Electric in to pole barn question

[debo1683]

I am working on wiring my pole barn and have a couple of questions ..

1. When I poured concrete I wasn't thinking ahead and didn't run any conduit through the floor. What is the best way to tackle this now that the floor is poured? I don't really want to do an LB on the outside of the building, so I guess I am looking at tearing up a small portion of concrete... What is the best way to go about this? I have a hammer drill and some fairly large bits ... I just planned on going after it with this...

2. I am grounding this panel separate from my main panel at the house. The run is about 100 feet and I am using aluminum wire. I have read a few differing opinions on whether or not I need to bond my metal siding to the ground bar. What is your opinion on this? I have installed an outlet and two lights outside. All their grounding wires do not touch the metal siding ...

3. When I do my grounding rod, does this need to run outside? Or can I put it in the hole that I will eventually be digging to get conduit through the building?

Hopefully I don't start any arguments with these questions. Sometimes electric can be touchy on here. I just want to make sure I am doing things correctly.

Thanks!

 

[murphy1244]

Better check your local codes.

 

[bucktaker]

Yes break a hole through your slab and line it with conduit, backfill it with concrete.

Run a ground wire outside and sink a good ground rod
do not bond or connect metal siding. Are you running 220 to your building?
place a breaker in the house and a main disconnect in the garage.

 

[debo1683]

Yes break a hole through your slab and line it with conduit, backfill it with concrete.

Run a ground wire outside and sink a good ground rod
do not bond or connect metal siding. Are you running 220 to your building?
place a breaker in the house and a main disconnect in the garage.

Yes, 220/240 to the building. I have a 100 amp panel in the barn with a separate grounding bar. I have already added most of circuits out there. Our electric code is is the 2008 NEC.

 

[grsthegreat]

I am working on wiring my pole barn and have a couple of questions ..

1. When I poured concrete I wasn't thinking ahead and didn't run any conduit through the floor. What is the best way to tackle this now that the floor is poured? I don't really want to do an LB on the outside of the building, so I guess I am looking at tearing up a small portion of concrete... What is the best way to go about this? I have a hammer drill and some fairly large bits ... I just planned on going after it with this...

2. I am grounding this panel separate from my main panel at the house. The run is about 100 feet and I am using aluminum wire. I have read a few differing opinions on whether or not I need to bond my metal siding to the ground bar. What is your opinion on this? I have installed an outlet and two lights outside. All their grounding wires do not touch the metal siding ...

3. When I do my grounding rod, does this need to run outside? Or can I put it in the hole that I will eventually be digging to get conduit through the building?

Hopefully I don't start any arguments with these questions. Sometimes electric can be touchy on here. I just want to make sure I am doing things correctly.

Thanks!

1. Agree with others, the only way (besides an outdoors LB) is to break the concrete directly below the panel. Real easy to do with chipping gun . Ive done it many times.
2. No need to bond building metal. It wont hurt if you did, but not necessary. Make sure the ground bus and the neutral bus are separate. Dont land any of the ground wires in the shop panel to the neutral bus.
3. you can install the ground rod in the same hole that you chipped. no issues with that. Run a #6 bare copper to the ground rod.
4. an added thought...run 4 wires to the house panel 2 hots, 1 neutral and 1 ground wire.


have fun

we argue over everything here....dont we

 

[Cat_Driver]

Why not bring power underground to the building foundation then 90 degree into the building then 90 up the inside wall?

Why does it need to be under the slab? If you keep everything above the slab you have better access fro repairs.

 

[debo1683]

1. Agree with others, the only way (besides an outdoors LB) is to break the concrete directly below the panel. Real easy to do with chipping gun . Ive done it many times.
2. No need to bond building metal. It wont hurt if you did, but not necessary. Make sure the ground bus and the neutral bus are separate. Dont land any of the ground wires in the shop panel to the neutral bus.
3. you can install the ground rod in the same hole that you chipped. no issues with that. Run a #6 bare copper to the ground rod.
4. an added thought...run 4 wires to the house panel 2 hots, 1 neutral and 1 ground wire.


have fun

we argue over everything here....dont we

Thanks. I am running 4 wires out there. You guys do argue a lot ... it is entertaining and informative ...

 

[debo1683]

Why not bring power underground to the building foundation then 90 degree into the building then 90 up the inside wall?

Why does it need to be under the slab? If you keep everything above the slab you have better access fro repairs.

I never thought about the double 90 thing. I just didn't want conduit running up four feet on the outside of the building. But if it is only 8 inches or so, that wouldn't be so noticeable. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[LD1]

The double 90 thing is what I did for mine. Comes out of the ground about 8-10" and then into the building and up to the breaker box.

I would advise AGAINST doing it this way though. Hindsight is 20/20 but If I had to do over, I would have went through the floor. That 8" peice outside is a PITA to mow/weed whack around.

So unless you plan on putting a flower bed or something on that side of the shop, I'd punch through the floor since you are already equipped to do so.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

The double 90 thing is what I did for mine. Comes out of the ground about 8-10" and then into the building and up to the breaker box.

I would advise AGAINST doing it this way though. Hindsight is 20/20 but If I had to do over, I would have went through the floor. That 8" peice outside is a PITA to mow/weed whack around.

So unless you plan on putting a flower bed or something on that side of the shop, I'd punch through the floor since you are already equipped to do so.

X2

I ran a line to my chicken coop, and the 10" stub that takes the wire from the garage to the ground is a pain. I'm planning to upgrade my service to my garage. When I do, I'll dig a larger hole and drill through the floor.