Anybody use a 3pt trencher?

[ctfjr]

In our new house I plan on running over 3000' of underground cat6 and low voltage wires. Our driveway is probably a 700' run by itself and there will be several runs into the woods.

So now I'm thinking about a 3pt trencher. With all the large trees right where I'll be running wire, I'm sure my subsoiler isn't up to the task.

Any tips or suggestions I should be looking for or stay away from? Hopefully there is something on the used market.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

are you going to run it in conduit, along with a spare or just 'roll the dice' ??
the BIG issue is to keep moisture OUT of the wire. it's amazing how friggin far it can creep into a 2400' long cable in a year and a half.....

 

[D2Cat]

How deep do you plan to bury the line? Doing it at one time, or multiple projects?

 

[Edke6bnl]

are you going to run it in conduit, along with a spare or just 'roll the dice' ??
the BIG issue is to keep moisture OUT of the wire. it's amazing how friggin far it can creep into a 2400' long cable in a year and a half.....

My well water power line was just laid down about 3.5 feet with burial cable and all was good for some 35 years then all of a sudden not water. Found the wire all balled up and shorted, it was a long time but I suggest conduit to help what could be a bad issue in the future

 

[Elliott in GA]

As an alternative, you might want to weigh renting. I had to run 180+ feet of electrical wire, and I rented a Vermeer tracked trencher. I cut the trench in about 20 minutes in hard Georgia clay with lots of rocks (softball and football size). I was able to: pick up the trencher, unload the trencher, cut the trench, load the trencher and return it to the rental place (30+ minutes away) in less than 4 hours. With tax and all of the insurance, it was less than $160. The trencher new cost around $30K.

 

[ctfjr]

Thanks for the replies.

This is a 'do it as I have time' project. I'll do a section at a time.

I definitely will run in conduit. The one lesson I learned in our last house, where I also had 1000's of feet run, is no matter how large a pipe I use it won't be big enough.

The first will be the driveway run - I'll probably use 1-1/4" pvc conduit down about 24" (after I call 'call before you dig'). Every 200 feet or so I want to pop up to either a tree or post I plant there and mount a camera and 12x12x6 plastic junction box. In the box there will be a small ethernet switch and a 'buck device' to reduce the 48v to 12v.

Renting is really questionable for a couple of reasons. The number of times I will need it and I have no way to transport it so I will have to pay them to drop off and pick up.

I'm thinking I can find a used one, do my thing with it and then sell it. I've done that before with other attachments.

 

[Elliott in GA]

Thanks for the replies.

This is a 'do it as I have time' project. I'll do a section at a time.

I definitely will run in conduit. The one lesson I learned in our last house, where I also had 1000's of feet run, is no matter how large a pipe I use it won't be big enough.

The first will be the driveway run - I'll probably use 1-1/4" pvc conduit down about 24" (after I call 'call before you dig'). Every 200 feet or so I want to pop up to either a tree or post I plant there and mount a camera and 12x12x6 plastic junction box. In the box there will be a small ethernet switch and a 'buck device' to reduce the 48v to 12v.

Renting is really questionable for a couple of reasons. The number of times I will need it and I have no way to transport it so I will have to pay them to drop off and pick up.

I'm thinking I can find a used one, do my thing with it and then sell it. I've done that before with other attachments.

You know your situation best. FWIW, the Vermeer came with a trailer included in the price.
Good luck.

 

[85Hokie]

In our new house I plan on running over 3000' of underground cat6 and low voltage wires. Our driveway is probably a 700' run by itself and there will be several runs into the woods.

So now I'm thinking about a 3pt trencher. With all the large trees right where I'll be running wire, I'm sure my subsoiler isn't up to the task.

Any tips or suggestions I should be looking for or stay away from? Hopefully there is something on the used market.

One concern I have it the voltage drop of CAT6 - typically 100 meters (330') is max. Unless I misread your distance as being a continuous and not broken up over smaller units.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I used to run +-60 volts over 14 miles without communication problems. BELL always wondered how I KNEW where their cables were cut yet my equipment still functioned....

 

[Vlach7]

I did 3000 feet of trenching on a sit down trencher in one day and renting it for $900 , was by far the best thing to do for the wear and tear or it would’ve put on the old backhoe I had at the time, not to mention, it was the right tool for the job. Had to use a borrowed three-quarter ton truck to tow it with because it was too heavy for half ton.

 

[ctfjr]

One concern I have it the voltage drop of CAT6 - typically 100 meters (330') is max. Unless I misread your distance as being a continuous and not broken up over smaller units.

I believe you are right on. That's why. . .

Every 200 feet or so I want to pop up to either a tree or post I plant there and mount a camera and 12x12x6 plastic junction box. In the box there will be a small ethernet switch and a 'buck device' to reduce the 48v to 12v.

The switch serves as a relay point and the distance limit starts all over. In our old house I had one run with 4 of these switches in line.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I'd like to see how the 'switch', 'resets the distance limit'. CAT6 is 23ga wire, about 20 ohms/1000',limit to about 3/4amp. There's also some power losses with the POE to +12 power supplies.

 

[ctfjr]

I'd like to see how the 'switch', 'resets the distance limit'. CAT6 is 23ga wire, about 20 ohms/1000',limit to about 3/4amp. There's also some power losses with the POE to +12 power supplies.

You are right I'm sure that would be a problem with POE.

That's why. . .
In the box there will be a small ethernet switch and a 'buck device' to reduce the 48v to 12v.

Each switch is powered by 12 volts.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

so how much power does that 'switch' draw ?

 

[Smokeydog]

Seen used 3pt trenchers for $1,800-4k. New about $10-12k. Useful but expensive attachment.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

saw a 'ditchwitch' trencher for $1900 locally, probably get it for $12-1400( looks 'rough' ).
thinking it'd be easier to use/control especially near trees ?compared to a 3PH tractor unit ??

 

[ctfjr]

so how much power does that 'switch' draw ?

very little - probably 100ma or less.

btw the 48 volt line is run in 14ga. I can afford a lot of voltage drop. At the last house I had a 500' run with 4 different 4k camera and IR light drops as well as a string of driveway led lights (3w each x14). The whole 12volt loads were around 10amps but the draw on the 48v line was less than 3.
The buck devices are very efficient.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Hmm, I was under the impression you were running CAT6 as POE but now sounds that CAT6 is only for 'data'., power is NOT on the same wire(s).I ran data and power on one wire decades before POE came about so I'm always interested in 'signalling systems'.

 

[Trustable]

I believe you are right on. That's why. . .

Every 200 feet or so I want to pop up to either a tree or post I plant there and mount a camera and 12x12x6 plastic junction box. In the box there will be a small ethernet switch and a 'buck device' to reduce the 48v to 12v.

The switch serves as a relay point and the distance limit starts all over. In our old house I had one run with 4 of these switches in line.

I know the documentation standard is 100m but I’ve heard of people going above a bit above 200m pretty successfully. Not sure if you are able to test it before you do the install but maybe something to think about? Also I am curious if there is a concern about rust/damage in the switches due to condensation In the junction boxes? I’ve never seen switches that weren’t in climate controlled buildings so I’m more just curious than anything else.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

In our new house I plan on running over 3000' of underground cat6 and low voltage wires. Our driveway is probably a 700' run by itself and there will be several runs into the woods.

So now I'm thinking about a 3pt trencher. With all the large trees right where I'll be running wire, I'm sure my subsoiler isn't up to the task.

Any tips or suggestions I should be looking for or stay away from? Hopefully there is something on the used market.

My 2 cents...
Rent a serious Vermeer or Ditch Witch trencher for your long runs.

Then buy a Backhoe for your L3800. For trench clean up and additional short runs.
And because a BH is awesome. Except for long straight trench runs which are better done with a dedicated trencher.

Although I haven't operated one in a couple decades, a 3 pt trencher will shake your tractor up pretty bad. Especially with roots or rocks involved.

The people that buy trenchers, 3pt or otherwise, use it regularly in a business. Landscape and Golf contractors, etc.