Running power to my barn, need electrical advice..

[grsthegreat]

So far so good but would never ever recommend aluminum conductors. There will be a need to care for those connections to keep them tight., Anti-corrosion coating.
It would may be better in the long run to install a 100 amp panel. It should about 8 circuits for you.
Run the #4 awg copper cable (within conduit or not) and be set for a 120/220 source at the panel and be done.
Because, one's original plan are only warrantied until the moment it is completed. Immediately after that one moment in time, murphy's law says:
Hmm, air compressor would be handy here, hey a welder would come in handy, see the path here. Which would indicate one size large for a safe margin of safety if cost is not prohibitive for you.
So be safe, use correct gauge and insulation rated conductor for underground install.
Ground at barn be set for 120/220 vac and you set for unforeseen need and growth at least a few years.

i know alot of people hate aluminum conductors... but face the facts. ALL the utilities use aluminum, and in the past 30 years that ive been doing electrical, all ive ever placed underground, including when i wired my place in 1996, is aluminum. If done right, no problems. The insulation used today, and the metal alloys today, arnt the crap from the 1940’s when alum wire caused all the issues

 

[Oldoak]

i know alot of people hate aluminum conductors... but face the facts. ALL the utilities use aluminum, and in the past 30 years that ive been doing electrical, all ive ever placed underground, including when i wired my place in 1996, is aluminum. If done right, no problems. The insulation used today, and the metal alloys today, arnt the crap from the 1940’s when alum wire caused all the issues

Now there's someone who knows what there talking about. :thumbsup:

 

[flingwing1969]

for me personally. id run a new 4 wire circuit to main panel and do it the right way. id also use some 2/2/2/4 urd or xhhw alum feeder wires and run a 90 amp circuit out there. the trench is the most expensive and hard part of the whole thing. 2/2/2/4 urd direct burial runs about $1.40 per foot or less. you can even sleeve it thru conduit if you want more protection.

What I would do too, at a minimum. He has nothing out there now and going to a 90 amp box will be a wow factor. Less wow in 10 years when he decides on putting his welding shop in there.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I hate to hijack the thread but here goes..sorry.
I have power coming from my house to the shop.. 50yards. #6 wire.
The shop burnt down & a new 1 erected..
I need to splice the old wire to the new wire.. a 10 yard run..
What product would you use to join the 2 wires together.??
The wires will be buried & in conduit..
Thanks & again, sorry.

 

[aczlan]

I hate to hijack the thread but here goes..sorry.
I have power coming from my house to the shop.. 50yards. #6 wire.
The shop burnt down & a new 1 erected..
I need to splice the old wire to the new wire.. a 10 yard run..
What product would you use to join the 2 wires together.??
The wires will be buried & in conduit..
Thanks & again, sorry.

If you splice, you need to have the splice in an accessible junction box. Personally, I would either completely replace the wires end to end, or (if you have enough length on the part from the breaker panel to where it goes underground), run a new wire from the breaker panel to a junction box before it goes underground and shift the existing wire toward the building (so the splice is before it goes underground at the house end).

Aaron Z

 

[grsthegreat]

I hate to hijack the thread but here goes..sorry.
I have power coming from my house to the shop.. 50yards. #6 wire.
The shop burnt down & a new 1 erected..
I need to splice the old wire to the new wire.. a 10 yard run..
What product would you use to join the 2 wires together.??
The wires will be buried & in conduit..
Thanks & again, sorry.

you can do an underground splice and they sell epoxy kits for this method at electrical supply shops. i personally use a pressure crimp method with heat shrink, than thats epoxied in a sleeve. this joint will outlast the wire

 

[YLee Kioti]

i know alot of people hate aluminum conductors... but face the facts. ALL the utilities use aluminum, and in the past 30 years that ive been doing electrical, all ive ever placed underground, including when i wired my place in 1996, is aluminum. If done right, no problems. The insulation used today, and the metal alloys today, arnt the crap from the 1940’s when alum wire caused all the issues

Different experiences is a good thing.
We never used aluminum in our power plant.
I don't think the NRC would ever allow it. All copper. Federal Pacific IRRC used it but their switchgear was a night mare to work on.

 

[CobyRupert]

you can do an underground splice and they sell epoxy kits for this method at electrical supply shops. i personally use a pressure crimp method with heat shrink, than thats epoxied in a sleeve. this joint will outlast the wire View attachment 546292

...but don't splices have to be accessible, like in a pullbox, handhole box, underground vault etc...?

 

[Deere Dude]

...but don't splices have to be accessible, like in a pullbox, handhole box, underground vault etc...?

Generally that is correct and probably is by a code somewhere, but who is going to tell? As long as the owner knows there is a spice and it is in conduit anyway, what is the harm. I would do that before I would run a whole new line, but that is just me.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Nothing wrong at all with a splice if done correctly. I got by 20 plus years with a spliced connection running to my spring house. Changed it out last year with new wire.