Utility cables hit by auger - photo

[Altair]

Utility cables hit by auger.

Fullsize image: https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...e_fullsize.jpg




Previously:

Portable motorized auger - GIF
Skid-steer auger - GIF
Motorized ice auger spins out of control - GIF
Skid steer under-trailer snow auger - GIF
Auger teeth repair and replacement

[Karl_H]

I was hoping for a video - that would be a hoot.

[batchit]

Hello, I'm sorry but your call could not be connected................

[Haroun]

Hello, I'm sorry but your call could not be connected................

"as dialed"

[graniteguy]

"Ooooops. Hey Bob! Ya think we could still call for that locate we talked about? Too late? OK, I guess. You gonna call the boss or should I?"

[Gadgeteer]

Should be a quick and easy fix... the wires are color-coded.

[Frank S]

Should be a quick and easy fix... the wires are color-coded.

Those are not phone wires they are electric conductor cables, and not direct bury cables either. My guess is they drilled through a buried conduit the cables were snagged on the bit, and hopefully pulled free of the live circuit panel first

[desbromilow]

best case the circuit supply has a recloser, or multilin 750 on it so it detects the fault and isolates the supply - The initial arc flash when contacting the conductors (if live) would have been impressive 0 those cables look like 25mm2 conductors or bigger - so plenty of punch from the supply in fault condition.

[hemmjo]

Those look private lines to me. 811 would not locate those. You would have to contact a private contractor for that work.

BUT, looking at all of the utility boxes in the back ground with no paint or flags around leads me to believe that no locating was done.

[Hoosiersmoker]

Judging by the transformer and ground access panel not 20' behind that guy there should have been absolute certainty there were buried cables within a few feet no matter where they bored their holes. This was likely two knuckleheads that just said "Screw it, I just want to get the job done and get paid!" Utility locators will locate gas, water, cable and electric if you specify all of them. I've had it done numerous times and am usually glad I did! In the US it's a free service. With a little planning there's no real inconvenience to have it done but a LOT of inconvenience and extra expense if you don't!