Is this electrical quote for barn too high?

[Junkman]

In the past, I have found that the supply house did have better prices on wire, but I also found out that I needed to shop around for the best prices on the rest of the hardware. I installed a 200 amp generator disconnect when I did my home upgrade and the price I paid for it was $225 from one local supply house that had a pile of them. The other supply house wanted more than double that and didn't stock them. I have also purchased new Square D products from e bay as a deep discount from what I had to pay locally for the same item. You just need to know exactly what you are bidding on. No room for error, because you can't return it...

 

[wroughtn_harv]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( While the trench is open, lay in another 2 conduits..... one for telephone and one for water if you should want it at some later date. You can always pull a 3/4" water line through a 2" conduit. )</font>

I've always been told that was a no--no, running water and electrical in the same trench.

Maybe we can get a clarification on this one from some of the experts.

 

[Inspector507]

They can even occupy the same conduit under some circumstances, so putting each one in a raceway in the same trench will be OK.
It's possible to pick up some hum on the phone line, but in different conduits, I kinda doubt it.

 

[_RaT_]

Harv, there are some rules, the golden one is never run your water and sewer in the same trench, more importantly, in the same pipe.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Folks,
I called my local electrical supply house to get some numbers here

300 ft 150 amp 2-0 URD aluminum at $1.21 / ft = $363
2" conduit 300 ft = $134.70
12 space weatherproof 100 amp panel = $74.93
200 ft 50 amp 6-0 URD aluminum $0.73/ ft = $146
1.25" conduit 200 ft = $57.80
12 space weatherproof 50 amp panel = $47.50
Total cost $823.93
Since I am digging the trench, the $4,900 now seems high!
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Larry





Install 100 amp 240 volt feed to building
1) run 150 amp line across basement 120ft to garage
2) install 150 amp conductors in conduit from garage 300 ft to barn (I will be digging trench for him)
3) Install a 100 amp 20 space rain proof panel in barn
4) Install a 120 volt GFI receptacle below panel

Install a 50 amp 220 volt feed from barn to pond
5) install 50 amp conductors in conduit 200 ft to pond.
6) install a 50 amp 12 space rain proof panel
7) Install a 120 volt GFI receptacle below panel

Electrician says that upsizing to 150 amps will limit voltage drop tpo 3%.

Price is $4,900
Is this in line with your experience? I appreciate all your thoughts.

 

[_RaT_]

Larry, like I said, the wire alone is the biggest cost. The #6 ALU wire is probably to small for the planned 50 amp breaker. It may well depend on the load you intend to have. I would consider just pulling #6 stranded copper (again depending on the load) I would also check into using 1" PVC instead of 1.25" for the #6 copper, you may well find the price to be a push. If memory serves me correct, I believe you can have as many as 6 or 7 #6 THHN in a 1" PVC sch 40 conduit.

If you were to install the conduit yourself, DO NOT glue the female end of the fitting, only the male. There are more times the glue makes a ridge of glue and PVC to block a mouse (foam piston sucked through the line for wire pulling). Be relatively careful of getting rocks in the pipe. I just glue it all up, let it set up and lay it in the trench.

Most of what is involved here is relatively simple. The most difficult part is pulling the wire, just a lot of elbow grease. I would not suggest tying into the panels onesself unless a full understanding of electricity is had. If you were my neighbor, I'd guide you the whole way and do the makeups myself. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Rat...

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Thanks Rat, wanna move to western NY? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Heck for the price I am quoted I could fly you out here!!

 

[bgott]

You can run your water and sewer in the same trench, the water has to be six inches above and six inches to the side of the sewer.

 

[dbelisle]

In New Hampshire you have to have 10 feet of seperation between water and sewer lines. The new code that has been adopted says five feet unless the water line is at least one foot above the sewer line and that doesn't happen very often.

 

[Junkman]

Larry.. in your quote, you got prices for the rain tight boxes, but did you get the price for the breakers to install in the boxes? There is going to be more materials necessary than you have listed above. Don't forget the sweeps for where you come up from the trench. Also, I have a slip joint on my meter socket where it joins up to the PVC so any slight movement won't damage the PVC conduit. I don't know if this is required by code, but it was a small investment in peace of mind....
Even though it isn't required (not certain about this), all my sub panels have main breakers in them so I can shut them off totally when it is time for me to make any connections in the box. I am very safety conscious when working around electricity. If I am going to do any thing more than a single connection, and depending on where in the box the new breaker is going, I also turn off the feed to the sub panel. You can never be too careful!!!!!