Was pulling my bed edger around an outbuilding to install new edging for some folks. Was only trenching about 5 inches deep. All of a sudden the ground lite up like a lightning strike. Kinda shook me a bit I guess and all I seen was a big gob of three number 4 lectric buriable wires all ripped and tangled stickin up out the ground. Now, I knew there was wire in there but it looked like a professional install at the building so I ASSUMED it was buried as per code around here. That would be 18 inches. My assumption bout got me lectrycuted today. Turns out the home owners had a "buddy" put in a new 100 amp service some time back and I guess he didn't want to shovel any more dirt than he had to or sumpthin. I don't dig anywhere without a locate but this was a line that Iowa one call wouldn't have located anyways since it was not a power company line. I feel bad that I hit the line and the fact it is gonna cost the home owners money to have it fixed but it states right on our bid sheets that all private lines are the owners responsibility to have marked or to inform me of. But then, I wouldn't be feeling nuthin right now if the breaker in their house hadn't tripped quick enough huh?
Glad your okay. Never ASSUME anything when it comes to electricity for sure. That's what you get when you use "BUDDY" tradesmen.
I always ask when running the edger if the owners know ANYTHING that's not marked. Invisible fence, sub panels, etc. Locators in indiana only go from the street to the house...anything done from the house out, is unmarked. Grrrrrr. I've torn up plenty of landscape lighting, cable tv, phone, etc but never 100a worth! Glad ur ok. That's shady chit there. I'd be calling that guy out quickly.
I always ask too but no one was home at the time. But then these folks probably wouldn't have had a clue as to how it was installed by the buddy. If I have any doubt about buried stuff I will carefully probe with a round point shovel but in this case I am glad I didn't. I can just see me put my foot on the shovel and accidentally nick 2 of them wires at the same time. ZZZZAAAAPPPP!
Wow Butcher... glad all turned out OK for you. I'd have thought any electrical line would have been buried deeper too.
I cut through a piece of #2 primary cable (7620 volts) at work once. You'd have thought someone was shooting at us as fast as the other 2 guys ran. I just stood there laughing, guess maybe I'm a little off. It blew the fuse immediately which we were standing right under.
Someone ran 200 amp service from the house to the garage....direct burial...6 inches deep. damm near killed myself twice on it.
Glad to hear you're alright, brother. Have you talked with the local code office in regards to the mishap? Someone did a boo-boo here and it wasn't you....
