New House Build in the Country!!!

[justinramani]

Joeyd-

We are taking tons of pictures. Hopefully they will come on handy someday!

 

[justinramani]

We are having them put in a few spigots along the run. They are also going to do 3 shut off valves along the run as well. My theory is that if the main ever bursts - we will be able to isolate the problem area easier. It should also make it easier to expand/adjust the system in the future.

I like the idea of dropping in some power line with the water. Does it need to go through conduit or can I just use direct bury wire? Is it just standard 12/2 wire that has a ground???

 

[justinramani]

Its been an eventful few days. They are still working on the driveway/road, and today they got most of the water line installed. Here are some progress pics:

 

[aczlan]

I like the idea of dropping in some power line with the water. Does it need to go through conduit or can I just use direct bury wire? Is it just standard 12/2 wire that has a ground???

I would run 3/4" or 1" conduit and put your wire inside that. How far is it going If its a ways, it might be cheaper to get separate stranded wire and run that in the conduit.
I would not direct bury as then you have to dig it up if something breaks and you need new wire.

Aaron Z

 

[justinramani]

I was reading up online and it looks like 12/2 can only go about 100 feet. I'm looking at moore like 600 feet. Not sure that the distance is feasable. Thoughts?

 

[aczlan]

How many amps do you need out there? 120V or 240V?

Aaron Z

 

[justinramani]

I only need 120. I would like to run power out to the driveway (approx 600 ft away from house) so that I can have lights/CCTV.

How many amps do you need out there? 120V or 240V?

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

I only need 120. I would like to run power out to the driveway (approx 600 ft away from house) so that I can have lights/CCTV.

I would get a pair of 2KVA 120V to 480V transformers (such as Sola 2 KVA Transformer HS1F2AS Used 58912 | eBay ). That would step the voltage up to 480v and would get you ~15 amps at the other end over a 12 gauge wire.
You would then need three 12 gauge wires to go from one end to the other (2 hots and a ground).

Aaron Z

 

[EddieWalker]

I only need 120. I would like to run power out to the driveway (approx 600 ft away from house) so that I can have lights/CCTV.

I ran 12/2 romex 800 feet to my front gate with a 20 amp breaker to power a pair of lights at either side of my gate. At first I put in some regular candlabra light bulbs, but they didn't last very long. I switched them out and put in LED light bulbs instead. They have been in there for about ten years now without a problem.

I know that I lose voltage and amps over that long of a run, but I figured it was acceptable for what I wanted to do. I could have spent more money on larger wire and had less loss, but since I don't need any more power out there, I feel it was an acceptable decision.

 

[Scooter78]

Not only would I burry the cable but you would be very wise to run 3 or 4 empty runs of conduit as well as one extra for water line while the trench is open. I ran a couple when they put my drive in and they have proved invaluable. Especially when the power company says " you will have to pay for us to bore shot a line in". Just walk out and show tell them to choose a run.