Power to Barn

[timswi]

I understand trying to save money, but spending a little extra now will save you big in the future. I vote for the sub-panel which will give you room to grow.

I agree..I put a 100amp sub in my garage...forget the cable size, but is is 4 wire 2h 1n 1g direct bury aluminum in glued conduit...It really wasn't that bad as far as expense and it was well worth it. Both vertical conduits are indoors, so there shouldn't be any water in the pipe unless it cracked, even then it would drain. I've seen ground hogs and other vermin munch on the insulation causing a yard to be destroyed to repair it...I'd go with conduit.

I run a 5hp 60gal compressor, a mig, heaters, lights etc all at the same time...never tripped a breaker.

 

[EddieWalker]

...To clear things up:
I planned on adding two breakers to one of my house panels (plenty of horsepower available in both). From these breakers I was going to pull two cables, a 10/2 off a 20 amp breaker to handle a couple livestock fans rated at 3.5 amps each and a 12/2 off a 15 amp breaker to handle a few outlets and a half-dozen or so 50watt light sockets...

Sounds like you thought it out, and know what you need. I'd do it just like you said. Since you already have a shop and don't need the extra power for this, keep it simple and affordable. The price of another breaker box doesn't offset the price of two small gauge wires, so there's no advantage there. It's extremely unlikely that you'll be tripping breakers, but if you did, lesson learned and a quick walk to the reset it.

Eddie