Home Automation - Power to Garage/Workshop
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06-14-00, 12:51 PM
I know this subject has been covered several times but I have a slightly different question.
I'm going to run power from the load center in my house out to my new barn/garage/workshop. I'll have lights/garage door
opener for garage and power for normal power tools (table saw, band saw, sander, etc), the blower for my propane heater
and perhaps a window AC.
The distance is 125 feet along a path that curves a total of about 90 degrees (with a radius of 20 feet or so.) That is, the wall of
the barn is about 90 degrees to the wall of the house.
As I see it, I have two options:
1) Bury 3 wire + ground UF cable in a trench at least 24" down. Question: is it practical to get UF cable in a wire size needed
for this? Would that be #2, #4 or #6?
2) Bury 3 THHN wires + ground in conduit at least 6" down. Question: What is the minimum radius that PVC (gray)conduit of
the size needed can be bent? Is it practical to do one long pull along this radius or will I just have to go with a pull box and a 90
degree bend in the middle? (this will make the run longer).
Appreciate your thoughts...
Bill in West-by-god-Virginia
I'm going to run power from the load center in my house out to my new barn/garage/workshop. I'll have lights/garage door
opener for garage and power for normal power tools (table saw, band saw, sander, etc), the blower for my propane heater
and perhaps a window AC.
The distance is 125 feet along a path that curves a total of about 90 degrees (with a radius of 20 feet or so.) That is, the wall of
the barn is about 90 degrees to the wall of the house.
As I see it, I have two options:
1) Bury 3 wire + ground UF cable in a trench at least 24" down. Question: is it practical to get UF cable in a wire size needed
for this? Would that be #2, #4 or #6?
2) Bury 3 THHN wires + ground in conduit at least 6" down. Question: What is the minimum radius that PVC (gray)conduit of
the size needed can be bent? Is it practical to do one long pull along this radius or will I just have to go with a pull box and a 90
degree bend in the middle? (this will make the run longer).
Appreciate your thoughts...
Bill in West-by-god-Virginia
06-14-00, 06:38 PM
hello bill,
first off i need to correct you on your depth. conduit needs to have a min of 18" of cover unless its under a slab.
now as to size this all depends on how big a sub u r putting in the #2 is good for 100 amps, the #4 is good for 70 amps, and #6 is good for 50 amps.
now as to wheather the conduit can be bent to this radious. with a radious of abought 20' this should go in easly with out heating or putting in a 90. and make for an easy pull, whin i install conduit if at all possabel whin trenching i put in long gradual sweeps, much easer to pull then a 90.
first off i need to correct you on your depth. conduit needs to have a min of 18" of cover unless its under a slab.
now as to size this all depends on how big a sub u r putting in the #2 is good for 100 amps, the #4 is good for 70 amps, and #6 is good for 50 amps.
now as to wheather the conduit can be bent to this radious. with a radious of abought 20' this should go in easly with out heating or putting in a 90. and make for an easy pull, whin i install conduit if at all possabel whin trenching i put in long gradual sweeps, much easer to pull then a 90.
06-15-00, 05:38 AM
Thanks, Sprky.
I'll probably go with the #2
You're right, It's 18" for PVC.
Since I'm going to rent a trencher, 18" or 24" doesn't matter.
Any idea of the materials cost difference between UF and Conduit-plus-wires?
I'll probably go with the #2
You're right, It's 18" for PVC.
Since I'm going to rent a trencher, 18" or 24" doesn't matter.
Any idea of the materials cost difference between UF and Conduit-plus-wires?
06-15-00, 03:55 PM
hello bill,
whin u get into the big sizes of uf more times then not its cheaper to install conduit and pull in thhn. please dont thke this as the absulate bottom line as i have seen it cheaper, or abought the same cost it just all depends on the supplyer, if he was to have some old stock of #2 uf it could be cheaper then the conduit and thhn, i recomend u price it both ways,.
whin u get into the big sizes of uf more times then not its cheaper to install conduit and pull in thhn. please dont thke this as the absulate bottom line as i have seen it cheaper, or abought the same cost it just all depends on the supplyer, if he was to have some old stock of #2 uf it could be cheaper then the conduit and thhn, i recomend u price it both ways,.