How would I go about getting a telephone pole put up?

[TitanDiddly]

What if I wanted a telephone pole put up on my property? Who would I talk to? The electric company? Any ideas on how much it would cost? How about finding an old cell phone tower? Pretty much I want to find the best/cheapest way to put a big tall tower on my site(for a small wind turbine).

Also, can anybody point me to a good, useful, and busy alternative energy forum?

 

[cirthix]

plant a tree, doesn't get any cheaper than that.

 

[Rubycon]

How big of a generator? You have to determine maximum surface area then maximum thrust load at the expected wind survival with feathering if it's a prop genny.

Unarco Rohn has some wind loading charts for various tower types both guyed an d free standing. Towers are expensive and even if you find one that's "free" it never really is due to transportation, preparation and installation at the new site.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
How big of a generator? You have to determine maximum surface area then maximum thrust load at the expected wind survival with feathering if it's a prop genny.

Unarco Rohn has some wind loading charts for various tower types both guyed an d free standing. Towers are expensive and even if you find one that's "free" it never really is due to transportation, preparation and installation at the new site.

Looking at making my own VAWT similar to this one:

http://www.pacwind.net/#aeo

Probably not a 5KW model, though- maybe a 2.5KW or so.

 

[Rubycon]

That looks like it's doable with 10 meters of free standing tower with a mast through the cone.

 

[BoomerD]

You'd need to deal with the phone company for a telephone pole...

OR, the electric company for a power pole...

Or...

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
You'd need to deal with the phone company for a telephone pole...

OR, the electric company for a power pole...

Or...

The cable company for a cable pole? the satellite company for a satellite pole?

 

[imported_Baloo]

The phone an electric companies don't do wind turbines. Find a source for the tower, buy it and install it. A utility pole would not be suitable for your application.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
That looks like it's doable with 10 meters of free standing tower with a mast through the cone.

What cone?

I was thinking of getting one of the tallest telephone poles available, 90ft, of which 1/3rd is buried for a 60ft actual height from the ground. (18m) Telephone poles are so mass produced and installed, I think that the cost would be reasonable, assuming that the electric company is both willing to do it and didn't mark it up too much. I'll try calling tomorrow (if I remember).

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: KLin

Originally posted by: BoomerD
You'd need to deal with the phone company for a telephone pole...

OR, the electric company for a power pole...

Or...

The cable company for a cable pole? the satellite company for a satellite pole?

Lets put it to a poll...


Seriously, there is a difference between a standard telephone pole and power pole. Most telephone poles are much smaller in diameter and much shorter. When I worked for the electric utility, we regularly set power poles that had over 50 feet above ground with an 18- 24"+ base diameter, whereas most telephone poles have less than 30 feet above ground and a 12-16" base diameter. of course, pole size is based on many factors, height, loading, potential side loading, etc.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: KLin

Originally posted by: BoomerD
You'd need to deal with the phone company for a telephone pole...

OR, the electric company for a power pole...

Or...

The cable company for a cable pole? the satellite company for a satellite pole?

Lets put it to a poll...


Seriously, there is a difference between a standard telephone pole and power pole. Most telephone poles are much smaller in diameter and much shorter. When I worked for the electric utility, we regularly set power poles that had over 50 feet above ground with an 18- 24"+ base diameter, whereas most telephone poles have less than 30 feet above ground and a 12-16" base diameter. of course, pole size is based on many factors, height, loading, potential side loading, etc.

What would I have to do to get a beefy power pole, then? Did you ever work with or learn about the pole installation?

 

[BoomerD]

I used to work with the line crews several days per week setting extra-heavy poles with a crane.
Probably the best place to start is with the local electric utility in your area.

 

[Rubycon]

Cone refers to top of tower. A plate top may work but the cone gives better strength. You really don't want that on a single wooden pole.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Baloo
The phone an electric companies don't do wind turbines. Find a source for the tower, buy it and install it. A utility pole would not be suitable for your application.

yeah, you need a tower

as far as how much a telephone pole costs, in 1982 when i crashed into a telephone pole and broke it, the car insurance had to pay the power company to replace the broken pole. they sent us a copy of the bill and it was about $1000. that was 26 years ago, i would guess they are a few thousands $ now

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Start at the town hall. Some people have issues with neighbors putting giant tall obscenely ugly towers in their yards.

 

[legoman666]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: Baloo
The phone an electric companies don't do wind turbines. Find a source for the tower, buy it and install it. A utility pole would not be suitable for your application.

yeah, you need a tower

as far as how much a telephone pole costs, in 1982 when i crashed into a telephone pole and broke it, the car insurance had to pay the power company to replace the broken pole. they sent us a copy of the bill and it was about $1000. that was 26 years ago, i would guess they are a few thousands $ now

you paid for the installation, not the pole. While I am sure the pole itself might be several hundred dollars, the bulk of the cost is from the installation fee.

 

[FoBoT]

what is he going to do with a pole laying on the ground uninstalled


i think you want a tower

 

[legoman666]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
what is he going to do with a pole laying on the ground uninstalled

throw it in a river and try to walk on it?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i have no idea what a tower would cost. a pole tall enough would be several thousand dollars, maybe $10000. you'll need at least 3 guy wires, and the radius will be just less than the height of the pole. then there's permits and insurance, and finally the windmill. so, the price is likely in the neighborhood of $20000.

 

[0roo0roo]

i'd be more worried about it requiring a permit or simply being against the law

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Has anybody realized how many times the word "pole" has been thrown around?

Brings out my inner 2nd grader every time I see it in this thread

 

[FoBoT]

here is a company that puts up towers for wind energy projects

http://www.valmont.com/structures/wind.aspx

SMALL STRUCTURES
Valmont can provide customized towers for small wind and anemometer structures. Based on your requirements, Valmont can accommodate self-supporting, guyed, and monopole structures of customized heights.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
what is he going to do with a pole laying on the ground uninstalled

Caber tossing contests!

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
How big of a generator? You have to determine maximum surface area then maximum thrust load at the expected wind survival with feathering if it's a prop genny.

Unarco Rohn has some wind loading charts for various tower types both guyed an d free standing. Towers are expensive and even if you find one that's "free" it never really is due to transportation, preparation and installation at the new site.

what planet are you from or who built you? lol

you are are just walking encyclopedia or something!

 

[D1gger]

This is the company I use for installation of utility poles:

Link