Installing underground electric service

Video showing the excavation of a underground primary electric service at a new residential building site. Using a Yanmar B50 excavator and Bobcat 864 skid steer.

[@troyj1701]

I bought a compact tractor with loader and backhoe a few months ago. I started my first major project this past week with it... I have to say I have a new appreciation for the skill you show behind the controls of your equiptment now.

[@AndrewCamarata]

Thanks, practice makes perfect. But if your doing a bunch of digging, an excavator is the way to go.

[@libertyauto]

Thanks for another great Video. I was curious how things like this come together. Moving the stone out of the way was a fun part too.

[@niknakcollins]

Its apparent in your videos that you are a very competent operator as well as video editor! Love how clean you keep your job sites, shows you take pride in your work

[@genedameier8746]

Andrew, Good tip on measuring the depth of the ditch. I do the same on my drill bits, put a piece of tape to mark the depth. Why not wrap the boom with duct tape (or a painted line) at the 2', 3', 4' lines, so you always have the depth gauge on the excavator.

[@uknowulikethat4042]

that shot going through the trench looked like the scene from star wars on the death star, nice work.

[@uknowulikethat4042]

ha ha, strong is the force with you

[@Noname-kb6qy]

Thought the exact same! Was searching for that comment 😂😂

[@garyjohn316]

Beggers canyon!

[@E.lectricityNorth]

Thanks for the video Andrew. I have been explaining the exact same logic to many electricians for years...if the tape is directly on top of the conduit, then by the time the bucket rips through the tape, it's also ripping directly through your live conductors! I always tell them to lay the tape at least a foot above the conduit, or more where more room is available.

[@AndrewCamarata]

Yes.

[@jmichaelpatrick8573]

I love the playlist, nice to watch you do your magic step by step.

[@zekemchenry2368]

Awesome video Andrew! I really enjoy your channel! You are a good/hard worker! Thanks for sharing your videos!

[@cubleycat]

Great tip for depth monitoring. I was on edge as you were digging the ground out next to the pole, I was thinking "any minuet that pole is going to flip and fall on the road" lol

[@vanbly.1479]

The pole was another 3 ft in the ground

[@bcflys]

Andrew!!! Where you been. I've been searching and watching Bobcat videos for 3 years and you finally came up in a search. Wow! You make it all look too easy and I love that you explain everything your doing and why. I have a T750 and E45 and I am always trying to get better and your videos are helping me do that. Thanks Andrew.

[@AndrewCamarata]

I haven't been uploading videos that long. I'm glad you like them and they are helpful. Look forward to more videos soon. I just dug a foundation with that 864, that should be a cool video when its ready.

[@tomlee7966]

i like how you go above and beyond in your work, that electrician obviously is there for the paycheck alone. good job andrew

[@domsileo1145]

Really enjoy the video's. Thank you for taking the time to share them and offer tips and tricks.

[@rolfnilsen6385]

A clever excavator operator once shared that he always "brushed" the loose dirt off the top edge of trenches and to place the dirt 2-3 feet off the edge to make it easy for the service people to walk alongside the trench. Supposedly it made their job easier and they were happy. Sounded good to me and it sure looks cleaner that way. I have been binge watching your videos the last couple of days. Good stuff - both the video making and your work!

[@AndrewCamarata]

Yeah, I agree with you on digging like that, takes longer though. Thanks

[@Shawn_White]

7:55 "Stabilize your rear deflectors, watch for enemy fighters."

[@tycobb8621]

Stay on target!

[@garrettscott9427]

My wife just asked me, "Whatcha watching?" My response, "Guy burying a power line" Her response, "..... sounds interesting" They just don't understand!

[@wayneleone]

Amen. You just never know when you need to know this stuff! It's not just interesting, it's important too. 😁

[@pedromorgan99]

Actually realise something, its also evidence of work done ;-)

[@markg.2501]

I feel ya brother

[@sonnychappelear1111]

Knowledge is power you know.

[@desertmulehunter]

Well she said "sounds interesting".....maybe you don't understand!

[@michaelb.5345]

Andrew, so great to watch a pro with your machines. People in your area must know how good you are, if they don’t they are missing the best work they could get.... Mike

[@BryceByerley]

That was some pretty impressive work with that giant Rock.

[@diskgrind3410]

I am impressed every time I watch your videos. Thanks again for sharing!

[@yoyit2Dan]

Great video! I'm not sure what the code is like there, but here in BC Canada we need a minimum 12" between power and data conduits. Especially when running high voltage, as the magnetic field can interfere with the low voltage data.

[@AndrewCamarata]

yoyit2Dan I agree with you, I have heard that before. I mentioned that to the guy, he wasn't concerned, there was a few other things he did that looked sloppy to me too.

[@yoyit2Dan]

Andrew Camarata for Sure! His conduit into the panel is very sloppy. I liked your tip about tying the caution tape to the roots!

[@AndrewCamarata]

yoyit2Dan I don't like how he had the freeze expansion thing all the way collapsed. I usually extend them half way.

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

Yea. I've always kept mine as far apart as the trench allows. Full disclosure, I've never worked with the big stuff before though, just the small 220v residential lines, and generally direct burial. With that said, I've dug up lines (On request ;-) that were with in six inches of each other, and the home owner never complained of a problem with interference that I know of. So while It could cause interference, the equipment these days has a much better rejection rate than the old analog wires of the past.

[@snorman1911]

This reminds me, one time I installed a security system in my house, and ran a low voltage line from the main panel in the closet to a kaypad in the hallway through the attic. I was laid parallel to a 120v line at first because that was the most direct route, and the dang intermittently didn't work. I moved the low voltage line farther away from the romex and lo and behold, it worked perfectly.

[@rinkadink28]

Your videos are great! Love how you explain everything. Very educational!

[@justicechestnut3950]

The best playlist in existence

[@regsparkes6507]

Enjoyable video again Andrew, thanks, BUT I have to say that this would never ever allowed here, where I live,...the two conduits would have to be further apart than these are apparently due to magnetic and electrical fields, also, the conduits would have to be laid on top of sand and covered by a least a foot of sand, with warning tape on top of that before back filling. The larger rocks could, over time, rub through and then , well you can guess the rest!!

[@Sara-L]

Where Andrew lives rocks behave themselves and don't rub through power lines! ;-)

[@normhowes2975]

@@Sara-L That's because Andrew lives in NY where rocks that don't behave are taxed at a higher rate than those that do behave. (From another sap dumb enough to stay in NY) However I think the extra sand layer is an added safety margin when included with the tape.

[@electricalron]

[ X ] WRONG

[@Sara-L]

@@electricalron Which part?

[@howardfortyfive9676]

@@Sara-L Ain't nary a thing wrong with yer Funny Bone Sara!!

[@chrisstrack3144]

Always enjoy watching your videos! I hate to sound fussy but We enjoy hearing your machinery & your commentary. A little less music.

[@rejmonwilson]

Watching your videos are very therapeutic 😆😁😄😃😀😲🇨🇦🇯🇲👏🏾🤙🏾✌️🏾👍🏾👏🏾.

[@TheHwnleatherguy]

ALOHA AGAIN.... HAVE SEEN MOST VIDEOS ON THIS NEW HOME BUILD... KINDA CRAZY TO BE BUILDING IN WINTER.... FROZEN GROUND, GROUND WATER, -- VERY INTERESTING CONSTRUCTION TRIMELINE..... MADE IT ROUGH/TOUGH ON YOU... HOPE YOUR COMPENSATED WELL....

[@jkeips78]

Nice work. I just had to redo my service after I lost a leg of power and I did not want to cut my newly paved driveway up to repair it. Similar depth requirements but sand is required even with the conduit in my neck of the woods. Just like you it was a one man show albeit with a borrowed hoe and borrowed Freighliner. Only thing the power company did for me was the connection at the pole.

[@willcurrie5936]

Hi Andrew. When i am excavating a track for services i clean my sides as i go and keep the dirt at least a metre from the edge for safety reasons. Great vid mate 👍

[@Darryl603]

If the hole is 3'. deep, it makes sense to back fill 2'. and lay the safety tape in the hole and then fill in the remaining dirt to grade.

[@andrewnielsen3178]

Great videos Andrew. Take care of yourself. All the best from Australia.

[@murrayspiffy2815]

No Ditch Witch? - That Ditch Witch video with the subterranean camera pov - should have won an award.

[@phillipmccormick1508]

WOW, Andrew, you make it look so easy. wow. that all I can say.

[@alandoherty9966]

I 'm from the U.K. mate I've watched a few of your video's now and to be honest I would gladly work alongside you for free to pickup your ways of going on. Real respect my friend.

[@AndrewCamarata]

Thanks

[@denjhill]

I really like your work. I'm doing a similar project north of Spokane, WA and I wish you were here to help. Good work ethic.

[@AndrewCamarata]

Thanks.

[@garyhaber333]

Nice work again Andrew! I still miss living upstate CNY. Even during the snowy times.

[@justinchurch2366]

Gary Haber CNY?

[@garyhaber333]

CNY Central NY Lived there 77-86 Outside of both Troy & Norwich

[@genedameier8746]

That footage of the camera traveling through the trench reminds me of the scene near the end of "Star Wars" when Luke Skywalker is flying through the trench on the Death Star to fire his weapon into the exhaust port to blow up the Death Star.

[@autobots54389013]

You know your stuff. I would easily hire you for any of my projects

[@DaKayH]

Thanks I needed this info. So all I need to do this job is the equipment. I can drive anything and these two pieces of dirt movers look easy enough to operate.

[@mackfisher4487]

Bet that was a pricey electrical installation. Wire & transformer / materials: Andrew's trenching, Electrician, Utility company, and permitting keys.

[@lghterupper]

Hey Andrew, I watched hundreds of your videos, and I just love them all , I was just wondering when ya back drag with equipment, I have never seen ya use float. Just wondering why ? Love you all around skill set. I do many of the things you do , and I agree with your junk and garbage comments. I’ve been saying the same all my life ( you know about the cheap junk people manufacture, and then shove it down our throats). One other thing I appreciate is you don’t cuss every other word like a lot of people. Goes a long way with me. Thanks, keep making videos Bill Knight

[@the_charter5134]

Those cables are like: Well I’m not going to see light for another 40 years so byyy

[@MikeZak101]

you talk to cables, interesting

[@440E57]

Andrew: “So, you wanna play rough, huh?” Big Rock: “Uncle!”

[@annechristiansen941]

Tusen takk for god underholdning 👍🤗👍

[@justjacqueline2004]

Astonishing amount of work for a cable,no wonder houses are so expensive.

[@theflyingstonemason6867]

So that's how Stone Henge was built! 😁

[@fwflyer78]

Great job Andrew!

[@briangardiner1015]

Andrew, if you do much clearing you ought to check out the Dragon Tail. They are made in Colorado. There is a combination sheer/grapple to skid logs.

[@AndrewCamarata]

That's an interesting attachment. I usually use my grapple, or tow it with tractor for moving logs around.

[@Beachnative42]

Just a thought why not put magnetic marker balls for locates on a long run? They are cheap and it would leave the homeowner a n easy way to detect where the power lays. They are about $10 each. Kick ass work bro!!!!

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Andrew .

[@electrofelon]

Anything over 400 feet usually requires a primary lateral, except for services that are verified low draw. Over 300' requires 350mcm wire instead of the 4/0. I work for CH.

[@AndrewCamarata]

Connor Fasano thanks, good information.

[@dawnbradrick6289]

Dawns here! Be safe.☀️

[@michaelpetrik8231]

I can't wait for new Videos, so i look the old ones 😃

[@suncoastoffice]

Andrew Camarata Question: After back filling the trench in the driveway like you did. Is the bobcat weight used good enough to compact the fillings? Or should it still need more compacting work before laying black or a concrete driveway over it?

[@alwayssmile7890]

I like your style dude!

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Rubber tire skid steer. Instead of a normal double arm lift it uses single mono arm. It was cheaper and easy finance. Sucker! Never again. I strayed from Kubota and paid for it. Maybe next year I cant swing the trade. Keep up the great work. Again your clean up finishing work sets the standard.

[@AndrewCamarata]

The machine doesn't work well? I have bought a few machines over the years that were just junk. I am planning on doing a video over the winter talking about them.

[@nancielang8148]

Z

[@thegamerkiller4949]

Nice work you did here, ceep it going!!

[@AndrewCamarata]

Thanks

[@rodneyyazzie3739]

I though that the caution tape supposed to be a foot above the electrical/cable lines, back filling with rock like that is good over time. I use to end up repairing work like that. Not bad for man show, keep it bud

[@RonnieToo]

I'm up in Ontario and I'm trying to think what was done here for services, not sure if it was gas line that was buried in sand so that if you were digging down in clay soil and all of a sudden you hit sand in the trench then your spotter ( the guy who leans on the shovel lol) would dig carefully with the shovel to find the pipe or cable. That was 40 odd years ago when immigrated to Canada and funnily enough when I got transferred to the city cemetery for the winter I was the guy with the shovel watching the bucket didnt hit any of the caskets on either side of the hole we were digging. Then I'd have to jump in and finish up with the shovel. I'm retired now and want to move out of the city and get a few acres and do what Andrew is doing in a smaller scale for myself and have a house built for the wife and I. Some of the lots that I looked at were had mixed hardwood, softwood or just Bush but I never thought about clearing off enough for a roadway and a house and selectively clearing the rest as time permitted rather than paying out big bucks and having a company come in and bulldoze everything. Thanks for the videos Andrew you have brought back memories....

[@bradwhalen2000]

Great job. What software do you use to edit your videos? Very good work... really holds your attention.

[@mikel9567]

The tape is supposed to be laid directly above the conduit approximately 6 - 8" above it. Tying it to the roots like you're doing defeats the purpose of the tape. If the power or cable company saw it they might be upset if it was their requirement to place it. In my area we don't use the tape because locates are required before digging.

[@mattywho8485]

Mike L... If that's about a 3 foot deep trench, the tape should only be about a foot down from grade (2 feet above conduit), if the tape is only 6 - 8" above it as you stated, an excavator will rip right through that conduit before they see the tape and there's going to be a hell of an explosion when 7,000 or so volts shorts out on his bucket !!

[@Trumptrain2024Vance]

Andrew you can do 6 hour videos and I would watch them ! FJB

[@ThePlanet_L.I.]

Gr8 vid A.C. 👍🏾💯

[@AndrewCamarata]

Thanks

[@gregdefouw9802]

You do nice work

[@mikethespikemorgan]

Most power poles where I live (NZ) are concrete or galvanized steel with a plastic sleeve. Are wooden poles common where you are Andrew - presumably they are ground treated?

[@AndrewCamarata]

Yeah, 99.99% of the polls are wood like that.

[@l.halsey2991]

Up here in Wisconsin, they are coated in pitch, and wrapped before they go in the ground

[@costarica6536]

A late comment...great video! I have the same situation at my farm. I'm wondering if you took note of the wire-type printed on the outer jacket of primary cable the electrician used.

[@michaelfontaine101]

Cool videos keep em coming keeps me busy late at night just watching ur videos...pretty interesting...ur definitely a jack of all trades good job man!!

[@stanisawk1385]

12:34 The warning tape should not lie directly on the pipes, only the pipes need to be lightly covered with earth and only then lay the warning tape. Digging in this place must be safe for pipes in the future, so the excavator must first come across the tape, and from now on it must dig carefully so as not to damage the pipes or cables.

[@RubenKelevra]

Best way to put the tape in the right position is to close the trench, compact it with a plate, put the tape on top and bury it with loose surrounding soil.

[@60tomboy]

Luke. Feel the force. Let it guide you.

[@puppyupper4565]

If you scrape about 8 inches from your dig at a time you will end up with a much nicer trench. It takes no more effort as long as you fill you bucket with each dig. A nicer trench is easier to fill with conduit and backfill with dirt.

[@TheDisorderly1]

Nice work. Are you just floating the bucket to get the ground back smooth once you have it backfilled?

[@AndrewCamarata]

Thanks, not floating, just adjusting as needed.

[@ramosel]

I've said it before... I'm so jealous of your ground there. If I dug a trench that long here in the Sierras, I'd have found 14 of those big rocks and 3 bigger than your excavator. You don't have to sand your trenches before you back-fill? I knew you owned that rock when it first moved at about 4:19. That first jiggle is always a tell that the f**ker is going to move. As always, you do very neat and clean work!

[@AndrewCamarata]

Yeah, I could see how that would be frustrating digging if the ground was full of those rocks. That dirt there is much nicer a few towns south of where I live. I never sand trenches, the conduit is there to protect the wires. Yeah, I could have dug around it, but seeing it move was a give away. Thanks.

[@fleagin]

Maybe a thumb would help with large objects also great video thanks

[@AndrewCamarata]

I have a thumb, it would have been in the way for all that digging. The thumb is good for tree work, scrap metal, or dealing some boulders.

[@boitanoexcavation3564]

Mechanical thumbs in my opinion are almost totally useless hydraulic thumbs only way to go

[@budlvr]

In Missouri we have "1-800-DIGS" for marking the existing locations of underground services (provided free by the utilities companies). Is there anything like that in NY? And, I've always wondered why if AC has a trench to dig a couple hundred feet long, why not bring out the bigger excavator? No trench bucket? Fuel expense? I realize the Yanmar is smaller and probably more maneuverable, but it seems this job was wide open and had space for a faster higher capacity machine? Anybody?

[@skynet000001]

I miss the 743 Bobcat hope you still have it, i still have mine.

[@AndrewCamarata]

skynet000001 yes I have the 743, this tracked one works much better though. My 743; I took out one of the drive motors to get rebuilt. I haven't gotten it back yet. I had the other side rebuilt last year.

[@kevincheely7159]

Great video

[@AndrewCamarata]

kevin cheely thanks.

[@rogerpenndorf5221]

i want an excavator great video

[@johnpyle8027]

I cant believe you don't have a trenching attachment for one of those skid steers!

[@morgansword]

We have a code of four or more here. I'm very surprised that you didn't hit more of those rocks. Of course then comes covering in a forest full of tree limbs to make a obstacle course out of it. I guess that is not one of the favorite jobs, take it as it comes

[@jaywillow9927]

Dude, a ditch witch would have saved you HOURS on that job. There's a reason power companies and contractors who strictly do this use a ditch witch. It's because it digs a perfect trench very deep. And it's easy to cover up. Just run the trencher and scoop the dirt back in.

[@AndrewCamarata]

Is it available as a skid steer attachment? I might get one. Most of the time the ground is all rock here. This job was an exception.

[@workinonitSurge]

I like this since its following closely with what Im personally doing

[@1944chevytruck]

thanks 4 video. be kind.

[@GeorgeBonez]

I’m a Telecom Engineer that’s close to retirement. I’d like to buy a machine to do odd jobs after I retire. What’s the most versatile machine or the best to make a little money with?

[@siucbset]

Digging: I see you do a lot of underground digging. I have not seen a trencher in your equipment inventory yet.

[@rogerboudreau8496]

Wow ! Well done 👍

[@zephyrold2478]

Hi, realy nice work, are you marking the wires on a map with GPS, thanks for all the effort you put into share this with us, all the best.

[@Daniel-ji5mq]

that trench-shot tho

[@lakesideinc]

boy this is a great job for my Big Ditch Witch ,,, it has everything on it ,,back hoe,, 6 way dozer blade , ditcher that can go 6 ft. deep and it cuts a 8" wide ... and it also has the Vibratory plow too ,,,,,,, you don't see many like this with both the trencher and the vibratory plow on the back ,,, usually you have to change them back and forth as you need them ,,,, anyway ,,, I would have love to trench that one in

[@genial6589]

How much fuel does the bobcat need for this job (or for 1 hour in work)?

[@AndrewCamarata]

I don't know, maybe less than a gallon

[@g3110]

U are the man Andrew love ur vidz and ur work

[@AndrewCamarata]

Thanks

[@raymondjordan9682]

I am always impressed what a complete, neat job you do. Also the way you make decisions and rely on yourself to get the job done. I assume you are in upstate NY.

[@morganrussman]

I think according to Andrews website he has or something like that that is on Andrew, he's around the sauguties, which is up in the upper main area of New York, not in New York City like many think.

[@michelboisvert5684]

hi Andrew, I think your CL35 is really not nice you should repaint it, what color, what's your favorite color repaint it this color and even your other machinery, you're doing a great job, bravo, bye

[@TheOwenMajor]

"tie it to the roots so it will stay up top where it needs to be" *Proceeds to show video of tape falling directly atop cables.* Just kidding, great video as always.

[@AndrewCamarata]

Owen Major yeah, drop sloppy, it's above the conduit most of the way.

[@ahnbra]

Have you ever thought about getting a medium or small road grater? You do a lot of grading. I think that would be a great piece of Equipment to add to your fleet. I do not do any contracting or excavation work. I deliver Auto Parts in St. Paul and Minneapolis Minnesota. Just sharing my thought with you. Give it thought if you want or not. Be safe out there on your job sites. Every time, all the time.

[@AndrewCamarata]

It would be neat, but I don't really need it for what I am doing. I feel I can grade things fine with the equipment I have, especially since they are just residential driveways when traffic doesn't go over 20 mph.

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Ciao Andrew. Nice job ! Did you change skid steers ?

[@AndrewCamarata]

Military Museum I bought another. I sold that scat trak. But I still have the other bobcat too. The tracked one is much better though.

[@ZeroFloat.]

Hey Andrew, how many feet the trench was and how many hours it took to dig and put the dirt back? Thank you.

[@AndrewCamarata]

I think a little over 400'. That was two short days.

[@willaimr.kirkland8170]

I accept the 3 foot code thing and I realize the trench must reach the electric pole however, it appears that the initial cut was right at the foot of the pole. That bothers me - am I wrong? Always enjoy Andrew's work - no issue there.

[@jamesbarnett5495]

You do some very nice work one thing where are you located you never really say. And I love the container site.

[@AlwaysBored123]

How is that 864 treating you? I recently got a pair of over the tire tracks for my wheeled skid and was amazed at the difference in traction. Makes me want to try a dedicated track machine.

[@johnsmith-ge5ht]

Jacobd123456 In my opinion, once you use a posi track you'll never hop back in a skid steer

[@AndrewCamarata]

I haven't had the 864 long, but I really like it so far. Its much faster and mower powerful than the 743, and it does much better on hills and soft ground. Plus those wide tracks do a good job flatting the ground.

[@richsellskc]

you're the boss.

[@billfeldman3234]

GOOD JOB!!!