Building Our Farm...Pics

[EddieWalker]

I don't see any need for a sub panel in an attached garage. It's part of the house and all it really needs is enough outlets for what you will use in there. I'd go 20 amp for those outlets and probably a dedicated line for the garage door opener.

Where is your main panel? I always try to put the main panel in the garage when I build a home if possible.

Eddie

 

[brandoro]

Putting the main panel in the garage is certainly a good idea if you aren't past that stage already. Having the main panel or a sub panel in the garage keeps your options open.
Making the garage circuits 20 amp is not a good idea unless you take it all the way. Should the worst happen and there is a fire, having 20 amp breakers in your panel tied to #14AWG (15 amp) wire and having 15 amp configuration outlets will catch your insurance adjusters eye. To have a proper 20 amp outlet you need to run #12 AWG wire and have 20 amp configuration outlets. That means everything you will want to plug in there will either have to be changed to a 20 amp cord end (not useful anywhere else) or else you will need to make "cheaters" so you can plug things into your 20 amp outlets without having to change cord ends.
Your electrician will not likely instal a 20 amp breaker with a #14 wire, it could cost him a fine and possibly his license. You could change the breakers later but need to be aware that there is some risk involved.

 

[UpstateNYMarine]

Brother,

Having just planned a wedding and built a house in the same year I applaud your efforts. Its a ton, I mean a ton, of work but it is do-able. Best of luck with both your home and your wedding plans. My condolences concerning your father. I lost my dad about a year before our wedding and it was by far the hardest thing I have ever gone through. It made the year I spent in Iraq look like a cake walk.

Best of luck in all you set out to do...

 

[cjcocn]

rhofford

Welcome to TBN!

Sorry to hear about your father.

The place looks good so far and I am looking forward to reading/seeing your updates.

Who is putting in your geothermal system? I was looking at it a few years ago and the nearest to The Pas that I could find were two brothers out of Birch River. We ended up buying instead of building so I did not pursue it.

Take care and good luck with the build.

 

[ryanbr]

rhofford

Welcome to TBN!

Sorry to hear about your father.

The place looks good so far and I am looking forward to reading/seeing your updates.

Who is putting in your geothermal system? I was looking at it a few years ago and the nearest to The Pas that I could find were two brothers out of Birch River. We ended up buying instead of building so I did not pursue it.

Take care and good luck with the build.

Thanks, here is some info on the geotherm.

The company is called DNS Geothermal, they are from my area. West of Bowsman (southwest of Birch River). Really great guys. I am sure they have done work in your area as well.

I expect the geo system to pay for itself within 5 years on heating costs alone. One of the other main reasons why we went with the geo system was because of the free AC in the summer.

 

[ryanbr]

Brother,

Having just planned a wedding and built a house in the same year I applaud your efforts. Its a ton, I mean a ton, of work but it is do-able. Best of luck with both your home and your wedding plans. My condolences concerning your father. I lost my dad about a year before our wedding and it was by far the hardest thing I have ever gone through. It made the year I spent in Iraq look like a cake walk.

Best of luck in all you set out to do...

Thanks! I am beginning to wonder what I have got myself into.. the deal me and the fiancee made was she was suppose to take care of the wedding and tell me when to show up and I would take care of the house and tell her when we were moving

Putting the main panel in the garage is certainly a good idea if you aren't past that stage already. Having the main panel or a sub panel in the garage keeps your options open.
Making the garage circuits 20 amp is not a good idea unless you take it all the way. Should the worst happen and there is a fire, having 20 amp breakers in your panel tied to #14AWG (15 amp) wire and having 15 amp configuration outlets will catch your insurance adjusters eye. To have a proper 20 amp outlet you need to run #12 AWG wire and have 20 amp configuration outlets. That means everything you will want to plug in there will either have to be changed to a 20 amp cord end (not useful anywhere else) or else you will need to make "cheaters" so you can plug things into your 20 amp outlets without having to change cord ends.
Your electrician will not likely instal a 20 amp breaker with a #14 wire, it could cost him a fine and possibly his license. You could change the breakers later but need to be aware that there is some risk involved.

I can't put the main panel in the garage due to the fact the underground line coming from the meter (about 450ft away) is already in and cut to length. I have decided to put the 100amp subpanel in the garage as the main panel is located on the total opposite end of the house. We are running 6/3 wire to the panel, my electrician tells me this is sufficient.

 

[brandoro]

3 conductor #6 will be good for 60 amps (65 amps actually but no breakers that size). 100 amps will be the panel rating. I have 60 amps in my shop with a welder and good sized air compressor and have had no issues. If that is your only heated workspace for now you will find yourself dragging lots of things in there rather than working outside in the snow and wind.
I live at Christopher Lake, SK. Laying on my back in the snow trying to fix things is something I try hard to avoid.

 

[ryanbr]

Lots done last week, more pics of the house:

Front Entry, heated concrete slab/stairs replaces the snow and death ramp


Kitchen/Dining


Lots of framed rooms... laundry, bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and various closets.


'Great Room' ledgestone fireplace between the 2 picture windows.


Exterior pics, the entire house and garage is being wrapped in 2" of styrofoam under the siding and stone.



Anyway things are moving along. I started ripping down the old corral and cattle system, I am trying to save as many as the 2x10's and railroad ties as possible to cut down on overall cost. Its so **** cold the past few days.

 

[cjcocn]

Why do you need railway ties, and isn't there a pile somewhere near you that you can take from? There are two piles near me containing thousands of ties, one of which is in a fenced yard that I have a key for.

 

[thunderworks]

Thanks, here is some info on the geotherm.

The company is called DNS Geothermal, they are from my area. West of Bowsman (southwest of Birch River). Really great guys. I am sure they have done work in your area as well.

I expect the geo system to pay for itself within 5 years on heating costs alone. One of the other main reasons why we went with the geo system was because of the free AC in the summer.

My wife and I built a house in 2005 using a geothermal energy source (trenched, not well). Your comment about free AC caught my eye. Kansas is brutal hot in the summer, and while the geothermal energy source is efficient, it's hardly free AC. Our summer electric bills are big. I think you'll be disappointed if you think the geothermal is a summer freebe . . . of course in Montana, may be AC is not a big deal.