What's a good semi-rigid flexible tubing for permanent outdoor use?

[strantor]

I understand better what your challenges are. With the wire as high as you're putting it, I would think you should be able to just run SE cable (Service Entrance cable) I'm not a licensed electrician, but I think the SE cable is rated for UV exposure and you wouldn't need any conduit for it, just tie it to the carrier and it'd turn the corners how ever they need to be. I've never used that black poly pipe, but that sounds like a soloution for the water. For an air line there is a product from Rapid Air Compressed Air Distribution System | Rapidair | Engineered Specialties where you can get up to a 300' coil that appears to be outdoor rated (I've not checked it out). But do you really need an air line? Why not use 2 compressors or a portable compressor? It might be cheaper.

Yes That's what I plan on. SER cable, no conduit. Sorry for being unclear. No conduit is/was planned for the electrical.

 

[strantor]

I second the two compressors solution for the air.

Can you et. al. expand on your basis for this suggestion? You must be considering something that I'm not, because it's not making sense from my point of view.

2nd compressor: $200 minimum
250PSI black poly line 3/4"x100ft: $28

2nd compressor couldn't sit outside in the weather next to the driveway, always at the ready. If I wanted air-on-tap, always ready to go (as the air line gives me), it would require me to build a little house for it with it's own electrical outlet. Then I would have a compressor rattling the south wall of my house. Or I could keep the 2nd compressor in the garage and contend with an extension cord and coiled portable air lines each time, which is what I'm currently doing.

 

[ddbackhoe]

I currently have a separate electrical service at the barn.

View attachment 583588

The power company is screwing me ultra hard on that deal (separate thread on that) so I'm going to disconnect service and tie in with my house power. That's the reason why the service entry on the barn is on the far side. I installed it closest to the existing transformer pole so as to give the linemen for the soulless utility an easy day; in the end I just made things much harder for myself.

Ouch, that does make things more difficult.

 

[ddbackhoe]

2nd compressor: $200 minimum
coiled portable air lines each time, which is what I'm currently doing.

I have a viair portable (12VDC) on the truck for just in case stuff. It can inflate my trailer tires to 80 psi. Portable Compressors | VIAIR Corporation

Harbor freight has a very similar one for 63 bucks 12Volt 15 PSI Compact Air Compressor

At home and the shop I have a retractable air reel mounted just inside the overhead doors.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I've set a pole and stretched a carrier wire from my house to my barn in anticipation of running power from the house to the barn. On the same wire I'd like to run an air line from the barn to the house (for convenient tire air in the driveway) and a water line from the house back to the barn for a sink. I thought PEX tubing would be perfect as it's semi-flexible so as to follow the catenary droop but rigid enough not to kink or be choked off by the straps holding it to the carrier wire. But unfortunately I just learned that it's not UV resistant and therefore a bad choice for outdoor use. So what else is there? I suppose I could use plain garden hose for the water but what about the air?

Rather than doing all that with running an air line that may need replacement later, my suggestion is to just buy a small air compressor that will run off the newly installed power line to the barn. That would be the simply solution and would give you some flexibility in using it for other things.

I recently bought a Kobalt brand double hot dog tank one from Lowes. It is advertised as the quietest compressor on the market AND it is. It is a bit small for using air tools (but it will work for impact guns ) but is perfect for airing up tires And it is very portable. It has a collapsible handle with about 4" wheels so it rolls easily, will run well off a standard extension cord. I bought it for the quiet- my old Craftsman would just about give me a heart attack when it came on. Even after moving it to my boat shed behind a 4" insulated wall it is still loud. The Kobalt is so quiet that a normal conversation can be held when standing beside it.

I hooked it up to a HF 50 foot retractable reel that will reach any where in my shop. If I need to take it offsite, I have a 25 foot hose (HF also) that I can hook to the compressor. I just pop the QA coupling to the reel and use the short hose. With a small 2000 watt genset, it can be used anywhere.

www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Quiet-Tech-4-3-Gallon-Portable-Electric-Twin-Stack-Air-Compressor/1000125721

 

[Raspy]

Rather than doing all that with running an air line that may need replacement later, my suggestion is to just buy a small air compressor that will run off the newly installed power line to the barn. That would be the simply solution and would give you some flexibility in using it for other things.

Remember, he already has air in the barn that will run from the new power line from the house. The water goes toward the barn and the air goes toward the house, opposite directions. The new air line is to get air to the house without the noise of a compressor at the house. Or the cost of a second compressor for the house.

As I understand it: Water and a new power line to the barn. Air back toward the house.

Too bad it can't be underground, but that seems to be out of the question because of the septic. So the overhead makes sense if the right materials can be found.

I don't know how to mount the electrical cable with three conductors, a water line and an air line, such that they don't chafe on each other or against the mounting system over time. Maybe all of them bundled in a 2" poly pipe?

 

[3Ts]

I don't know how to mount the electrical cable with three conductors,

I'd make it 4 lines. 2 hot, 1 neutral, 1 ground.

 

[3Ts]

Maybe all of them bundled in a 2" poly pipe?

That's an option. The phone company uses a spiral wrap to attach their multi conductor cables to the carrier wire with a special machine that travels and rotates. I would think that zip ties every 6 to 12" would work. They're cheap from HF and can be done one at a time and replace individual ones if needed.

 

[Stimw]

For wire I would use aluminum, they sell 4 wire twisted cable that gets used for mobile home installation above or below ground. About 1/3 of copper!
Also semi's us a plastic 1/2" air line that handles all types of weather. One brand is "Synflex" .

 

[strantor]

Remember, he already has air in the barn that will run from the new power line from the house. The water goes toward the barn and the air goes toward the house, opposite directions. The new air line is to get air to the house without the noise of a compressor at the house. Or the cost of a second compressor for the house.

As I understand it: Water and a new power line to the barn. Air back toward the house.

Too bad it can't be underground, but that seems to be out of the question because of the septic. So the overhead makes sense if the right materials can be found.

I don't know how to mount the electrical cable with three conductors, a water line and an air line, such that they don't chafe on each other or against the mounting system over time. Maybe all of them bundled in a 2" poly pipe?

Your understanding is correct.

As for chafing and bundling I am still working on that. The 2" poly pipe idea is intriguing, I'll look into the cost. I would like to keep it accessible for if I need to access the bundle to replace a pipe or add a cable or something. I was thinking some velcro straps every foot or so, but I don't know how effective that would be in preventing chafing as the wind blows and the cables/tubes rub against each other. Zip ties would be better in that regard.