Chorus Fibre install - cable across my driveway help?

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ArdRigh

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#242118 11-Oct-2018 15:12

I have a Spark fibre install booked which was originally planned for Wednesday this week, but has been re-booked for next Tuesday 16/10.

My property in Lower Hutt was built in 2008, has all existing services underground - power and Vodafone cable. The family who built the property didn't get a Telecom copper conncetion.

When it came to the topic of getting the cable across my concrete driveway, they suggested putting a shallow trench across the front of my garage where there is an existing separation in the concrete between the driveway and the ramp added when the garage was built. This seemed like a reasonable solution.

I am not opposed to sticking with the shallow trench plan - provided they have a solid Cemix product to withstand my car going over it. I am just wondering if I am missing something.

My question is - is putting the cable in a shallow trench across my driveway going to be a bigger problem in the future? Like if I need to fix the entrance to the garage?

Is the only other option a deep trench which is likely to leave a larger hole in my driveway? Is there any way they can create a gap under the concrete to put the cable through?

Or is that my responsibility as the property owner?

Has anyone had issues with the restoration of the trenching where the Cemix product has needed to be replaced?

cyril7

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#2106320 11-Oct-2018 15:23

Hi, the shallow trench is going probably going to work just fine, but as you say you will always have the doubt of changes in future effecting it. My guess is they will avoid trenching under you drive slab as it will be way over budget for them to consider viable.

So if it were me, I would either go with the current plan or look at the feasibility of going under the slab youself, you would be surprised as to how easy it is to do, once through leave a conduit in place and leave it to them to use.

Cyril

SpartanVXL

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#2106394 11-Oct-2018 16:46

Yep should be fine, especially if the ramp is going over the final product.

If you scope out an easy way for the cable to go in yourself the guys putting it in on the day will appreciate it. They don't like complex call-outs, the easier you make it for them to lay stuff down, the easier you get fibre in properly.

ArdRigh

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#2106991 12-Oct-2018 20:02

If the weather clears up I will see if I can get a conduit under the driveway for them to put the cable through instead of cutting the shallow trench.

I should be able to get a length of tubing from a hardware or plumbing store that will do the job.

One other question, is the cable flexible enough to for 90 degree bends or will I need to allow room for more gradual corner?

Goosey

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#2107016 12-Oct-2018 21:18

90deg no, you need 'sweeping bends'....

mattwnz

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#2107025 12-Oct-2018 21:40

I am not an expert on this, but I would check that if you are putting a conduit under the drive, that you get the right type that they will install the fibre in. You don't want them refusing due to it being the wrong type. Check with the installers

fe31nz

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#2107045 12-Oct-2018 22:59

For our install where the neigbours were subdividing and building themselves a new house, they had the right-of-way dug up to install their services, and when they asked Chorus what they should do for fibre, Chorus (or their subcontractors) turned up and gave them the conduit needed for the job. A few months later, when the fibre install on the street was finished and we wanted UBF installed, they were able to do it down the conduit, then up our power pole and across to our house, similar to how our power was after the neighbours diggings. Since then the other two houses on the ROW have had fibre installed the same way.

ArdRigh

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#2107053 12-Oct-2018 23:57

Goosey:

90deg no, you need 'sweeping bends'....

I figured as much but always best to check

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ArdRigh

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#2107054 12-Oct-2018 23:57

mattwnz:

I am not an expert on this, but I would check that if you are putting a conduit under the drive, that you get the right type that they will install the fibre in. You don't want them refusing due to it being the wrong type. Check with the installers

I'll see what I can find out about the type of conduit they use.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2107166 13-Oct-2018 09:53

It's green 20mm duct. Same size as 25mm electrical conduit.

Most electrical wholesalers should have it. I don't know whether they'd sell it to someone off the street. In theory it's not supposed to be sold to anyone not-Chorus approved, but that doesn't seem to be followed.

quickymart

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#2107188 13-Oct-2018 10:26

You can get it from Bunnings, Mitre 10 or Corys Electrical.

Bung

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#2107193 13-Oct-2018 10:39

My neighbour had fibre installed by Chorus last week. They were using grey 20mm.

DarthKermit

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#2107203 13-Oct-2018 11:11

SomeoneSomewhere:

It's green 20mm duct. Same size as 25mm electrical conduit.

No it isn't the same size. The nominal 20 mm telecommunications green stuff that Chorus use is the same size as 20 mm white pressure pipe (used for water).

Water pipes are measured by their inside diameter and in this case the 20 mm size is a nominal dimension.

Electrical conduit is measured by its outside diameter.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2107423 13-Oct-2018 19:03

As I said, 20mm duct is close enough to 25mm conduit. The wall is about 2.5mm.

Or at least, close enough that bending springs and fittings are interchangeable.

ArdRigh

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#2112773 23-Oct-2018 14:05

Final update. Fibre was installed by Chorus along with the ONT inside my house. Connected to Spark after adding new settings to my USG. Flawless.

They shallow trenched the cable from the street so it's "underground" enough to not be pinned along the fence.

The install was all done in a couple of hours. The cement mix they used to fill in the driveway trench took a day to fully set, but it's in the shade a lot.

All up, A+ by the techs who did the work and I'll revisit doing the underground conduit properly when I fix my footpath.

quickymart

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#2112840 23-Oct-2018 18:17

All right! S' Rioghal Mo Dhream!