Locating Fibre Cable

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networkn

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#290484 15-Nov-2021 07:55

When I had my Fibre installed 3 years ago, I am pretty sure they trenched the thing over a section of my lawn, but I can't recall where or how deep. We are renovating the lawn and I don't want to damage the cable, would Chorus keep records/photos of that?

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#2812989 15-Nov-2021 08:25

When they did ours they only took photos of the ETP and ONT. The good news is you probably won't have to dig very deep if they buried the fibre.

Lias

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#2812997 15-Nov-2021 08:46

Given that if you break it, they will send you a very large bill, you'd like to think they can tell you where it is..

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#2812999 15-Nov-2021 08:48

Lias:

Given that if you break it, they will send you a very large bill, you'd like to think they can tell you where it is..

I've had two customers break their own fibre cable and it was fixed quickly and didn't cost them anything. I'd still rather avoid the entire situation though.

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#2813017 15-Nov-2021 10:07

Well, that is disappointing. I called Chorus and spoke to someone who said they don't keep record of the location or depth of service leads, and I'd have to pay Chorus $150 an hour to come and tell me what is required.

Does that seem right to you @chorusnz ?

I assume there is a minimum depth required to be laid, and if I stay above that depth, and it's damaged, it means it didn't meet the service requirements ?

mdooher

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#2813041 15-Nov-2021 11:00

networkn:

Well, that is disappointing. I called Chorus and spoke to someone who said they don't keep record of the location or depth of service leads, and I'd have to pay Chorus $150 an hour to come and tell me what is required.

Does that seem right to you @chorusnz ?

I assume there is a minimum depth required to be laid, and if I stay above that depth, and it's damaged, it means it didn't meet the service requirements ?

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

Matthew

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#2813050 15-Nov-2021 11:05

When they put the cable in across my lawn it was done with a spade. They just opened up a slit and dropped the cable in. So I'd expect it to be about 3/4 to full depth of a spade.

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#2813052 15-Nov-2021 11:07

kiwiharry:

When they put the cable in across my lawn it was done with a spade. They just opened up a slit and dropped the cable in. So I'd expect it to be about 3/4 to full depth of a spade.

Yes, my memory was that it wasn't super deep.

I thought they had to go to a certain depth as part of the spec.

mdooher

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#2813057 15-Nov-2021 11:14

networkn:

kiwiharry:

When they put the cable in across my lawn it was done with a spade. They just opened up a slit and dropped the cable in. So I'd expect it to be about 3/4 to full depth of a spade.

Yes, my memory was that it wasn't super deep.

I thought they had to go to a certain depth as part of the spec.

So they direct buried it... no conduit?

If you have conduit it is pretty hard to damage with just a spade... direct buried, you are going to end up cutting it, just have at it and get it replaced when you are done

Matthew

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#2813058 15-Nov-2021 11:17

mdooher:

So they direct buried it... no conduit?

If you have conduit it is pretty hard to damage with just a spade... direct buried, you are going to end up cutting it, just have at it and get it replaced when you are done

I believe it was in Conduit. They ran it in green conduit down my drive without burying it, then when it had to cross the lawn they dug a trench and I am pretty sure I wouldn't have let them bury it bare.

mdooher

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#2813067 15-Nov-2021 11:25

networkn:

mdooher:

So they direct buried it... no conduit?

If you have conduit it is pretty hard to damage with just a spade... direct buried, you are going to end up cutting it, just have at it and get it replaced when you are done

I believe it was in Conduit. They ran it in green conduit down my drive without burying it, then when it had to cross the lawn they dug a trench and I am pretty sure I wouldn't have let them bury it bare.

once you find it you can quite safely run a spade along the top... a good digger driver won't damage it either, so depending on how carried away you are getting you should be fine

Depending on the length involved you could push a trace wire down the conduit so that you can detect it with a cable locator or metal detector, butyou need to be careful not to damage the micro duct. But I've done that before.

Alternatively you just need to dig across by hand until you hit it.

Matthew

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#2813068 15-Nov-2021 11:26

networkn:

Well, that is disappointing. I called Chorus and spoke to someone who said they don't keep record of the location or depth of service leads, and I'd have to pay Chorus $150 an hour to come and tell me what is required.

Does that seem right to you @chorusnz ?

I assume there is a minimum depth required to be laid, and if I stay above that depth, and it's damaged, it means it didn't meet the service requirements ?

Chorus only keep details of cables on public land sadly not on private land.

Some installs I have see is out of site and out of mind, less than 50mm deep.

Chrous keep saying that the cable is very rigidised but every time I asked a tech for some for testing I was declined.

You could take an educated guess and lightly dig to find the cable and path. I deal time at the moment after all the rain over the past few days the ground will be soft.

John

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