Power to the barn

[bigballer]

I know this has been mentioned a lot but I am getting ready to extend some power to my barn as I am tired of moving the extension cord and garden hose every time I mow. Current plan is to put a 100a qo square d panel with 6 slots/12 circuits. It's 100' and will run four #6 thhn conductors in 1-1/2" conduit. Also plan to run a 3/4" water line and a 3/4" separate conduit with 2 runs of cat6for future use. Think network camera, phone etc. in the barn I am planning on one 20a Ckt for lights which a fluorescent and an outside light that will be switched. The main feeder will be a 50a 220v. Also plan a couple outlets for electric fence, small fridge and radio etc. occasional use of power tool like sander or skill saw. I am also planning a 30a for a welder that would be used a few times a year or the camper hookup.

Does anyone have any input or comments that I should consider?

Thanks

 

[Coyote machine]

Hey BB,
At it again, eh? Can't get enough electric in your life:laughing:
Ok. So run separate conduit for each, combine Cat 6 and separate out water from the rest. Add one more piece of conduit than you think you'll ever need just for having it when you need it later. Use fish tape in each run so you can pull wire from house to barn and leave enough in each run of conduit so you could use it again to run more wire/whatever in the same piece later as needed.
Trench it, put sand in where the conduit will sit. Map it out, take pics of underground run and distances from immovable objects for later locating. Run electrical underground marking tape from end to end. Ring out all wires then hook up and fill trench after all checks out and you've installed 8' grounding rods at both ends of the underground runs. Keep the water away from the electric. Probably best to use a parallel trench, but not the same one; you don't want to temp lightning to use your trench as a ground with the water and electric in the same trench....
Good luck- take pics- show progress....

 

[Mendonsy]

Those #6 wires are only good for 65 amps. You might want to pull "entrance cable" which is (2) #2 wires and a #6 ground so you can use the full 100 amps for a welder or something lke that.
Yeah, the wire is more expensive but it's cheaper than doing it over later.

 

[bigballer]

yeah I can't seem to stay away from the electrical stuff haha. good idea on the separate trenches though here its not "required" per code I understand its a good idea but 2x the dirt to move RE the bigger wire and extra conduit, this is an older barn and someday will be torn down and replaced with a bigger shop so I think the added cost of a <$100 for another conduit run is a good idea. due to the placement of a leg on my septic drainfield there will be a 90 degree bend in the conduit at about the half way point so using a fishtape will be helpful. good points thanks. I hope to start on the trenching this weekend if the weather holds and will get some pics. for the circuits inside the pole barn feeding the outlets, switches, is it required to run them in metal conduit?

 

[Coyote machine]

Don't do a 90 degree bend; instead do a sweeping curve over several feet or you'll never get your wires pulled.
You can buy the pieces premade at an electrical supply house.

 

[DJ54]

I might suggest running your 3/4" waterline through a piece of 1-1/4". The low pressure plastic will be fine for that conduit. If ever the water line goes bad, just dig up each end, pull the old out, and push the new back through. Learned that lesson the hard way 40 years ago...

 

[pat32rf]

Around here we would either run NMW10 (plastic waterproof roamex) or use regular wire in plastic conduit in a barn.....

 

[Midniteoyl]

Those #6 wires are only good for 65 amps. You might want to pull "entrance cable" which is (2) #2 wires and a #6 ground so you can use the full 100 amps for a welder or something lke that.
Yeah, the wire is more expensive but it's cheaper than doing it over later.

If he uses 224 URD (Alum) its actually cheaper

 

[Diamondpilot]

Run a pex 1/2 line in your trench. I did 15 years ago for a air line back to my house. I brought it into my crawl space and then made 3 runs. One to my 2 car garage, one into my utility room, and one upstairs into the hall closet.

I cant tell you how handy this has been to have air in the garage and house without dragging out a compressor, hoses, ect. Makes airing up tires, kids toys, and projects a breeze.

I also plumed my entire shop with 4 air stations using pex.

Chris

Chris

 

[Steel Buildings]

You have to do some research and select perfect option as for the life time solution of your problem, without any further hurdle. you got a nice plane beside of the other extra burden, just do it in simple and easy way.