running a supply cable between buildings!!

marksparky · Nov 4, 2011

hi folks was wondering what ur thoughts were on running a supply cable to a garage overhead, as the garage is on the other sidde of a main rd and obviously the cost associated with digging up the main rd and resurfacing is astronomical! would a catenary wire be suitable? and is there any brackets available off the shelf or would i need to make some, on a further note it is between 2 single storey buildings so would need to raise the height by 2meters roughly to allow tractors, bin lorries etc past... in the countryside so no hgv's. Your thoughts and solutions much appreciated.

MarkieSparkie · Nov 4, 2011

If this a metalled road you will need approval from the local highways authority to do this, as warning signs maybe required. If it's a private road approval by the land owner is all that is required. The lowest part of your catenary will need to be 5.8m above the road surface. See GN1 Appendix G for guidance.

fuzzydunlop · Nov 4, 2011

I wouldn't assume anything with HGVs

Minimum height across a road is 5.8.meters

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2665/regulation/17/made

timo1 · Nov 4, 2011

Catenery wire is very good for this, did a 50m run to some outhouses not long ago and its amazing how secure we made it. Screwfix sell all the fittings you will need. Good luck.

Rockingit · Nov 4, 2011

Catenary wire (steel rope) is the best way forward, but you need to know how to fix it properly otherwise you come a cropper under the LOLER regulations (Lifting Of Loads and Equipment Regulations). So you need to know the weights of cable, length of run, the relevant resultant equations......or you could just string it up and hope for the best!

You need an eye former and three gripples at each end if it's horizontal, six if it's vertical. I normally fit a double eye strainer (aka bottle strainer) on one end to wind in the tension, and it also means you can string it all together on the ground then fix it in the air.

Knobhead · Nov 4, 2011

I’d start looking for a couple of ex telecoms poles if I were you. You need more height than a single story building will offer. Try to use brackets fixed to the building to give extra height will probably result in a large lump of the building ripped out.

If it is a quiet road then get the pick and shovel honed up. I did it in the past up in Ribblesdale, unfortunately the police showed up! We got our ares’s kicked and told to fill that bloody hole in ASAP. Coppers in a rural environment have a totally different outlook to city cops.

With GPS don’t under estimate where a HGV will show up!

I’ve just moved in to a new flat, the avenue ends in a flight of steps down to a main road. On the first day an eight wheeler was trying to get it’s self out of the avenue. I met most of my new neighbours that day as we all laughed our selves silly watching the poor driver trying to get out.