Bury power line

jdiddy

I need to bury my main power line from the pole to my house. It is a110 feet run. What type of UF-B wire would be used? I was trying to price it out.
Thanks"

oh'mike

What country do you live in? Price vary from country to country---copper or aluminum?

Full roll or cut to length?

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jdiddy

I'm in the US. NY to be exact. Want to use copper. I guess cut to length but I dont know if a how many feet are in a full roll.

Speedy Petey

Why not just ask another electrician?

Coming here with such a vague question with no details about the job is not going to get you any accurate answers.

Also, you cannot and would not use UF.

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jdiddy

All i'm asking is what is the exact type of cable used for the job and about how much it costs per ft.

andrew79

Err doesn't the power company look after everything line side of the meter?

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1950home

You might want to start at the power company. I'm not sure about NY PECO's.

In MOST of the US you own the wire from the service mast connection going into your home. MOST of the time you own the meter box also, but part of the argument is they can lock it and fine you for opening the meter base.

Is your meter on the poll or on the house?

kbsparky

You should not be stabbing in the dark about this.

First of all, type UF cable is NOT allowable as service entrance cable. But it is allowable for branch circuits and feeders. There are size limitations to this type of wire. Southwire's web site shows #6 as the largest available UF-B cable from them. Although I have seen larger, it is quite unusual, and can be very expensive compared to other wiring methods.

How large is the service for this place? Direct-bury cables for service entrance use can use type RHW, or USE, and can also be expensive, depending on size and composition.

I'd opt for type XHHW cables in conduit on similar installations ....

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1950home

kbsparky
It looks like your right. thank you

jdiddy

What about THHN? It's a 200 amp service.

kbsparky

Can't use THHN underground. THWN maybe, but it would have to be installed in conduit. RHW or USE can be direct-buried, however.

Many would use a "URD" cable assembly for such an installation. While URD is not recognized by the Code, most of it available today is an assembly of 3 or 4 type USE conductors twisted together.

A 200 Amp service for a dwelling would have to use minimum #2/0 copper, or #4/0 aluminum conductors for the service/feeders.

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Speedy Petey

In MOST places underground service laterals are customer responsibility.

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Speedy Petey

I think you are looking for something, but you don't know what it is. That price cannot be for just the wire. That is a flat price for the cable installed. Thing is, we have NO idea what else he is considering.
If it is just the wire then $1500 is a lot, unless of course it includes the excavation, then it is pretty close. If it is for part of the service (without excavation) then it is just right. If it is for the whole 200A underground service the it is insanely low.
Also, unless you are down near the City/LI, an electrician would almost certainly not use copper. Service laterals are almost exclusively aluminium around here.

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md2lgyk

You really need to check with your power company. As noted, in most locations these wires would be their responsibility. In any case, your question indicates to me that you lack the knowledge to even be considering doing this yourself.

I don't know a typical price for #2/0 cable, but judging from what I recently paid for #6 AWG THHN/THWN at Home Depot, it's probably close to $8.00 to $10.00 per foot. Add the cost for trenching and conduit, you're talking major bucks.

md2lgyk

Not where I live (maybe could be if going underground is just something the homeowner wants to do, but here underground is mandatory). I dug the trench and laid the conduit, but the PoCo pulled the wires at no cost to me.