What I've been doing the past couple months... now 2 years...

[kentucky yeti]

Working afternoons this week so doing a little in the 110* humidity before work.  The driveway has a soft spot from an old pond, so I now have rented a mini trackhoe to dig the spot out and fill it with larger rock, then recover it with red gravel. 

[Jack]

I'm happy to see progress. Life would not be interesting without few hiccups.

[737driver]

Really sorry to hear about your equipment, however I’m glad to hear you are okay.
Jim

[kentucky yeti]

After the fire setback, I am finally rolling again.  Cutting a hill down 3 feet, storing the topsoil for later use, and filling in the backyard area so as to have a gentle slope, and not a downhill ski slope!

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

[tajoe]

Man, you have some nice equipment Mike. And land too. Ahhh the country life.

[kentucky yeti]

Man, you have some nice equipment Mike. And land too. Ahhh the country life.

That dozer, tractor and pan aren't mine.  They are $150/hour each, for the running time on the hourmeter 

[kentucky yeti]

Man, you have some nice equipment Mike. And land too. Ahhh the country life.

That dozer, tractor and pan aren't mine.  They are $150/hour each, for the running time on the hourmeter 

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

The steep backyard is now a nice slope for water to run off, but easy to mow without using a 4wd 

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

[roadking77]

Nice grading job.

[Jack]

Not cheap but sure make it look easy. Nice job.

[kentucky yeti]

Leveled out and ready for a footer!

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

[Chewey]

You're living my dream!  Happy to see it coming together for ya

[kentucky yeti]

Q:  what is more rare than a ‘73 SD Formula?
A:  right now it is a meter base

Been trying for a couple weeks to source one, either online in in any of the 5 states around me, with no luck.  Currently there is a 22-week waiting list.  Saturday  afternoon one of the major suppliers listed 7 just added to their stock.  By the time I had my info typed in, there was 1 left.  A few seconds later, inventory was zero.  It arrived yesterday and after work, I installed it.  Finally got a 400 amp meter base with 2- 200 amp mains and 4/8 slots for secondary breakers.  The door on the right fits flush- it lowers to unlatch and open;  I don’t have it closed.  That is why it is lower than the left side door. And I still have to cut the posts off to make them even.

[tajoe]

Is that service for your new 50K Sq/Ft garage? Or a new pole barn for your livestock?

[kentucky yeti]

Is that service for your new 50K Sq/Ft garage? Or a new pole barn for your livestock?

The 400 amp base has two separate 200 amp feeds.  One 200 will go to the house (if it ever gets built) and the other 200 to my shop (again, if it ever gets built).  I got off work this afternoon and spent 4 hours digging down 3 full feet for the long sweep 90* conduit to the meter base.  Hasn't rained in a month and there are roots everywhere ( I installed it at the edge of the woods like a dummy). Pick/shovel/post hole digger.  Finally got it dug.  I'll connect it tomorrow afternoon.  It's dark now and I'm hot and tired anyway.

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

[Jack]

You're lucky that you can do the work yourself, years ago they use to allow home owners around here to pull their own electric permit and do the work themselves but no more. Here in MA you have to be licensed in the the field that you are doing work in order to pull a permit.

Since the hard part was digging a trench I would strongly recommend that you include a spare conduit... PVC is cheap, digging in the future because of an issue not so fun.

[Jack]

Mike, I apologize in advance for asking but I'm assuming you accounted for voltage drop and upsizing the conductors. Not knowing the house/shop arrangement the run could be long.

[kentucky yeti]

Mike, I apologize in advance for asking but I'm assuming you accounted for voltage drop and upsizing the conductors. Not knowing the house/shop arrangement the run could be long.

The house is a short run- about 70 feet from the meter base to the garage wall that will have the 200 amp breaker box.  It gets a single upsize since it will be aluminum wire instead of copper feeding the panel.  The shop is just over 160’ from the meter base, and will be upsized two sizes.  One upsize is obviously for using aluminum wire to the shop, and second is due to the length of the run from meter base to the 200 amp panel in the shop.

[kentucky yeti]

I’ve been MIA for the past two weeks.  I’ve been on my annual 10-day backpack trip in the Colorado Rockies.  I’m no longer sure how many more times I can do this as I seem to age every year 😆.  Before I left I called the electrical inspector for a service permit.  I’m happy to say my work got the green sticker so now the electric company is in the process of running wire 1460 feet, from the road to my meter base.  Hopefully that happens this week, as they have been there and marked the route they are going.

[kentucky yeti]

Also, the man I called about drilling a well said that he Would be there next month.  I told him where I wanted it.  I came home to this yesterday.





It’s beginning to come together somewhat.

[kentucky yeti]

And… they are running fiber internet in my county!  Even back in the extreme rural area where I live.  I saw them two weeks ago, and pleaded with them to run it to the field where I plan to build.  They said they only did existing homes, but this is now in my field beside the driveway.  It has their name in it and a fiber connector inside.  So I guess I’m getting high speed one day!

[gm muscle]

Mike, I'm happy for you. It really is coming together.

[Jack]

Utilities is a big step forward, can't wait to see what's next.

[kentucky yeti]

Utilities is a big step forward, can't wait to see what's next.

Hopefully the shop!  He is running behind (like everyone else) because of the weather and the fact that no one comes to work anymore. 

[kentucky yeti]

BTW- if anyone’s dream is to move to a humid area 😂 in western Kentucky, my 3 br,  2 bath sitting on 5 acres will be listed soon.  I can’t afford to build the new house without selling mine 😞 first.  28 x 82 garage with water, propane gas, electric throughout, and insulated.  Overhead is floored and lighted for storage of car parts 😆 4 doors with garage door openers.  House is over 400 feet off the backroad.  Fruit trees, mature hardwoods and I’ll throw in my newest ExMark ztr mower  (still under factory warranty).

[roadking77]

Good progress Mike,  That was good luck on getting the panels. When the electrician was doing my shop he went to the supply house and got the same story about parts. The salesman went into the back and found 1 panel which became mine.  Humid?  Ha, try the mid-atlantic!  I should take you up on the house offer, that way my shipping prices from you will come down, LOL.

[LeighP]

Just had a chance to follow up on your progress, Mike. I must say, you’re charging into the project.
Levelling out the area for the build makes it look so much better.

[ryeguy2006a]

Looking great Mike! Keep chipping away and you'll be well on your way.

[kentucky yeti]

Working midnights this week.  I got off this morning and drove by the place, just to look.  Lo and behold, looks like I’ll be getting me some of that there newfangled electricity out here in the sticks.  In just over two hours, they set 4 new poles, two guy wires, and strung electricity overhead 900 feet to a new transformer.  Now I’m waiting on the underground crew to bring my power down the pole and into my 400 amp service/meter base.

[kentucky yeti]

Not being one to sit around, while they did that- I began the process of starting new fruit trees (I hate to leave my blackberries and blueberries/several fruit trees/grapevines, etc… when I sell my house).  So today, cherry, pear, plum trees were planted and got posts and wire around them to keep the deer from destroying them.

[FormTA]

This is such a great read! Congratulations! Everything seems to be moving fairly smoothly. I really enjoyed the building process when we built our homestead over 10 years ago.

[roadking77]

Indeed, this is a good thread and I am happy for Mike as he is moving forward. As far as enjoying the process Luke, building for the last 40+ years I say that 'I dont need any more practice'. I cant honestly say I enjoy doing it as much as a means to the end at this point. I hope I never have to  build myself another home. My next move will be into something already built.

[Jack]

Poles and fruit trees, this is getting better each time I check.
I'm curious about the poles and why the utility company didn't go underground, do they intend to power other lots from the same transformer? Or maybe the portion that they do is above ground and yours below ground?

[roadking77]

Jack, I agree. Just about everything new in my area is underground. The only time poles are put up is to replace existing.

[kentucky yeti]

Poles and fruit trees, this is getting better each time I check.
I'm curious about the poles and why the utility company didn't go underground, do they intend to power other lots from the same transformer? Or maybe the portion that they do is above ground and yours below ground?

Jack, I am building near the back (the road is the west boundary) , but almost dead center north to south, on 50 acres.  They would have went underground all the way from the road if I would have paid $6.50 per foot for it.  Nearly 1400 feet from the road made it almost $9100.  As it is- they agreed to run overhead for free to the tree line (about 900 feet).  From there I pay for underground to my meter base, and then of course from the base it splits to my house and to my shop.  They used a larger transformer (50kVa, I believe he said) as basically I would be powering two separate 200-amp services).  But there are no plans to sell lots or add anyone else to the property.  Of course, we never know what the future holds.  But ideally, I had rather not have neighbors unless down the road, finances dictate that I sell part of the property.

[Jack]

50kVA = 208 Amps. around here they use that size to power 4-5 average sized homes. But it's good to have your own transformer, they will adjust the wire size and taps for your property so you'll never have an issue.

[kentucky yeti]

Laid out this morning- digging footers tomorrow!

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

Had some lookers checking it out (guess you have to click the pic for the effects)

Untitled by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

[Jack]

Can't quite make out the sounds.
Another question for you Mike - did you hire an architect or had someone draw up construction plans?

[kentucky yeti]

Can't quite make out the sounds.
Another question for you Mike - did you hire an architect or had someone draw up construction plans?

It’s a noisy flock of geese flying over.





No architect, and no blueprints lol.   My wife found the picture of the house online and we have reversed the layout ( moved the garage to the opposite side) and we added rooms.  My wife did a pretty good job on it, I have to say.

[firebirdparts]

Good to see you're back home making all this progress!

[ryeguy2006a]

Looking great Mike! Keep posting the pictures please. We can all live vicariously through you haha.