Fordman1981
Platinum Member
Here is one for iOS devices too. No ads and free.
Battery Run Time by NewCom Inc.
https://appsto.re/us/Do88Y.i
Length of electrical run to shed?
- Thread starter rbstern
- Start date
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Here is one for iOS devices too. No ads and free.
Battery Run Time by NewCom Inc.
https://appsto.re/us/Do88Y.i
DKCDKC
Platinum Member
At the time I built my workshop, I also was running a water line to my well... And it ran by the workshop. So I just dropped some 10 gauge underground cable in the pipe trench - about 6 inches above the pipe, and it has worked beautifully. I also dropped a smaller 12 gauge wire in so I could turn on a outside light at the shed from the house. the shed is about 110 feed from the house. And I use the random power tool or compressor at the workshop - and have for 15 years now without any problem. Usually the line just powers lights and battery chargers.
I lived in a house for 20 years that was wired with aluminum. I did replace all outlets and fixtures with those rated for aluminum, and never had any problems. The fire marshal was a friend and told me that aluminum wiring with the proper terminals was fine. Fires started when people put copper-rated stuff on their aluminum wires. Very bad. I thought about rewiring the house, but its design made that prohibitively expensive. The only real negative is that other people don't like the aluminum wiring and I took a little hit on the selling price ultimately. But I owned it during the housing boom and doubled my money anyway.
I lived in a house for 20 years that was wired with aluminum. I did replace all outlets and fixtures with those rated for aluminum, and never had any problems. The fire marshal was a friend and told me that aluminum wiring with the proper terminals was fine. Fires started when people put copper-rated stuff on their aluminum wires. Very bad. I thought about rewiring the house, but its design made that prohibitively expensive. The only real negative is that other people don't like the aluminum wiring and I took a little hit on the selling price ultimately. But I owned it during the housing boom and doubled my money anyway.
tractchores
Veteran Member
I recently did a 300' run for a gate. I used a 20A GFI breaker (gives the lowest burial depth under NEC when it's not covered by something). We went with 10 gauge, which has worked well for my usage (some lights and hydraulic motors - pretty low draw).
If you're doing it to code you'll need to trench it VS just doing a plow type of approach with direct burial cable (at least that's my understanding). Depending on your local codes they usually want it bedded in sand, covered in sand and then have warning tape over it then backfill without large rocks. If you've got an open trench already it makes a lot of sense to go with larger wire, put it in conduit and then put a spare piece of conduit in there for future use. The conduit cost is minimal and the install time is low.
Here's a link to the relevant table in the NEC, many municipalities use NEC for code or in some cases are a bit stricter. http://www.xwalk.com/images/Table_300.5-Min_Cover_Reqts.pdf
If you're doing it to code you'll need to trench it VS just doing a plow type of approach with direct burial cable (at least that's my understanding). Depending on your local codes they usually want it bedded in sand, covered in sand and then have warning tape over it then backfill without large rocks. If you've got an open trench already it makes a lot of sense to go with larger wire, put it in conduit and then put a spare piece of conduit in there for future use. The conduit cost is minimal and the install time is low.
Here's a link to the relevant table in the NEC, many municipalities use NEC for code or in some cases are a bit stricter. http://www.xwalk.com/images/Table_300.5-Min_Cover_Reqts.pdf
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
Also, todays aluminum alloys are MUCH superior to those in the 40-60's. Lab tests all show superior life expectancies for the wires. Insullation is way better also.
Biggest problem with direct burial are from rocks and ridents. Ive repaired so many chewed thru wires over the years that i could never recommend direct burial.
In nearly 30 years of electrical work, ive only repaired one conduit encased wire.... And that was due to backhoe excavation.
Biggest problem with direct burial are from rocks and ridents. Ive repaired so many chewed thru wires over the years that i could never recommend direct burial.
In nearly 30 years of electrical work, ive only repaired one conduit encased wire.... And that was due to backhoe excavation.