Has anyone used a cable plow?

ccsial · Oct 12, 2005

I want to lay about 1/4 mile of electrical cable, about #6, 3 conductor, from my shop to my cabin. The soil is pretty sandy. Has anyone used a 3PH cable plow? I didn't find anything but big rigs when I searched the web.

wroughtn_harv · Oct 13, 2005

There's a ton of threads on this subject here on TBN. But I believe they're in "attachments" or "build it yourself" forums.

Most areas have subcontractors installing cable and telephone drops. Unless it's something you just want to do I'd suggest locating one of these guys and working a deal on them plowing in your line. Their plows use a vibrating shear which allows them to go deeper easier then brute power will do.

RobS · Oct 13, 2005

Like harv suggested, this might be one to sub out. For 110v you need to be deep enough for code and that will be tough unless you have the right equipment. The right 3ph equipment will be VERY expensive. An option might be to rent a chain trencher. It'll take longer but you'll be able to do it yourself if that's important to you. Good luck and let us all know how you make out /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

ccsial · Oct 13, 2005

I kind of thought I'd be hearing this advice. I'll check around and see if someone can do it. My soil is real sandy so I was thinking I don't need the vibrating type. The trenching sounds like too big of a mess. Maybe someone rents cable plows but I doubt it.

I don't know what the code is but I was planning on stepping up and down to run 440 on the line in order to minimize voltage drop.

CurtisB · Oct 13, 2005

You can also rent a vibratory plow and do it yourself. They are not difficult at all to run and shouldn't cost you all that much. Not sure if the rental shops in your area rent them or not but ours here rent the Vermeer (excellent machine) for about $250 day. I doubt you can get a sub to do it for less than that but maybe you would be able to.

Curtis

ccsial · Oct 13, 2005

I'm going to check rental places later today and see what I can find. I called the two companies in the phone book under cable and both gave me an estimate North of $6000.00 less cable. That's dang near half a tractor. If nothing else, I'll rent a trencher and deal with the mess.

Ford850 · Oct 13, 2005

ccsial,
I trenched 1/4 mile for my drop to the transformer at my house. Mine was a mix of soils including clay and stones, and trenched at 48 inches. We also layed the conduit ourselves. The trencher was a big 6" Vemeer, and worked great. Even backfilled with it. If I were you, I'd do the same since you could go shallower. The conduit would be a small investment now. If you have sandy soild you could have it all installed within a day.

ccsial · Oct 13, 2005

I found a rental place that has a trencher for $139/day and a plow for $359/day.

I'll drive to the city Saturday and look at them and decide which one to use. I'm leaning towards the plow if it looks like it would do the job. I have to lay the cable out first since there is no reel on it. My only concern with the plow would be damaging the cable.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

hobbyfarm · Oct 13, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My only concern with the plow would be damaging the cable. )</font>

If you are using the correct type of cable, that is, rated for direct burial, it is pretty tough stuff as far as the cable jacket.

Jagmandave · Oct 13, 2005

I needed to run a 110V line to the outdoor sign, my sprinkler installer pulled a pvc pipe for me with his slitter and I ran the wires right thru it, easy as pie. Since it's so late in the season, maybe a sprinkler installer in your area would put in the conduit cheaply for you?