"Dig a 600mm trench for power" to the front gate: How??

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › "Dig a 600mm trench for power" to the front gate: How??

1 | 2

Dav4122

73 posts

Master Geek

#840678 20-Jun-2013 23:19

I did a similar job but for a drainage pipe, a shovel at each end (and anywhere power may be) and a ditch witch I'd hired in the middle.
A concrete cutter is messy but not a challenge to use and if you cut out a section can be dropped back in place once you've filled the trench back in

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#840718 21-Jun-2013 08:02

One way to get under your driveway without digging it up is this:

Dig your trench to the appropriate depth.

Obtain a steel pipe a bit bigger than the PVC conduit you're planning to use and as long as the width of your drive.

Dig a hole on the opposite side of the drive.

Ram the steel pipe under the drive using a sledge hammer.

Use a garden hose or a smaller pipe to clear out the dirt inside the steel pipe.

Presto! You now have a conduit for your PVC conduit.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#840789 21-Jun-2013 09:40

DarthKermit: One way to get under your driveway without digging it up is this:

Dig your trench to the appropriate depth.

Obtain a steel pipe a bit bigger than the PVC conduit you're planning to use and as long as the width of your drive.

Dig a hole on the opposite side of the drive.

Ram the steel pipe under the drive using a sledge hammer.

Use a garden hose or a smaller pipe to clear out the dirt inside the steel pipe.

Presto! You now have a conduit for your PVC conduit.

Spot on! We have a contraption at work that is basically a big steel pipe with a hose connection on one end with a small nozzle at the other. You smack the pipe in to the dirt turn on the water and just keep ramming back and forward and the little water nozzle clears dirt away as you go. Then you can slide the conduit in from the other end.

I would hire a concrete saw because there is nothing more manly than using one of those bad boys haha.

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#841216 21-Jun-2013 19:39

joker97: Why mains powered? Poor sunnage as lots of trees surrounding my section to use solar. Battery is an option I guess but the gater didn't offer that option.

You do get 12V and 24V DIY motors so you can run low voltage cable from your garage to the gate without having to dig 600mm deep. Does not have to be solar powered, but you still need a battery to supply the peak current. Easy Gates in Tauranga (and others) supply these kits.

You can never have enough Volvos!

pmonro

14 posts

Geek

#841835 23-Jun-2013 06:10

DarthKermit: One way to get under your driveway without digging it up is this:

Dig your trench to the appropriate depth.

Obtain a steel pipe a bit bigger than the PVC conduit you're planning to use and as long as the width of your drive.

Dig a hole on the opposite side of the drive.

Ram the steel pipe under the drive using a sledge hammer.

Use a garden hose or a smaller pipe to clear out the dirt inside the steel pipe.

Presto! You now have a conduit for your PVC conduit.

If you take a piece of 10mm steel rod, and weld to its end a piece of 10mm flat 20mm long to form a propellor or auger it is possible to drill a hole through the soil using an electric drill. Especially clay.
I have used this method many times under foundations and paths

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#841843 23-Jun-2013 08:41

chevrolux:
DarthKermit: One way to get under your driveway without digging it up is this:

Dig your trench to the appropriate depth.

Obtain a steel pipe a bit bigger than the PVC conduit you're planning to use and as long as the width of your drive.

Dig a hole on the opposite side of the drive.

Ram the steel pipe under the drive using a sledge hammer.

Use a garden hose or a smaller pipe to clear out the dirt inside the steel pipe.

Presto! You now have a conduit for your PVC conduit.

Spot on! We have a contraption at work that is basically a big steel pipe with a hose connection on one end with a small nozzle at the other. You smack the pipe in to the dirt turn on the water and just keep ramming back and forward and the little water nozzle clears dirt away as you go. Then you can slide the conduit in from the other end.

Thanks. My solution is more of a home DIY one. I have a powerful actuator that I can attach to the steel pipe via a chain, to pull the pipe back out and re-use it. I did this when I was running some conduits out to my garage.

I'll also use this approach for running a conduit for a future UFB connection under our front path.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#841846 23-Jun-2013 08:45

pmonro:
DarthKermit: One way to get under your driveway without digging it up is this:

Dig your trench to the appropriate depth.

Obtain a steel pipe a bit bigger than the PVC conduit you're planning to use and as long as the width of your drive.

Dig a hole on the opposite side of the drive.

Ram the steel pipe under the drive using a sledge hammer.

Use a garden hose or a smaller pipe to clear out the dirt inside the steel pipe.

Presto! You now have a conduit for your PVC conduit.

If you take a piece of 10mm steel rod, and weld to its end a piece of 10mm flat 20mm long to form a propellor or auger it is possible to drill a hole through the soil using an electric drill. Especially clay.
I have used this method many times under foundations and paths

Interesting idea. I think you'd probably need a drill with plenty of torque to do this.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

1 | 2