Now ready for the concrete in the pole barn

[747driver]

It's actually cheaper to run conduit and individual wires than Rex.

So, assuming the source is 4ft high. 4ft down, 30ft across, 4ft up uses 38ft.

12ft up, 30ft across, 8ft down uses 50ft.

Saving 12ft of wire by laying 30ft of conduit? Not sure how that pays out.

Sometimes we just gotta do what feels right.

I don't want to climb up ladders to run wires ! When we lived up near Chicago, all electric had to be run in metal conduit. I got pretty good at piping it and have lots of connectors left. Yes THHN is cheaper than romex !

 

[747driver]

Maybe someone doesn稚 like heights.....unless it has wings and a yoke.

EXACTLY !! Although the Airbus has a joystick...... Guess I could rent a Sky Lift !

 

[ovrszd]

I don't want to climb up ladders to run wires ! When we lived up near Chicago, all electric had to be run in metal conduit. I got pretty good at piping it and have lots of connectors left. Yes THHN is cheaper than romex !

Now that explanation I understand!!! Bed the conduit very well if you are gonna back trucks over it.

 

[EddieWalker]

The walls are 16'. Easier and cheaper to run the conduit under the slab to reach the other side. Will take to much wire to go up a 16' wall then across the trusses and then back down 12' on the other wall. Not a fan of having all that romex exposed.

I disagree, but it's your barn and your call. In every building and house that I've owned, built and worked on, I've always liked having the wires in the attic space. Easy to get to in order to tap into for another line. Easy to run. Easy to see what's up there.

If you are going to have lights, you'll be running wires up there anyway.

Wire in conduit in the ground has a bad habit of filling up with water over the years from condensation.

How many lines will you be running in the conduit? or will you have a separate conduit for each run? Air compressor should have a dedicated line. Welder needs it own line. Lights should be on a separate line from outlets. Five outlets per breaker means two breakers per long wall and one for the back wall. Five lines for the outlets. Inside lights are good for one breaker, and then another breaker for outdoor lights.

 

[Aquamoose]

My concrete guy says rebar or mesh doesn't stop concrete from cracking. They help the two pieces from drifting apart.

Says slowing the cure process can improve your odds in limiting cracks. Cracking is caused by water evaporation which shrinks the concrete.

Expansion cuts are to control the cracks. If you haven't filled your cuts you might look closely at the bottom of them for hairline cracks. That's their job.

A solid base holds the pad at whatever elevation and grade it was poured at.

I asked a lot of questions.

Of course, I’m sure that there may be cracks in the control joints. It still looks perfect as the day it was done. It could be possibly related to the fact that it was poured & finished when the temps were in the low 30°’s, allowing concrete to cure slower than usual.

The mesh was there primarily for the tubing to tie into.

 

[ovrszd]

Of course, I’m sure that there may be cracks in the control joints. It still looks perfect as the day it was done. It could be possibly related to the fact that it was poured & finished when the temps were in the low 30°’s, allowing concrete to cure slower than usual.

The mesh was there primarily for the tubing to tie into.

View attachment 566899

My existing shop floor is nine years old. I caulked the expansion cuts for easy cleanup. I don't have any visible cracks. But I know where they are hiding.

 

[goeduck]

I must have missed something.

WHY are you running conduit under your slab?

To get to the other side....... just like the chicken :laughing:
Could not resist

 

[747driver]

I disagree, but it's your barn and your call. In every building and house that I've owned, built and worked on, I've always liked having the wires in the attic space. Easy to get to in order to tap into for another line. Easy to run. Easy to see what's up there.

If you are going to have lights, you'll be running wires up there anyway.

Wire in conduit in the ground has a bad habit of filling up with water over the years from condensation.

How many lines will you be running in the conduit? or will you have a separate conduit for each run? Air compressor should have a dedicated line. Welder needs it own line. Lights should be on a separate line from outlets. Five outlets per breaker means two breakers per long wall and one for the back wall. Five lines for the outlets. Inside lights are good for one breaker, and then another breaker for outdoor lights.

There is no attic or ceiling in the barn. Now I am building a 10x30 loft storage at the back which will be 8' high. I could run my conduit on the bottom of the floor joists to get wires to the other side. This might work out better. THHW is for wet conditions such as running conduit underground. Yea...I will have to go up the ladder to wire in my lights !!

 

[747driver]

Of course, I’m sure that there may be cracks in the control joints. It still looks perfect as the day it was done. It could be possibly related to the fact that it was poured & finished when the temps were in the low 30°’s, allowing concrete to cure slower than usual.

The mesh was there primarily for the tubing to tie into.

View attachment 566899

Nice radiant heat setup ! I see you only used wire mesh, something I am leaning to . Don't care for the fiber mix.

 

[Aquamoose]

Nice radiant heat setup ! I see you only used wire mesh, something I am leaning to . Don't care for the fiber mix.

The wire mesh was primarily for tying the pex to. I’d still recommend the fiber mix for a stronger concrete and it barely raises the price anyway.