Bringing Power In

[EddieWalker]

When I sold off part of my land, I also sold off my access to power. I included an easement for TXU to come acress the front of the land I'd sold in the contract allowing me to run power down the Highway to my place.

Most of the trees came right out, but this one was a bit of a challange. It is tall enought that if it falls the wrong way, it will land in the highway.

 

[EddieWalker]

Through a friend I found this guy. His name is impossible to pronounce, but he's very reasonable, and showed up when he said he would.

He had about a doze chain saws, all sorts of ropes and a crew of three.

First thing he did was climb to the top and tie a 300 foot rope to the tree. Then he repelled down with another rope he had anchored up there and started taking off the branches that would cause the tree to fall the wrong way.

 

[EddieWalker]

After he removed the branches he didn't like, he used his 36 inch Stihl to cut out this notch. He had to cut from both sides since the saw was too small. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Said he should have brought his 48 inch saw /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

For insurance, we tied that 300 ft rope that's attached to the top of the tree to my dozer. My dad took out the tension while one of the guys translated what everyone was saying. Niether my dad nor I speak Spanish.

 

[EddieWalker]

Now that it's out of the way, I have a clear shot along the highway to the nearest power pole.

 

[Junkman]

Where is the picture of you digging out the stump? I sure wish that I could find a crew like that around here that didn't want a arm and a leg to take down a large pine in front of a house that I own. It is about 24" in diameter, and the prices quoted start at $1500. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

TXU put the poles in one day. I was in a meeting in town that morning and by noon when I got back, they were all done. Sure would have enjoyed watching them work.

Anyway, I was in town on another issue when they showed up to put in the wires. This was a two day job, so I didn't miss too much of it.

The lines along the highway take a sharp turn when entering my place. They wouldn't put any guy wires into the highway right of way becuase of previous issues. Not sure what that meant.

Two poles are put in fairly close together and the wire is loosely hung from one to the other. This way the tension is in the direction of the guy wires.

 

[EddieWalker]

Junk,

Sorry, I forgot to mention what I paid. He said $300 and he'd do it the next day. My Dad was standing next to me at the time and loves to barter with everyone over just about anything. He started going on about how that was too much money and he could do it for less and on and on. Dad is a pretty good guy, but sometimes he lacks common sense. $300 was a fantastic price and everyone there new it except my Dad.

I agreed to the price and for the time being hurt my Dad's feelings. Oh well, sometimes you can't let a little thing like visiting family get in the way of a good deal!!!!!!!!!!

The stumps edge is on the property line of my neigbor and is about ten feet from the highways line. I left the stump there as a boundry marker.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'd cleaned up the opening through my front pasture earlier in expectation of this actually happening.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here's were I'm at now. Poles are in, wire in attached, and all I need is a place to bring the wires to...

Then I hit a wall. I have to have a licensed electrician hook up my meter and disconnect. No problem, I know just the guy. I've used him on other projects.

I call and find out he's no longer a contractor and is working for the school district, but his brother is running the company. I know him, so I call. No answer, so I leave a message. Several days go by without a return call. I try again and to this day, three weeks ago, I still haven't heard back from him.

I talk to another buddy to get his guy. He says he'll be there the next day. Great. Except he doesn't show up. No call and he isn't answering his phone anymore. That was two weeks ago.

This week I get the name of another electrician from a different buddy. Should have gone to him first, cause his electrician showed up and is right on top of things.

He's never done a 1,200 amp meter and diconnect before, but knows just what to do. He gives me a plan and says to call when I'm ready.

The best part about his plan is it's totally different then what I've seen in other RV Parks. We'll just bury the lines coming down from the pole in conduit, run them back up through a concrete slab into the meter box. Then from the diconnect box, we'll run six seperate lines to their destinatios through the slab.

Brilliant, simple and clean.