Topic '[Business] Main electric being changed to underground conduit ..' in forum 'Comcast HSI' - dslreports.com

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:34:49 EDT

neufuse posted : I actually this past summer had Comcast here in PA run a new line through existing conduit, they just pushed it through and it popped out at the other end with no troubles... it was the thicker QR320 line I think, the stuff that is like RG-11... they had no issues at all with using the conduit as long as it was orange... guess that was the only "code" issue they wanted to follow... grey PVC was a no, but orange was a sure

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:21:21 EDT

pandora posted :

said by IowaCowboy:

When my underground drop went bad, they just pulled direct burial cable through the ground with an underground cable puller. There was conduit that housed both the Comcast and Verizon (landline) cable in the same conduit but they cut corners horribly and just pulled it around the back of the house.

I regret signing off on the job. The new line is vulnerable to damage from lawn equipment and I am thinking of pulling it out and enclosing it in PVC conduit.

I have have 4 PVC conduits running from my telephone pole. 1 for AT&T, 1 for Comcast (1") and 2 3" conduits (a primary and spare, for 400 amp power. All are 24" underground and have some sort of magnetic wire that makes them easy to detect.
--
"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand." - Milton Friedman"

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:12:11 EDT

IowaCowboy posted : When my underground drop went bad, they just pulled direct burial cable through the ground with an underground cable puller. There was conduit that housed both the Comcast and Verizon (landline) cable in the same conduit but they cut corners horribly and just pulled it around the back of the house.

I regret signing off on the job. The new line is vulnerable to damage from lawn equipment and I am thinking of pulling it out and enclosing it in PVC conduit.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:24:47 EDT

NetFixer posted :

said by WheatRidgeCO :

New 400 amp conduit. The National Electrical code Completely prohibits this type of use. High Voltage, which is anything over 48 volts, CAN NOT co-exist with any type of low voltage cableing, inside the same conduit. That included COAX tv line. If your trench is still open, you can have the coax placed next to the other conduit, or place a new conduit for low voltage use so that
you can replace the line without digging up your yard in the future.
This has been the US Electrical code for a long time. Besides if you do place it inside the same conduit, you might degredade the signal with it being so close to the new electrical feed.

Is there some reason for your post other than that you just did not bother to read the thread before making it?

said by pandora :

Four conduit lines were run, 1 for the electric utility, a recommended spare for the electric utility (as it will be under an 85 foot long paved driveway) and 2 conduits, one for Comcast one for AT&T.

--
We can never have enough of nature.
We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:24:29 EDT

ropeguru posted :

said by WheatRidgeCO :

You need to go back and read this thread again and then correct your post.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:10:16 EDT

anon posted : New 400 amp conduit. The National Electrical code Completely prohibits this type of use. High Voltage, which is anything over 48 volts, CAN NOT co-exist with any type of low voltage cableing, inside the same conduit. That included COAX tv line. If your trench is still open, you can have the coax placed next to the other conduit, or place a new conduit for low voltage use so that
you can replace the line without digging up your yard in the future.
This has been the US Electrical code for a long time. Besides if you do place it inside the same conduit, you might degredade the signal with it being so close to the new electrical feed.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 16:36:39 EDT

beachintech posted :

said by rody_44:

yea im a contractor, You made it sound like it couldnt get done if the string wasnt there. I believe what you meant to say is the inhouse tech wouldnt do it. Contractors do it every day for comcast. I doubt the op gives a shit who does it just that it gets done.
Dont even work as a contractor anymore for comcast but still know lots of contractors that do and nothing has changed.

Our contractors would not do it either. They could make more money banging out drops with the ditch witch :)
--
Ex-Tech at the Beach.
I speak for myself, not my former employer.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:31:09 EDT

rody_44 posted : yea im a contractor, You made it sound like it couldnt get done if the string wasnt there. I believe what you meant to say is the inhouse tech wouldnt do it. Contractors do it every day for comcast. I doubt the op gives a shit who does it just that it gets done.
Dont even work as a contractor anymore for comcast but still know lots of contractors that do and nothing has changed.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:47:24 EDT

beachintech posted :

said by ski93:

Once the conduit is buried and local inspector has approved it's installation, use your shop vac to suck through bailing twine or heavy duty string or rope..You never know what tech you will get on installation day, the guy who will be helpful or the guy who's a douche and won't do shit...So don't chance it...Call Comcast and simply tell them you want to schedule a DROP WORK/ SRO (service request order) That costs you nothing...Not a relocate / re-install drop, they will charge 49.99 if you use those terms...If they ask why you need the drop replaced, make something up, like a tree came down on the drop and your services have been effected..Use your imagination...lol
Push for a time frame and not an open ended order..That way you know it will not get pushed off by any tech that ends up with the job..When he arrives offer to help pull the cable through the pipe , this keeps the installer in a good mood and he wont change the order to a chargible call on you...
Let Comcast provide the coaxial cable, because they will use if they do it correctly armor plated or plenum underground cable...If coaxial drop is under 125 feet RG-6u will be fine...Anything over that urge the tech to use rg-11u just to make sure signal is not marginal...Every Comcast region is different when it comes to signal out of the tap at the street..You follow these steps and you will make the installation process smooth...Post your results let us all know how it goes...

125'+ rg-11?! lol. You must not work for comcast.
--
Ex-Tech at the Beach.
I speak for myself, not my former employer.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:45:55 EDT

beachintech posted :

said by rody_44:

So beach what does comcast do in your area if a house was built and only has conduit? I can see a inhouse tech refusing to do it but really comcast has construction and surely doesnt just abandon the conduit. Lets go one step further and say nothing was ever placed on a existing house. Its not like comcast can require a sub to run his own underground. FWIW Ive literly done thousands of underground pulls for comcast in no less than 12 different comcast systems. So it surely isnt the only one. Underground pulls pay by the foot. No way i walk away from that for a string which takes no more than ten minutes to suck thru.

*Big note: You are a contractor correct? You have no idea what comcast's actual tech policies are.

The few we had where conduit was present, the builders were smart enough to leave strings / mule tape in there for us. Otherwise, we leave a temp on the ground and our contractor either burries it or uses the conduit, whatever they have time for.

My advice, leave a pull string. Tech's don't get time allotted on a new install or service call to be messing around with empty conduit.
--
Ex-Tech at the Beach.
I speak for myself, not my former employer.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:59:40 EDT

battleop posted : I've done a few dozen metro E circuits this year and maybe 3 of them have been grounded when a ground was provided. Half the time the BIC Engineer will visit the site and completely ignore the notes that say to contact me or my office prior to the visit so we rarely get to meet with the BIC.
--
I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:47:15 EDT

Austinloop posted : Just for your information, when the initial site visit is made with engineering and construction folks with the people that ordered the service, the customer is told that the pull string must be in place for the work to be completed.

You LATA has some technicians that are flirting with their jobs, or at least discipline. Should a supervisor catch them not following policy, they could get into trouble.

As for the ground, again that is covered on the initial (or should be) site visit. At least it was when I was the fiber equipment installation foreman. No ground, no installation.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:35:57 EDT

battleop posted : It's what ever it takes to get out of doing the job at hand... I had one 3 weeks ago that refused to pull fiber through a 40' conduit because it didn't have mule tape in the conduit. I've also had them refuse a pull because a ground was not in place yet. Our LATA has some (not all) techs that do what it takes to get out of work.
--
I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:31:14 EDT

Austinloop posted : It isn't a union rule that AT&T will cite, it is company policy.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:28:48 EDT

battleop posted : From experience time and time again Comcast will probably do it with a little bitching. AT&T will cite some union rule and walk away.
--
I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:52:59 EDT

Wayne99021 posted : My thought exactly about the plenum cable.
I have used miles of that stuff all in air return ceilings, but damn sure not in a conduit.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:44:30 EDT

rody_44 posted : Not to mention does anyone actually use armour plated cable anymore. Armour plated is crap and plenum WTF would you need plenum cable in conduit for? Do they even make underground plenum cable? Armour plated was for direct bury and sucks.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:38:55 EDT

NetFixer posted :

said by ski93:

Call Comcast and simply tell them you want to schedule a DROP WORK/ SRO (service request order) That costs you nothing...Not a relocate / re-install drop, they will charge 49.99 if you use those terms...If they ask why you need the drop replaced, make something up, like a tree came down on the drop and your services have been effected..Use your imagination...lol

This is a prime example of why so many service providers have an adversarial attitude toward their customers. :uhh:

said by ski93:

When he arrives offer to help pull the cable through the pipe , this keeps the installer in a good mood and he wont change the order to a chargible call on you...

Of course, if you hadn't lied to him in the first place, the installer might not be in a bad mood. :huh:

said by ski93:

Let Comcast provide the coaxial cable, because they will use if they do it correctly armor plated or plenum underground cable...If coaxial drop is under 125 feet RG-6u will be fine...Anything over that urge the tech to use rg-11u just to make sure signal is not marginal...

Just what every tech loves...a customer who tries to tell him how to do his job. :p
--
We can never have enough of nature.
We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:24:21 EDT

rody_44 posted : So beach what does comcast do in your area if a house was built and only has conduit? I can see a inhouse tech refusing to do it but really comcast has construction and surely doesnt just abandon the conduit. Lets go one step further and say nothing was ever placed on a existing house. Its not like comcast can require a sub to run his own underground. FWIW Ive literly done thousands of underground pulls for comcast in no less than 12 different comcast systems. So it surely isnt the only one. Underground pulls pay by the foot. No way i walk away from that for a string which takes no more than ten minutes to suck thru.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 22:56:09 EDT

ski93 posted : Once the conduit is buried and local inspector has approved it's installation, use your shop vac to suck through bailing twine or heavy duty string or rope..You never know what tech you will get on installation day, the guy who will be helpful or the guy who's a douche and won't do shit...So don't chance it...Call Comcast and simply tell them you want to schedule a DROP WORK/ SRO (service request order) That costs you nothing...Not a relocate / re-install drop, they will charge 49.99 if you use those terms...If they ask why you need the drop replaced, make something up, like a tree came down on the drop and your services have been effected..Use your imagination...lol
Push for a time frame and not an open ended order..That way you know it will not get pushed off by any tech that ends up with the job..When he arrives offer to help pull the cable through the pipe , this keeps the installer in a good mood and he wont change the order to a chargible call on you...
Let Comcast provide the coaxial cable, because they will use if they do it correctly armor plated or plenum underground cable...If coaxial drop is under 125 feet RG-6u will be fine...Anything over that urge the tech to use rg-11u just to make sure signal is not marginal...Every Comcast region is different when it comes to signal out of the tap at the street..You follow these steps and you will make the installation process smooth...Post your results let us all know how it goes...

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:45:38 EDT

beachintech posted :

said by rody_44:

Make that comcast wont do it in your area. Pretty routine for comcast to do it around here. No need for a pull string around here.

You must be in the only area that does.
--
Ex-Tech at the Beach.
I speak for myself, not my former employer.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 21:54:21 EDT

rody_44 posted : Make that comcast wont do it in your area. Pretty routine for comcast to do it around here. No need for a pull string around here.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:12:46 EDT

beachintech posted : Comcast won't do it without a pull rope/string/tape/etc.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 07:32:45 EDT

anon posted :

said by Wayne99021:

A 85 foot run is nothing unless you get some knuckle head electrician that puts in 90s instead of sweeps.

So true, also the idiot who pours a ton of concrete on the conduit and bends/pinches it flat.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:01:06 EDT

Austinloop posted : You beat me out the door by 4 years. I left in June 2007.

As one of my previous bosses said, you left at the right time. I still keep in touch with a couple of managers and a couple of my techs who are still working and they agreed that I am not missing anything.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:58:35 EDT

Wayne99021 posted : I agree. Things have changed since retiring in 2003.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:39:08 EDT

Austinloop posted : I would agree with the use of fish tapes when the technician is doing time and materials work, however, a new install is not a time and materials job.

With the current environment of "numbers", no installer is going to make his numbers using fish tapes, etc. In all likelihood, the install will be jeopardied to the customer, and the installer will move on to the next job.

I am not saying this is right, that is just the way it is today.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:24:47 EDT

Wayne99021 posted : I know what you are saying as I had 37 years with Bell/AT&T both craft and management, but I think it depends on the situation and location.
In craft I always carried 2 100 foot fish tapes. When in management I required all techs to do the same. We were being paid by the hour so it didn't really matter we were doing, plus it was good PR.
A 85 foot run is nothing unless you get some knuckle head electrician that puts in 90s instead of sweeps.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:29:06 EDT

Austinloop posted : From the point of view of an AT&T (now retired) foreman, if there is customer owned conduit, the customer must also provide a pull string/rope for use in pulling the new drop, or cable. Essentially, if there was no pull rope, then no installation.

The normal installation technician does not have the equipment (vacuum, or air compressor to install a pull string/rope.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:03:46 EDT

jack b posted : I know several tried and true ways of getting a pull rope down through a pipe, the 64-dollar question is: will the utility do it?
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Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:11:09 EDT
anon posted : Nothing a fishtape, vacuum (providing no cracks!), or compressed air couldn't fix

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:00:11 EDT
jack b posted : If there is no pull rope, don't count on the utility to deploy one. There is a chance they'll walk away if there isn't a suitable rope to use. Better check on that!

Cable can't be pushed very far down a duct, certainly not 85 feet.
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Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:50:24 EDT
pandora posted :
said by jack b:
Question, did you leave a pull rope in each unused conduit?

I don't think so. The conduit was run by my electrician and approved by the town. My understanding is next Tuesday (a week from today) the new electric cable will be run by the utility to a new meter and my 400 amp conduit service will replace my current 200 amp wires in the air service.

I guess after that, I'll call Comcast. The old meter, service, eventually the old circuit breaker panels are all going. The electrician has set up a high voltage and low voltage area in the back wall of my garage. My understanding is he'll handle all internal distribution of low voltage (Comcast and what not). Another electrician is handling other low voltage (various alarm and monitoring systems).
--
"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand." - Milton Friedman"

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:51:40 EDT
jack b posted : Question, did you leave a pull rope in each unused conduit?

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:45:13 EDT
rendrenner posted : You said the meter is moving... how far from current location to new location?
Typically Comcast is going to want to bond to power. So if Comcast comes and replaces the overhead with an underground drop, they are going to want to ground it at the meters location. What also may have to move is where the cable currently enters the home. A line may need to be run from the new meter location to where the line entered before.
Assuming the the conduit was run smartly, and assuming that the tap is located at the same pole as where your conduit terminates it should be an easy switch.
I wouldnt expect there to be a charge for a new drop. Comcast typically handles that as their responsibility. If a tree or storm took down the drop, they would replace it at no charge. If your drop was damaged or removed somehow when poco does their work the new drop should be free.

Without seeing it, and assuming everything goes easy, it should be pretty easy swap.

^^^^^^ what he said... someone is a faster typer

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:39:04 EDT
anon posted : Call 1-800-COMCAST, tell them your utilities have been moved to underground and you need them to move their drop, and that's conduit already exists. They will send someone out and you can take it from there, as long as the cable runs to the same general location it did before for the power meter area , its a simple switch. If you moved where the power meter is on the house then you have a more complex task ahead. Also, one that will likley require you paying to move the point of distribution.

IE if it used to be on the garage side of the house and it stayed going to the garage side of the house [maybe a few foot of change, but nothing that could not be covered by placement of ground block where it comes up and a feet feet of cable from the ground block to .the splitter then its going to be pretty simple. IF, however, you moved it to another location like around to the back door or to a detached garage instead of the one that is part of the house, you made things a whole lot more complex, and you can expect to pay to cover the new requirements of providing service to your house.

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:47:54 EDT
pandora posted :
said by ropeguru:
Just as an after thought, did you run a conduit for Comcast and a conduit for AT&T? I have heard many times in the past that they will not use the same conduit for their cables.

I know it wasn't what you were asking but just thought I would throw it in there for future consideration.

Four conduit lines were run, 1 for the electric utility, a recommended spare for the electric utility (as it will be under an 85 foot long paved driveway) and 2 conduits, one for Comcast one for AT&T.

We haven't used AT&T in years, but will likely contact them to assure that service is continued to the home, though we won't be using it. As for Comcast, I'm uncertain what the process is to switch from overhead to conduit cable.
--
"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand." - Milton Friedman"

Re: [Business] Main electric being changed to underground condui

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:24:59 EDT
ropeguru posted : Just as an after thought, did you run a conduit for Comcast and a conduit for AT&T? I have heard many times in the past that they will not use the same conduit for their cables.

I know it wasn't what you were asking but just thought I would throw it in there for future consideration.

[Business] Main electric being changed to underground conduit ..

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:48:42 EDT
pandora posted : My main electric supply will be switched in the near future, from overhead wires (200 amp) to underground conduit (400 amp). A spare conduit for the electric utility has been run, and a conduit for Comcast and AT&T have also been run (we don't use AT&T, but ran conduit as one day someone else may own this home and want their service).

Anyway, with respect to Comcast, as the meter is moving, and we have inspected and approved (by our town) conduit, after the new meter is energized, do I call Comcast? Is there a charge for them to run the new cable? Should I just snake and run new cable myself?
--
"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand." - Milton Friedman"