question

[boojagirl]

before you dig do you have to have those people come out to check for burried pipes or electrical wires or whatever or are those things burried farther down than people normaly dig?

[NB Digger]

I have never had to do that! Most cables are buried pretty deep and shallow ones will be picked up by your detector (most times!!!!). A long line of continuous beeps / signal will or can often mean a buried pipe or wire/cable! Always be very careful though! I have found that yards are where most of the shallow cables and pipes are! I am sure others have opinions on this as well and any and all advice that one can get is good!
Travis

[boojagirl]

how do you know if getting a lot of beeps is a burried pipe or whatever or a cashe of metal things, like a spot where people might have burried a lot of stuff.

[bigjohn]

call miss utilities /its the law.
just funnin.

[ltecp1]

the majority of cables put into the ground are 18 inches or deeper.Fiber optic is 4 foot deep.I really dont think you have a chance of hitting them.

[RingDancer]

What is fiber optic? I have been very concerned about electric lines buried under ground. I do know that most are overhead but have been wondering myself on what depth most are buried and have had a few people tell me they don't put the line that is running to the house in any pipe is this true!!!! I do realize that it could be an individual thing so you just have to be very careful!!! Anymore answers? Is there anyway to protect or ground yourself from a shock? May sound like a dumb question but I would rather ask than end up in the ground myself!!!

Pat

[bbqcook]

Originally Posted by Pat

What is fiber optic? I have been very concerned about electric lines buried under ground. I do know that most are overhead but have been wondering myself on what depth most are buried and have had a few people tell me they don't put the line that is running to the house in any pipe is this true!!!! I do realize that it could be an individual thing so you just have to be very careful!!! Anymore answers? Is there anyway to protect or ground yourself from a shock? May sound like a dumb question but I would rather ask than end up in the ground myself!!!

Pat

Pat, Fiber optics is made of a glass material to send light waves thru, no electricity involved, however if someone happened to cut one and point a active fiber in the eye, it could harm your vision, similiar to a laser beam. If you ever cut one or even nick one, grab your stuff and leave [don't get caught] They can be very costly in down time and repair. We have one that goes thru town that generates about a million $s an hour, and that is one bill you don't want to pay.
Electric lines are supposed to be buried at a minimum of 18",[ by law of the national electrical code] however there are some that might not be. A contractor that is burying power lines will encounter rock or some other obstacle and cheat if there is no one from the power co. to watch over them. If there are under ground wires, you will see signs of it by wires running down poles covered with uguards or transformers on the ground, usually about 3' x3' and 2-3' tall. digging with a hand spade would be hard to cut into wires. the wire has a pretty hard insulating sheath around it. Even when workers are splicing wire there is a special tool to skin the wire, it is hard to skin with a knife, however it is done with effort.
Another thing to look out for is where a homeowner might build an out building or whatever and run his own underground to it from his house, there is no telling how deep it is, but by law it should be 18".
It is very hard to protect yourself from an electric shock if you come in direct contact with it. NEVER ground your self. If you have a thick rubber [dielectric] blanket to stand on you will be insulting yourself. The best way to protect your self is insulation not grounding. Electricity works by finding a path to ground . Don't let it be you.
I hope this helps, and hasn't been to confusing, any more questions, please ask. I worked for a power co for 38 yrs

[RingDancer]

Thanks bbqcook...thanks for explaining! I was wondering what you meant by insulation. Are you talking about clothing or some digging tool with a rubber handle or something else...sorry about my thoughts of grounding myself...that wouldn't be good!!! Preciate you taking the time to help on this matter!!! Preciate all input here on this subject!! Better to be safe than sorry!

Pat

[bbqcook]

Originally Posted by Pat

Thanks bbqcook...thanks for explaining! I was wondering what you meant by insulation. Are you talking about clothing or some digging tool with a rubber handle or something else...sorry about my thoughts of grounding myself...that wouldn't be good!!! Preciate you taking the time to help on this matter!!! Preciate all input here on this subject!! Better to be safe than sorry!

Pat

Insulation value depends on the voltage. For 120v normal house current for one wire [ normal house current is 3 wires coming in 2 wires are 120v and 1 is the neutral ] Good thick dry leather gloves will give some protection but rubber gloves or rubber coated handle on shovel is most the time ok depending on thickness of the rubber. Clothing would not be a good insulator, it may protect you from flash burn if the clothing is 100% cotton or a natural fabric. never wear nylon, rayon or any of the lons or yons or any synthetic material when encountering electricty.
Just for info electricty travels around a conductor [ wire etc] 1 inch for every 10,000 volts. In other words you would not have to touch a 10,000v line to get shocked, just get within 1 inch of it and you are in the field, and zap. Gloves or not.
Some buried wires going down the rd from transformer to transformer or wherever could be as high as 13,200v , but they should be deeper than 18 inchs. I have probably really confused you now.
I really do not think you will ever encounter a wire that will hurt you unless you might be in some ones yard that buried their own wire, because you do not know what kind of wire they buried or what kind of sheathing is on the wire or how deep it is
I sure hope this helps everyone to be safe. I have seen the power of electricity and what it can do to someone, and I do not want to see it again or hear about it.

Everyone be careful and HH And thankyou for your questions, Earl

[RingDancer]

Great explaining and thanks again! I too have seen what it can do to someone...I know a young man in his teens that came in contact with a downed line (nearly touching the ground from a storm) out in the woods and is very lucky to be alive today!!!

I cannot preach enough to my children about electricity and overhead power lines!!!!!

Thanks again
Pat