Projects with site restrictions can prove difficult without the right equipment. Installing transmission and power lines under live wires requires a drill rig with a short mast and extended reach capabilities to keep crews safe and avoid damaging machinery or causing a power outage.
These projects often have local, state, and federal ordinances and regulations in place, and violating these conditions can result in costly fines or stop work orders. These projects can include remote transmission and power line installation and more urban sites that require rigs with more dynamic operation and a smaller footprint.
If you’re looking to undertake a transmission or power line installation project, you should work with a local equipment vendor to discover the right equipment before you break ground.
Drilling Under Live Electricity Lines with Extended Reach Capabilities
As solar array projects become increasingly common, having equipment that can navigate narrow corridors is essential to a job’s success. The CZM LR160 has a smaller footprint and is ideally suited for drilling in narrow corridors without sacrificing drilling power. This drill rig can also be utilized in transmission and power line drilling projects that require versatile drilling power for a wide range of soil conditions, from hard rock to less cohesive soils.
If an operator is drilling under power lines, the recommended distance to maintain safe operation is at least ten feet. Also, note that this is recommended for voltages under 50 kilovolts. For projects with a live voltage greater than 50 Kv, a greater distance between equipment and power lines should be maintained.
Drilling Rigs with Extended Reach Capabilities
Extended reach capabilities allow operators to bore holes in hard-to-reach places and on unstable ground. Depending on a site’s specific conditions, rigs like the CZM LR160 can drill up to 12′ 2″ from the end of its tracks. It can also drill holes with a diameter up to 12′ for foundation supports that can handle the most significant load capacities. It can also drill on sites with steep slopes thanks to the CAT 336 Next Gen chassis, which offers considerable stability for this powerful drill.
The CZM LR160 is equipped with powerful technology that increases drilling efficiency and accuracy. It also features an on-board service winch for more straightforward operation. With a max torque capacity of 155,100 lbs-ft, the CZM LR160 is powerful enough to handle drilling through hard rock but adaptable enough to drill in soft conditions as well.
Technological advances have also increased drilling accuracy and efficiency, including auto level, auto crowd, return to center features, telematics, and more.
Reducing Transportation Costs
The CZM LR160 drill rig can be transported with only a single truck which decreases transportation logistics and costs. This helps reduce variable costs like fuel, which in recent days has become a considerable fee for larger fleets that need to get equipment to more remote job sites.
By reducing transportation costs, operators can focus on the task at hand and help keep their bottom line in the black. Transportation can also cause costly downtime when fleets need to be coordinated to deliver equipment simultaneously. Reducing the number of transport vehicles allows operators more control over these variable costs.
Renting versus Owning
Many operators choose to rent their drill rig as it gives them more flexibility and the opportunity to gain access to a more extensive fleet of equipment. Renting drilling rigs also helps operators reduce the costs associated with fleet management and logistics. It offers a flexible solution that also helps keep carrying costs low when the equipment is not in use.
Owning drilling equipment can be an attractive option if an operator has a focused niche which they don’t deviate from. Though, it can increase maintenance costs as well as variable costs, including fuel and lubricants.
Renting a drill rig also allows operators to tailor their equipment for each project with a dynamic solution to increase efficiency and stay on track. When drill rig operators choose to rent a CZM LR160, they can rest assured that the rig is in top operational shape and has been receiving professional service for the duration of its lifetime.
The RPI Equipment Difference
For more than fifty years, RPI Equipment has helped drill rig and pile driving rig operators discover the right equipment and rental or purchase options. Family-owned and operated, we believe in integrity, communication, and transparency. Our knowledgeable sales team can help you explore financing options and help you get equipment tailored to your job’s specific needs.
Our experienced and dedicated services team can troubleshoot, provide preventative maintenance, check lubricant levels and cleanliness, and perform repairs on your job site to reduce costly downtime and keep your crews in the field working. We take pride in maintaining our rigs and keeping them in top operational shape to help our partners focus on their job and stay on track from day one.
Contact us today to discover the RPI difference and explore your drill rig or pile driver rental or purchase options.
