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sunspot · 03-01-18, 10:23 PM

We've got overhead wiring for phone and power. We also have big trees and winter storms with strong winds. Not a great combo. So... proactively I thought I'd install underground conduits for the foreseeable upgrade to below grade service wiring. So if a storm hits and the wiring is trashed we can upgrade to underground wiring at that point.

I bought 3" pvc sewer pipe for the mains wire figuring it'd be an easy pull for direct burial cable and 1 1/4" sch 40 for the phone line. How much separation is needed/recommended between the two? I had envisioned two trenches a couple of feet apart but having dug for 6 hrs to make 5 m (I need to go 40) progress at 30" depth today I'm wondering if I can put both conduits in the same trench. I'm no stranger to trenching having dug more than my share but this ground is hellacious - rocks, roots, hardpan. If two trenches are better I'll suck it up and dig but if there's no advantage I'd be happy to save some work. Anyone?

Thanks, Greg

03-01-18, 10:23 PM	#1
sunspot Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Vancouver Island, BC Posts: 146 Thanks: 30 Thanked 35 Times in 29 Posts	trenching for phone and power We've got overhead wiring for phone and power. We also have big trees and winter storms with strong winds. Not a great combo. So... proactively I thought I'd install underground conduits for the foreseeable upgrade to below grade service wiring. So if a storm hits and the wiring is trashed we can upgrade to underground wiring at that point. I bought 3" pvc sewer pipe for the mains wire figuring it'd be an easy pull for direct burial cable and 1 1/4" sch 40 for the phone line. How much separation is needed/recommended between the two? I had envisioned two trenches a couple of feet apart but having dug for 6 hrs to make 5 m (I need to go 40) progress at 30" depth today I'm wondering if I can put both conduits in the same trench. I'm no stranger to trenching having dug more than my share but this ground is hellacious - rocks, roots, hardpan. If two trenches are better I'll suck it up and dig but if there's no advantage I'd be happy to save some work. Anyone? Thanks, Greg