Service cable burial location

chronyx · Mar 7, 2016

I need to sink an earth rod in the general area of where I know the service cable is buried. There's a thin layer of hard standing to break through then it should be soft clay soil.

Basically just need to know if the cable comes out the front or the side of the house. Can't see from inside.

Is it worth asking SSE Power Distribution if they have a record of the cable location?

Any other ideas other than luck and extreme caution?

Darkwood · Mar 7, 2016

Suggest fitting the earth rod where you know the DNO cable won't be rather than play Russian roulette by hoping you don't hit it.

Toonlad · Mar 7, 2016

use a cat and gen,but using them close to foundations gives spurious indications.

common sense approach is best option.If you think your close to gas or mains supply or water,or even soil pipes.just use containment to move the cable a bit further away from that area and knock the earth in, and add a little extra on for the time and materials.

Pete999 · Mar 7, 2016

Two welding rods bent at right angles and divine for the cable, I had a 80% success rate when I wer a lad

davesparks · Mar 7, 2016

Hand dig the first couple of feet and then drove the rod in after that

telectrix · Mar 7, 2016

i'm with dave. dig carefully by hand. seen too many builders go in like bulls in a china shop with a digger, then moan because nobody told them there was cables/gas pipes/water pipes there. maybe that's why we are considered to be the top trade, in spite of the scams thinking that anyone who's done a 5 week course can be considered competent.

Octopus · Mar 7, 2016

when I saw the title of the thread I thought it was about work in a cemetery!

Marvo · Mar 7, 2016

I'm also with Dave, I hand dig the first 600mm carefully and usually try to twist the rod in by hand for the first 250mm after that if it's just sand or soil so you can feel any obstructions.