Renting a temp power pole is getting real costly here, does anybody out there own your own temp power pole? How hard could it be to make one? Are they merely a 6×6 treated with a 100A service attached?Is there another solution ? Is it possible to provide power for subs using generators.
thanks Todd
Replies
Where are you building, Todd?
Here in Western Washington most builders have their own. I bought mine from my electrician a few years ago. I think I paid him 150.00 for it, used. He threw in the regular breakers to replace the GFCIs after it was inspected.
Have you asked your electrician?
I'm building in South California. On this house I willl be the electrician.I will check with building & safety but At this point I'm thinking of building one myself.Tennetively I'm thinking of a 20 ft. 6x6 treated,exterior meter base,small 100A exterior panel, 3 ext plugs.
Todd
We own a couple - overhead and underground versions. We get more outlets than the rental poles provide.
Check with the local utility first about what they want to see in poles. If they don't like your pole, they don't hook you up. Might ask if you can build a hollow box section pole or must it be solid wood. How much buried? Number of ground rods and spacing? (King County wanted 2, 6' OC)
You can get a better job doing it yourself. YOu can customize. You can get more outlets. Nothing like a 100A service and one whole duplex outlet. Had that on one job. Five home going. One outlet - and a christmans tree of splitters.
Depending on the style in your area, you can have 4-6 20A outlets - each on a breaker - twist lock or straight, plus a 30A/250v for the big stuff and 50A/125/250 for your spider boxes. We converted over to 20A TL in the late 90s, then converted back to 15A plugs. They can still manage to plug a 125v table saw into a 250v TL outlet. Some folks have serious talent.
I build a mobile Tower of Power by mounting a load center on a hand truck and wiring up four dedicated 20A circuits to individual outlets, plus another four 20A circuits to pairs of receptacles. Thing plugs into our spider system. Great inside the house.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.