Author Topic: Electric planning  (Read 2316 times)

cracker

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Electric planning
« on: September 29, 2020, 11:47:30 AM »
So I need to add some additional outlets at the barn, need some help figuring out correct wire and breakers to use:

1.) Outdoor outlets about 250' from panel. Possibly running 2 water tank heaters(about 1500 watts each).  Would like to possibly run the first 150 indoors from the panel to the opposite end of the barn and then burying the wire out to the pasture.  The first 100' outdoor leg, will probably not be in a conduit as it will be buried deep with water line, but rest will be shallower.

2.) 30amp RV 100' from panel box. 


mr.mindless

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2020, 12:07:24 PM »
my immediate inclination is that your red/orange run should be (3) 20a circuits (so you can have something besides the heater if needed). simple distance/current calculator will probably come out with 10ga wire, but I didn't check that.

the green run will be a 30a 240 and a 15/20a - same as I didn't steal a leg off a 240 run for a convenience outlet.

right breaker depends on your electrical box. Eric will probably have an opinion on doing GFCI at the breaker vs the service point, and I'm curious about that.
Quote from: etk300ex
oh lord!

cracker

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2020, 12:29:20 PM »
98% of the pasture plugs usage will be winter heaters, can't really think of much more we would need out there, besides possibly a simple light. 

30amp RV plug is 120v

M4wdFab

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2020, 12:35:10 PM »
20 amp yes, should be 12 gage


those lines are long lol 

Wingman

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2020, 12:50:00 PM »
Conduit is cheap
Retired

mr.mindless

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2020, 01:25:50 PM »
shockingly cheap. 20¢/ft for 1/2" at Depot.
Quote from: etk300ex
oh lord!

etk300ex

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2020, 01:26:37 PM »
I agree with all Mike said.  You can only load a circuit to 80% per code.  15A= 1440W, 20A= 1920W.  Don't steal ;D.

GFCI breaker vs outlet doesn't matter. The breakers are pretty pricey though. 

etk300ex

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2020, 01:34:35 PM »
30amp RV plug is 120v

Really 3-prong?  Idk anything about RVs, but over 20A @ 120V is pretty oddball.   

cracker

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2020, 01:46:33 PM »
30amp RV plug is 120v

Really 3-prong?  Idk anything about RVs, but over 20A @ 120V is pretty oddball.   
from Google: http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/30amp_Service.htm#:~:text=The%20TT%E2%80%9330%20is%20a,is%20a%20120%2Dvolt%20device.
The TT–30 is a 30A, 120-volt recreational vehicle standard sometime it is called simply RV 30. Frequently it is confused for a NEMA 10–30 (see below) with disastrous results. Due to the appearance of the TT-30 plug, many people assume that it is to be wired for 240-volt, but this is a 120-volt device.

cracker

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2020, 01:51:55 PM »
I agree with all Mike said.  You can only load a circuit to 80% per code.  15A= 1440W, 20A= 1920W.  Don't steal ;D.

so you mean a few years ago when I had 2 1500w heaters running off a single heavy extension cord, from a 15A plug I was lucky I did not burn down my barn?

TrailTamer

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #10 on: September 29, 2020, 01:55:33 PM »
Volts is important.

you have your water heaters yet? are they 120 or 240v?

I'd at least run 240v as much as I can and put subpanel in the second pasture, then run the 120v back to the first pasture.

1500w + 1500w + 200w = 3200w

3200w at 120v is about 26.7a at 280' will need to be about 2gage ($$$!!!). 3200w at 240v run at half of amp, at about 13.3a and only need 4ga, maybe 6ga, to save money on wire. Wire size is determined by amp and distance to maintian acceptable voltage drop.

higher volt require less amp for the same amount of work, so might want to run 240v out there to a subpanel in the pasture then run 120v to your heaters (or run 240v heaters, even).

but i am no VAC expert, though. my $0.02

M4wdFab

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #11 on: September 29, 2020, 02:14:25 PM »
o man

here we go

cracker

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« Last Edit: September 29, 2020, 02:28:01 PM by cracker »

cracker

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #13 on: September 29, 2020, 02:58:31 PM »
if it is in conduit does it still need to be UF or can it be standard Romex?

for the 2 maybe 3 10/2 wires out to the pasture.. what size conduit?
« Last Edit: September 29, 2020, 03:08:28 PM by cracker »

etk300ex

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Re: Electric planning
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2020, 03:12:17 PM »
I agree with all Mike said.  You can only load a circuit to 80% per code.  15A= 1440W, 20A= 1920W.  Don't steal ;D.

so you mean a few years ago when I had 2 1500w heaters running off a single heavy extension cord, from a 15A plug I was lucky I did not burn down my barn?

Haha that means they either never ran at the same time or weren't really 1500w.