The I Beam is up there to work on tractors, trucks, etc. I have 3 trolleys with chain hoists in my present shop, on an 18" X 32' beam. I can park a tractor longways under the beam, and pull the front end, roll it out of the way. Take the engine, and set it on an engine stand if needed. Take the torque tube with the same hoist, and have the 3rd one to work on what's left. Maybe pull a transmission cover if needed.
The I beam is a 16". Uprights are 8" X 8" H beams. Dug a 24" round hole 4' deep, then 4' X4' X 30" deep to anchor it. I put rebar in, and left it stick up 3" to tie into the 6" floor that will be poured here in the near future. Span is 26'- 11", inside the uprights.
I really wanted a 14", but a local demolition contractor had this, and the H beams. Used, but in decent shape. I got it all, plus another 26' of 16" for less then half of what a new 15" 30 footer would cost. Worked for me..!!
As for the electric.... I am setting up a 320 amp service, and wanted to have a hookup for the generator. There was some misunderstanding between the rep from the electric company, and the electrician. They said I needed a double disconnect, to get away from the utility power, when running the genny. Problem is, the key phrase there should have been "double throw disconnect". So I ended up with two breaker type disconnects on the outside of the building. That would not fly with the power company... Needed the box on the right to do the job. So..., the funky routing of the conduit connects what I already had on the outside, and makes the connections to the inside. And eliminated the one breaker disconnect on the outside.
As for the PVC conduit. If they made conduit fittings like they they do "drain pipe" as the engineer from the power company called it, it would have all been gray. They make sweeping 45's and 90's, but need connectors on each end. Plumbing pvc fittings can be belled on both ends, or in st. el fashion.
I did a little searchng on the net as far as using plumbing pvc for conduit. Actually, it is better pipe, as it is designed for pressure. The gray is added for UV protection, and also to distinguish also I guess... Also, if thye didn't want you to use plumbing pvc for conduit, they would not make box clamps in NPT..., LOL...
I do know the copper 400 MCM wire is like wrestling an Anaconda..!! The 4/0 was a piece of cake compared to that...
Note the guarded light above the boxes. I wired it in on the incoming side from the meter base, to let me know when the power from the utility comes back on. Should be able to see it from anywhere in the house. Found a nifty little fused switch made by Buss, to make the fuseable link.
Now to dig around for a low amp fuse... They want as much for 1 6 amp fuse, as thye do a pack of 4 10 amp + fuses... I'm sure there is one around in Papppy's stash somewhere...
