[Towertalk] Burying Coax in Conduit Trench

[Phil - KB9CRY]

If I may, here's what I recently did for my two towers (the first 60 ft 
from shack and the second 60 more ft in line from the first). I use 
CableXperts Low Loss 9913 direct burial coax.  It's designed to be in an 
underground environment; others will work but will probably not last as 
long.  Anything underground will be subjected to moisture, even if a 
pipe is sealed.  Condensation is the problem there.  According to 
CableXperts, one does not need to worry as much with rotator cable, as 
all are the same and are essentially double jacketed.  I rented a Ditch 
Witch trencher and ran a nominally 8 inch deep trench from the shack to 
the tower bases.  Into this I laid weed preventive or landscape cloth. 
 On top of that I inserted 4 inch pre-perforatted plastic drainage pipe 
(real inexpensive) and then ran my cables (with plastic pull lines, 
Greenlee electrical pull line which has pulling strength and is 
rot-proof, from Home Depot) through that.  I then wrapped the weed cloth 
over the top of the pipe and buried the whole mess.  The cloth should 
help keep dirt out of the pipe, but any moisture will drain through. 
 The ends just raise up at an angle out of the ground.  I then sliced a 
plastic end cap part way and wrapped that around the ends, with flaps 
for the cable to exit through.  I cable tied this to the pipe.  This is 
to keep the varmits out.  Seems to work so far.  Phil  KB9CRY

Herb Rosenberg wrote:

>I am considering running a 30 foot trench from the base of my tower to my
>ham shack for my coaxial cables, and would like to here comments /
>suggestions from anyone that has done this before, on things to do / not do,
>etc.
>
>All of my cables are 9913, and I have a bundle of about 8 feedlines.
>
>I am thinking about a 4 (four) inch conduit pipe, and wondering about a few
>things:  (BTW,
>I live in Southern California)
>
>How deep should the trench be below ground?
>
>What kind of pipe is best to use?
>
>Should I drill holes in the bottom side of the pipe so water can drain out?
>
>Should I place some gravel on the top of the trench before I lay the pipe on
>top, and cover it, to help with drainage?
>
>Anything else I should know?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>Herb - KG6OK
>
>
>
>
>
>
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