N
NeTree
Guest
I usually tell the power company I'm taking the tree down on such-and-such day. If they get the line dropped, fine. If not, I'll be dropping it for them.
They show up.
They show up.
Power drop / line drop / data drop
- Thread starter pantheraba
- Start date
- Replies 67
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lumberjack
Young man on the go
Local light and water used to do it for free, now they charge $100 per line dropped.
Cable is a simple co-axial setup that unscrews with a pair of pliers. Telephone isn't much harder. Generally you need a screw driver for the box and some finess with the clips.
Today I worked with another tree guy climbing/using the lift to take down a 30 some odd inch topped hackberry between 2 houses, their 2 service drops, 3 cable lines, a fence, and a clothes line. The houses were around 15' apart, I just had enough room to set up the lift.
5 tanks of gas through the saws in the lift.
Cable is a simple co-axial setup that unscrews with a pair of pliers. Telephone isn't much harder. Generally you need a screw driver for the box and some finess with the clips.
Today I worked with another tree guy climbing/using the lift to take down a 30 some odd inch topped hackberry between 2 houses, their 2 service drops, 3 cable lines, a fence, and a clothes line. The houses were around 15' apart, I just had enough room to set up the lift.
5 tanks of gas through the saws in the lift.
you drop service lines? doesnt sound like the wisest thing
What's not wise? Working 75-100 feet up in a tree running a power saw is far more dangerous than dropping a service line.
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
Ha!
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
They drop ours here for free on a scheduled date. Usually a two day window. As far as phone and such, I usually work around it. We only have cable in town, down town in the town... Don't blink your eyes... Might miss it 
lumberjack
Young man on the go
Treesmith, where in AL are you? I'm a mile and some change from Pickens County.
Dropping service lines is ez-pz.
Dropping service lines is ez-pz.
sotc
Dormant hero!!
i guess im not liscenced or insured for it so if someone gets nailed by it accidently while its down, or if the crimp fails after its back up. any number of things cross my mind in that scenario. its pretty rare i feel unsafe in a tree with a saw
lumberjack
Young man on the go
Putting them up takes the proper ferrell and swage die. Getting them down takes bolt cutters.
I aint scared of cutting them down, but I wouldn't try to put them back up.
I aint scared of cutting them down, but I wouldn't try to put them back up.
B
Blinky
Guest
It's pretty simple procedure with a bucket truck. They just go up, cut the line and unhook the strain relief then, splice it back when you're ready.
If we schedule for first thing in the AM, they're usually on time. Getting them to come back in the afternoon can be sketchy timewise.
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
Well do as you like . Bear in mind though that often the power company frowns on people disconnecting service drops .
I live in north Pickens County. I didn't say it was hard to get them dropped...it's often difficult to get them dropped on time. I've only dropped it myself three times, but it's comforting having the tools to do so when the power folks are running late and daylight's wasting.
i guess im not liscenced or insured for it so if someone gets nailed by it accidently while its down, or if the crimp fails after its back up. any number of things cross my mind in that scenario. its pretty rare i feel unsafe in a tree with a saw
I climb the pole and kill the transformer first, so the line is not hot while it's down (usually). Occassionally, a transformer feeds more than one house, and it's necessary to make the transformer hot again until the job is done. If so, just coil the service (while still dead), tape it up, and hang it on its pole of origin. Though it would be hot once the transformer is reset, it's out of the way and no one can step on it. Again, the possible scenarios are that it's far more likely that a bystander would be struck by falling tree debris (direct or reactive) than hurt by a dropped service.
No_Bivy
Treehouser
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2006
- Messages
- 6,447
I had the power company drop a tranmission line here this past year...was epic but did not cost anything. I first asked in Januaruy but they said no because 165 houses would be witout power for six hours. We did it in september.......As far as I know, the utilities commision regulates power companies and they "have" to creat a safe situation for work. I asked for the to shield or kill the line...but they said they could only do that for themselves, otherwise they have to cut it down.
they were on time to drop the wire and right there when we craned the last chunk out to put it right back up
they were on time to drop the wire and right there when we craned the last chunk out to put it right back up
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
That would get you arrested here.
I had the power company drop a tranmission line here this past year...was epic but did not cost anything. I first asked in Januaruy but they said no because 165 houses would be witout power for six hours. We did it in september.......As far as I know, the utilities commision regulates power companies and they "have" to creat a safe situation for work. I asked for the to shield or kill the line...but they said they could only do that for themselves, otherwise they have to cut it down.
they were on time to drop the wire and right there when we craned the last chunk out to put it right back up
I'm not trying to sound like a know-it-all...just thought you'd like to know...the lines they dropped in the photo aren't transmission lines. They're distribution lines. Transmission lines are the big lines that usually run on metal towers. At least that's the way their classed here in Bama.
SkwerI
Treehouser
treesmith, are you related to Carl Rutherford (lumberjack)? 
welcome to the treehouse.
welcome to the treehouse.
M
Mr. Sir
Guest
lumberjack
Young man on the go
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
sotc
Dormant hero!!
treesmith, are you related to Carl Rutherford (lumberjack)?
welcome to the treehouse.
haha something in the water
welcomeMy name is Carl Rutherford and I'm in Columbus, where's/who's you?
My name is Scott Smith and I live between Millport and Reform.
lumberjack
Young man on the go
Ah, good to know.
rbtree
Climbing Up
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2005
- Messages
- 1,924
In my area, most times the pwr co shows up punctually for requested service drops.
I usually drop the cable at the pole, as its easier than messing with all the staples, etc on the house. Phone co's leave their's loose, and they're easier to drop at the house. But many of the new boxes require special tools. I recently got a whole kit of security bits, and can now get into any box. I've also dropped phone lines at the pole.
I usually drop the cable at the pole, as its easier than messing with all the staples, etc on the house. Phone co's leave their's loose, and they're easier to drop at the house. But many of the new boxes require special tools. I recently got a whole kit of security bits, and can now get into any box. I've also dropped phone lines at the pole.
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
Gotta link for those security bits, Roger?
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