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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
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We've got Underground Service Alert (USA) out here in SoCA You don't dare stick a shovel in the ground without calling (+48 hrs.) Big Ol' Fine if you don't. It's well worth your while, anyway. A goof can really wreck your day, year, life. (Unless you strike oil or a vein of gold).
If the support's there, really, for your kid's sake use it.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,056
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Originally posted by Dspark:
[b] I use the PA one-call system, when required,
What do you mean "when required"?
If you are disturbing the earth, which by law (Act 287 includes drilling, driving-in, scraping, and trenching), then by law you are required to place the notification at least three working days in advance.
Is your view that your equipment is not "powered"? Does an 8' steel rod being driven by a sledge hammer fall into the exemption for excavation with hand tools? Perhaps it's a grey area. I hope it is exempt; but I treat it like it is required unless I am sure of the facilities myself, such as a recently expired marking.
When I call in I just say I'm driving grounding electrodes to a depth of 100". No one has ever argued with me that I don't need to place a dig notification for that. (Are you just using hand tools for that, sir?)
It costs nothing to have facilities marked. It could cost a lot if you damage something when you could have called instead.
Anyone who is worried about hitting something knows he should have made the telephone call.[/B] I have no problem using One Call for a ground rod. I would think, however, that it may burden the system if every time someone drove a ground rod, One Call got involved. Maybe I'm wrong. I will call them to get their take on it. But, last time I called, which was to dig a trench for 120 volt landscape lighting, they DID ask if I was using "powered" equipment. (I was).
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,056
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Originally posted by Dspark:
[b] I use the PA one-call system, when required,
What do you mean "when required"?
If you are disturbing the earth, which by law (Act 287 includes drilling, driving-in, scraping, and trenching), then by law you are required to place the notification at least three working days in advance.
Is your view that your equipment is not "powered"? Does an 8' steel rod being driven by a sledge hammer fall into the exemption for excavation with hand tools? Perhaps it's a grey area. I hope it is exempt; but I treat it like it is required unless I am sure of the facilities myself, such as a recently expired marking.
When I call in I just say I'm driving grounding electrodes to a depth of 100". No one has ever argued with me that I don't need to place a dig notification for that. (Are you just using hand tools for that, sir?)
It costs nothing to have facilities marked. It could cost a lot if you damage something when you could have called instead.
Anyone who is worried about hitting something knows he should have made the telephone call.[/B] I have no problem using One Call for a ground rod. I would think, however, that it may burden the system if every time someone drove a ground rod, One Call got involved. Maybe I'm wrong. I will call them to get their take on it. But, last time I called, which was to dig a trench for 120 volt landscape lighting, they DID ask if I was using "powered" equipment. (I was).
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,056
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Originally posted by Dspark:
[b] I use the PA one-call system, when required,
What do you mean "when required"?
If you are disturbing the earth, which by law (Act 287 includes drilling, driving-in, scraping, and trenching), then by law you are required to place the notification at least three working days in advance.
Is your view that your equipment is not "powered"? Does an 8' steel rod being driven by a sledge hammer fall into the exemption for excavation with hand tools? Perhaps it's a grey area. I hope it is exempt; but I treat it like it is required unless I am sure of the facilities myself, such as a recently expired marking.
When I call in I just say I'm driving grounding electrodes to a depth of 100". No one has ever argued with me that I don't need to place a dig notification for that. (Are you just using hand tools for that, sir?)
It costs nothing to have facilities marked. It could cost a lot if you damage something when you could have called instead.
Anyone who is worried about hitting something knows he should have made the telephone call.[/B] The last time I used One Call, which was for a trench for 120 volt landscape lighting, they DID ask if I would be using powered equipment. It seems that using One Call for driving grounds might burden the system. (I understand the safety aspects). I will call them to see what they say. If it's O.K with them, it's O.K.with me.
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Anonymous
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Here's my definition of powered: having sufficient force to damage unseen facilities.
A sledge hammer on a ground rod is very much a power tool because when we get resistance, we strike harder.
Yes, a dig notification burdens the system. But I think it is what we are supposed to do when we aren't certain where the facilities are. I'm not hand digging a 8' test holes to make sure it is clear to drive my ground rod there. We aren't supposed to guess.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236 Likes: 1
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Dspark... I've got a service this week tying into a pad-mount Xformer, UG... The PoCo is supposed to mark the line... Think I'll call Miss Utility tomorrow just to make sure.. You've convinced me... I can't think of anything worse than hitting a 4160V line with a G-rod! ![[Linked Image]](https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/eek.gif) YIKES!
-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
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Anonymous
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In your case, the tolerance zone is over 8'. Your rod will follow the already disturbed earth if it can find it. So whereever they mark, start 8' away and angle away from the cable. ![[Linked Image]](https://www.electrical-contractor.net/Forum/Images/worminhole.gif)
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,056
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Originally posted by sparky66wv: Dspark...
I can't think of anything worse than hitting a 4160V line with a G-rod!
YIKES!How about 4161?!
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236 Likes: 1
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OK, OK yeah, and 4162... so on, etc, and other things... ad infinitum...
-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 129
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try a coke bottle to drive ground rods! what do i mean? i have found that adding water to the hole will help a ground rod go in...if you hit hard pan...MOVE THE ROD!
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Posts: 43
Joined: September 2013
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