Electric service to barn

[fishpick]

Cliff_Johns - Copper?! I couldn't afford 2/0 copper! no it's al-u-min-e-um!

Sully2 - I know I don't need conduit the length of the run... BUT - it clay and stone... and we freeze deep up here... so sans conduit I would need a sand filled trench to keep the heaving rocks that perennially migrate to the surface from pinching or poking the line. Conduit is cheaper and "easier" than sand... because I'm not pulling through it - I'm sliding it down the cable and gluing in place. Ohh - thanks on the HD tip - I'll look tomorrow!

podagrower - we apparently have 2 options in the code here... option 1 is my way - a 3 wire bundle that's 2 hots and a neutral - then have 2 grounding rods... option 2 is a 4 wire pull (more money) - that would be 2 hots a neutral and a ground... then drive 1 grounding rod out there... For my money 2 grounding rods is a lot cheaper.

 

[Eric_Phillips]

Fishpick- Does that all hold true if you have another metallic connection between the two buildings like a phone line? If you do have the second connection I thought you had to run the ground from the main panel. I could be wrong. By the way are you out east of Rochester?

LBrown59- I am going to use #2 wire out to the barn.

 

[Farwell]

podagrower,
Run the ground wire. I wish I had the 4th wire to my out buildings but the wire was already buried when I bought the place.

 

[fishpick]

Eric_Phillips - Yesss - sir... 315 calling! I dunno about the "other metallic connections part... I'll have to ask around.

Farwell - why? A ground it the ground a world around... what's the benefit of fighting another large wire for the length of the run - and paying more for it...

Of course - Eric_Phillips may have answered that - if the code is other connections will require a ground back to the house - that would explain why they make 3 and 4 wire stuff in the first place!

 

[6sunset6]

You MUST run a separate ground wire in the conduit out to the barn. In addition you must float the neutral buss in the barn panel. This means you do not put in the screw that ties the neutral buss to the pan. You will probably have to buy a separate ground buss bar (not expensive) to tie the ground distribution wires to. In a main panel the ground and neutral are on the same buss.
The reason for this is that the ground system wants be a tree with no loops in, to avoid stray currents. Also the ground system in the barn has to be at the same potential as the ground in the house and going through rods in the earth does not do it, but you still need the rods . 2 six feet apart is also correct.
I think you can use the panel you mentioned but be careful not to overload the distribution breaker in the house panel. If you put a 100 amp main breaker in the barn panel you will never be able to do that.

 

[mudcat]

250-32 NEC.

 

[podagrower]

Fish, one more small point. Most resedential panels have a limit on how much current you can draw from the "fingers" of the bus (where the breaker actually attaches). Most are limited to 140 amps for any two "fingers". This means wherever you install the 100 amp breaker, the breaker(s) on the opposite side should total less than 40 amps. Two 20 amp circuits, no problem, one 60 amp double pole to feed your furnace, possible trouble.

 

[Sully2]

Two 20 amp circuits, no problem, one 60 amp double pole to feed your furnace, possible trouble.

A 60 amp-220V breaker needed for a "furnace"???

 

[DWW68]

Fishpick
You may already know this or it does not pertain to your application, but it is often over looked and a pain in the @$$ to change when the inspector fails you because you do not have them.

If your conduit is comming out of the house and or barn is not below frost or above grade before it goes below the ground, you will need expansion joints installed. These are basicly a slip joint that will allow the conduit to heave with the frost with out creating any damage. If the ground moves, so will the conduit. The house or barn will not move. End resault is the conduit will most likely snap where it enters the house.

Just thought that I would mention it in case you over looked it.
Dan

 

[mudcat]

A 60 amp-220V breaker needed for a "furnace"???

It is a southern thing.