Locating Fibre Cable

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Jase2985

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#2814230 17-Nov-2021 08:32

quickymart:

No, I don't mean that. At all.

A shallow bury (for an existing property) can be up to 200m, what you've posted there is the process for a new property build, which is not what the OP was asking about.

Comparing it to installing a power line is not an equal comparison - how many properties today around the country don't have an existing power line running to them? Next to none. Whereas a fair number do not have fibre installed.

If i want to go from overhead to underground when i do a renovation what needs to happen to the power? it has to be buried 600mm down, why not the same if i were getting fiber? if they have to run new fiber as they couldn't use the existing duct etc then it should be a minimum depth below the surface to prevent damage. This is government funded infrastructure its suppose to last for decades, not till the home owner does some gardening with a spade. same goes for clipping it to a fence.

Thats why i ran my own conduit 500mm down so that there is next to no chance that it ever gets damaged.

sparkz25

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#2814232 17-Nov-2021 08:35

Jase2985:

If i want to go from overhead to underground when i do a renovation what needs to happen to the power? it has to be buried 600mm down, why not the same if i were getting fiber? if they have to run new fiber as they couldn't use the existing duct etc then it should be a minimum depth below the surface to prevent damage. This is government funded infrastructure its suppose to last for decades, not till the home owner does some gardening with a spade. same goes for clipping it to a fence.

Thats why i ran my own conduit 500mm down so that there is next to no chance that it ever gets damaged.

Pretty much nailed it on the head right there!

This infrastructure is meant to last and not when the homeowner starts digging in his backyard!

Jase2985

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#2814303 17-Nov-2021 09:55

sparkz25:

Pretty much nailed it on the head right there!

This infrastructure is meant to last and not when the homeowner starts digging in his backyard!

or the dilapidated fence blows over in the next storm.

its one of those if you want it done right do it yourself situations. though it shouldn't be this way.

halper86

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#2814382 17-Nov-2021 10:49

Out of curiosity, what was the minimum depth for the copper lead-in?

sparkz25

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#2814412 17-Nov-2021 11:41

quickymart:

No, I don't mean that. At all.

A shallow bury (for an existing property) can be up to 200m, what you've posted there is the process for a new property build, which is not what the OP was asking about.

Comparing it to installing a power line is not an equal comparison - how many properties today around the country don't have an existing power line running to them? Next to none. Whereas a fair number do not have fibre installed.

So what you are saying is a shallow burial at 4-6 inches or less is acceptable for a nationwide infrastructure that is meant to last at least 10 years?

quickymart

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#2814532 17-Nov-2021 13:29

@chorusnz can probably explain this better.

Also I meant to write 200mm, not 200m.

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Bung

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#2814535 17-Nov-2021 13:36

The "up to 200mm" only works from a worm's eye view. Chorus would have you believe that 200mm is minimum depth in brownfields. Brown is probably code for them doing it, green is the property developer or you doing it.

gregmcc

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#2814609 17-Nov-2021 15:25

Bung: The "up to 200mm" only works from a worm's eye view. Chorus would have you believe that 200mm is minimum depth in brownfields. Brown is probably code for them doing it, green is the property developer or you doing it.

Greenfields is a site that has not previously had any building done on it, such as a new subdivision, a brownfield would be an existing property where other currently services are in the ground and in use.

The company I work for does a lot of electrical services to properties, when we do a new underground service we offer to put a fibre duct in at the same time slightly above the power. We frequently come across poorly done underground fibre installs, it's a rarity to come across a correctly done fibre install and we tag out fibre repairs specifically because of this issue.

20-50mm below the ground level is the normal for the fibre installs so it's no surprise when it gets damaged.

Wellingtondave

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#2815740 19-Nov-2021 14:32

If direct buried - with a narrow spade dig parallel to, or should that be perpendicular to? the probable location of the cable so that it's lifted from underneath rather than cut across it. The micro duct does have a reinforcing [steel?] wire running through it so it might be able to clamp on to it with a locator but that would cost money.

Else if you do end up cutting it, badger your ISP until they make Chorus (or other provider) come and fix it for doing such a lousy job of installing them and or not even bothering to map out the location and details.

raytaylor

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#2816093 20-Nov-2021 12:42

mdooher:

If you do it, there is a minimum depth...if they do it ... Nope

and since they don't put a trace cable in your part of the conduit it makes it tricky to find

Trace wire is built into the wall of the official chorus approved microduct.

If you ever break a lead in cable, you will notice the installer using a microduct joiner, housed within a special tube which also contains a metal mesh wire so the trace is also continuously joined.

OP where are you located? If in hawkes bay, I dont mind calling out and locating it with my tool. I need an excuse to get out of bed and do something today.

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raytaylor

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#2816097 20-Nov-2021 12:49

mdooher:

conduit vs rotary hoe.. Do you promise to put it on YouTube for us?

When I was deciding what brand / type of direct bury microduct to use, i looked at one with the same specs as the chorus type. My condition was it had to stand up to a line trimmer.

A shovel or spade would potentially still damage anything but a line trimmer seemed like a reasonable expectation.

We spent about 20 minutes filming this trying to break the cable with the line trimmer, all different ways, lengths and angles, speeds but it always broke the line rather than the microduct.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svIyRwiG0v4

Ray Taylor

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networkn

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#2819258 25-Nov-2021 16:35

So, I am not that happy after further digging around.

Turns out the cable was only around 40mm below the ground in some places and nowhere deeper than 100mm at any place I could find.

My son and I used a spade and dug it down 200-300mm and it took us less than an hour to do so.

I have defended Chorus a fair bit in these forums, as I understand they don't get paid much to do this work, but this was pure laziness. I can't be bothered lodging a formal complaint, but it's terrible.

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