ago.
I made sure to mark the conductor assigned to 'neutral' on both ends with white electrician's tape. Bright green wire was used for the earth ground. A new 'local' ground stake was driven in 8 feet near the new sub-panel.
Here's a shot of the old main panel on the property's main utility pole. This is our supply point of origin.
In true OCD fashion, I figured an extra 30 feet was a good bet on each end. The 2016 water well project is visible in the background:
A brand new Square D panel was purchased to replace the old panel, left over from the 1950's. New breakers in "Twin Hot" configuration (my term for the new style of wiring) replaced the old 3-conductor (Hot/Neutral/Earth) which was previously in use.
The new sub-panel is wired 240V/120VAC to supply Pop's arc welders and general wall plugs and lighting. Here's where the new cable enters the tractor shop:
Probably could have been done by a contractor in a couple of hours. Took us a couple of days. Driving down the hill to Home Depot each time something was needed didn't help.
It was, however, really nice to spend time with the family. All the girls helped (even Mom) by walking the trench to pack it down. We had lunch yesterday at historic Fountain Springs Saloon once the work was all done.
The Ranch takes a lot of upkeep!!!!