Electrical Service disconnect question **update**
#3127950
03/09/23 10:06 PM
03/09/23 10:06 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,234 Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX
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My client sold a portion of their farm with a barn on it.
The sold barn has electricity that is run underground to a larger barn with the meter that is still my clients.
In a perfect world I would think disconnecting the power and pulling the underground wire would be the way to go but I do not know if it would be an option at this time.
If I do not pull the wire from the underground conduit, is there a specific codes compliant method to disconnecting the service and leaving the wire in place?
I would be concerned about just leaving the bare wires hanging loose outside of the box or inside the box even though there is no meter or service at the other end.
PS that is an old picture. Wasps have been removed and the conduits connected to the box correctly at this time.
Last edited by IMGTX; 03/10/23 08:34 PM.
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Re: Electrical Service disconnect question
[Re: IMGTX]
#3128034
03/10/23 09:19 AM
03/10/23 09:19 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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I am assuming the two wires fed from the lower bus bar lugs feed the remote barn. Obviously turn off and verify that you have de-energized the wires in question before you attempt anything. You have three/four options IMO: : A, Disconnect the two wires and remove them from the conduit all the way back to the sold barn, with new owners' approval, sell wire for scrap/beer money. B. Cut the wires, leave in the box and safely tape/insulate, which will make the wires forever too short and unusable. C. Cut the conduit and tape the wires at ground level, plug the conduit hole to keep out wasps and backfill the hole of the cut conduit and forget. (leave the cut wires varying distances longer above the cut conduit, after taping/insulating cut ends, bend wire 180 degrees and shove ends back into the conduit before burying) D. You can disconnect all the wires in the conduit, cut the conduit but not the wires at ground level, tape insulate the wires safely, and bury the coiled wires in the ground, allowing a future reconnect without too much hassle/cost. I prefer this option the least, but feel it should be mentioned.
Anyone qualified addressing the other end at the barn in the future would normally remove the wires from the other end, disable or remove them to their satisfaction. Anyone not qualified might ignore and/or do nothing, at their own potential peril. I will not address the legality of doing any of the above regarding local codes, but everything I have noted above I believe to be safe practice. It would be proper to tag the wires at the other ends as disconnected feeders with a date.
Last edited by jcc; 03/10/23 09:39 AM.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Electrical Service disconnect question
[Re: jcc]
#3128062
03/10/23 10:36 AM
03/10/23 10:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,708 North Dakota
6PakBee
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I Live Here
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North Dakota
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Cut them short in the box and use these in the correct size. Heat Shrink Cable Caps
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: Electrical Service disconnect question
[Re: MoparsnMissiles]
#3128137
03/10/23 01:18 PM
03/10/23 01:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,107 Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing
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top fuel
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Byron, NY
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As stated previously, you need to make the disconnect at BOTH ends. You don't want someone in the future to be energizing those lines again from the other end, even if they are disconnected on your end.
I am also questioning if in fact the cable is actually in "Conduit" the entire 600' to the other barn? Often, (more often than not) this cable is direct burial and the conduit you see above ground on both ends only goes a couple feet down below surface and then ends. If this is the case, you will play H**L trying to "pull" this cable. Gonna need a BIGGER truck to pull that one!
'01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60 '01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust, '05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list '60 Willys CJ5 '01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison '64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd
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Re: Electrical Service disconnect question **update**
[Re: IMGTX]
#3128254
03/10/23 08:34 PM
03/10/23 08:34 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,234 Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX
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OP
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Thank you all for the advice. Just got back and found they sold 2 barns with lots. I got the approval to remove the wire between the barns. I had not thought about the wire being direct burial. Very good point, as was cutting offset lengths and everything else too. One set (pictured above) could be direct burial and one definitely is not direct burial grade wire, but hey they screwed up so much it's a fifty fifty chance. Today I disconnected both ends of the power and sealed the ends. Next weekend I am going to start pulling the cable out of the conduit. If it is direct buried then I will cut it even with the ground at both ends and call it a day. Any good ideas on how to pull it? I like the idea of recycling it for money. It will probably be gas money but just as good. I was thinking an engine crane to get it started gently and then literally hooking it to the truck and pulling away. Nothing needs to be saved as long as I do not damage the barns.
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Re: Electrical Service disconnect question **update**
[Re: IMGTX]
#3128332
03/11/23 09:15 AM
03/11/23 09:15 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,708 North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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If you have settled on trying to pull the wire out, don't cut if off even with the ground, you need something to attach to. And most important, wait until the spring thaw is about over, the ground is softest and if the wire can be pulled, this is when it can be. As to what to use, a winch is probably the best. If you don't have a winch, a font end loader is probably a good choice. One of my friends has a fairly large CAT and last spring we were pulling out tree stumps up to about a foot with it and a long chain.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: Electrical Service disconnect question **update**
[Re: IMGTX]
#3128365
03/11/23 11:13 AM
03/11/23 11:13 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,042 N.W. Florida
Fat_Mike
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N.W. Florida
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Any good ideas on how to pull it? I like the idea of recycling it for money. It will probably be gas money but just as good. I was thinking an engine crane to get it started gently and then literally hooking it to the truck and pulling away. Nothing needs to be saved as long as I do not damage the barns. That or a tractor, if one is available. Since you're recycling it, bring some bolt cutters along in case you need to lop it off for any reason.
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Re: Electrical Service disconnect question **update**
[Re: IMGTX]
#3128379
03/11/23 11:39 AM
03/11/23 11:39 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 914 Unfortunately back in New York
Nukechargerboy
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 914
Unfortunately back in New York
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Thank you all for the advice. Just got back and found they sold 2 barns with lots. I got the approval to remove the wire between the barns. I had not thought about the wire being direct burial. Very good point, as was cutting offset lengths and everything else too. One set (pictured above) could be direct burial and one definitely is not direct burial grade wire, but hey they screwed up so much it's a fifty fifty chance. Today I disconnected both ends of the power and sealed the ends. Next weekend I am going to start pulling the cable out of the conduit. If it is direct buried then I will cut it even with the ground at both ends and call it a day. Any good ideas on how to pull it? I like the idea of recycling it for money. It will probably be gas money but just as good. I was thinking an engine crane to get it started gently and then literally hooking it to the truck and pulling away. Nothing needs to be saved as long as I do not damage the barns. You'll get more beer moneyu if it's clean. Strip the insulation off and now you get more $$$
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Re: Electrical Service disconnect question **update**
[Re: IMGTX]
#3128642
03/11/23 11:35 PM
03/11/23 11:35 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,484 Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
JDMopar
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Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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If that wire is direct buried, there's no way in the world you'll pull it out. If it's in pipe, it may pull, but it won't be easy. That is 2/0 direct bury UG triplex and it is wrapped together from one end to the other. You will have to pull all 3 wires at the same time. If you can get a Kellum grip (works like Chinese handcuffs) to slide down over the wires when you get them out of the box, that will make them easier to pull. If you have a BIG tractor handy that has a front bucket loader, you could catch the wire as low as you can, then raise the bucket up to pull it out of the pipe. Repeat that about 872 times and you'll have it out! LOL. Good luck to you. It will be a lot of work for no more money than you will get out of it. You can buy a cover at the electrical supply house for a few bucks to close up that hole the conduit and wire went thru. Close up the hole the bare ground goes out of with plumbers putty or caulk to keep the wasps and dirt dobbers out.
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