Started in on the renovation of “The Barn Shop” this summer. It’s a 36’x30’ building that dates back to probably sometime in the 70s. It’s been relegated to storage for the last few years since I bought the place but after some raccoons took to it last summer I finally made some space in the budget to get this thing up to snuff. The plan this summer is the exterior. Pulling off the battens, replacing some rotten boards, building soffits, new windows, tyvek, and finally vinyl siding.
I’ve already started in on this and making good progress but didn’t account for the electrical service entrance.
There’s 10 gauge direct burial wire (2 hot, 1 neutral, ground) coming from the house running about 75ft to the barn. Where it exits the ground it runs in some black flexible pipe (looks like irrigation pipe) which is boxed in up the side of the barn about 4 ft. Inside it enters a sub panel through a knockout on the back.
The wiring is connected to the main house panel on a tandem 30a breaker. I’ll abandon all the circuits currently in the barn and wire up 4 new circuits:
-Interior Lighting (all LED, probably linkable 4ft shop light style)
-exterior lighting (all LED, 2 floodlights, cupola lighting, and entry door lighting)
-1 run of receptacles (biggest load for now will be a pancake compressor)
Next year I will size up the service to the barn and add more receptacles.
Plan I have come up with is this:
-Dig down to expose the wiring at its full depth and remove the existing pipe
-Slip 1.5” PVC conduit over the cable. I figure a 90° elbow, followed by a 5ft or so stick should do it.
-Vinyl mounting block on the exterior wall that the conduit will pass through.
Open questions:
-Any reason to size up the conduit?
-In the sub panel the neutrals and grounds look to be bonded together. I understand this is not up to code on detached structures. I plan to install an equipment ground bar In the panel to separate them. Should I bother? Should I also drive a ground rod at the building?
I’ve never attempted something like this before. It makes sense in my mind but if this is a stupid plan please tell me so (and please, tell me why!)
I’ll add a few photos to the thread. Thanks for any advice!
I’ve already started in on this and making good progress but didn’t account for the electrical service entrance.
There’s 10 gauge direct burial wire (2 hot, 1 neutral, ground) coming from the house running about 75ft to the barn. Where it exits the ground it runs in some black flexible pipe (looks like irrigation pipe) which is boxed in up the side of the barn about 4 ft. Inside it enters a sub panel through a knockout on the back.
The wiring is connected to the main house panel on a tandem 30a breaker. I’ll abandon all the circuits currently in the barn and wire up 4 new circuits:
-Interior Lighting (all LED, probably linkable 4ft shop light style)
-exterior lighting (all LED, 2 floodlights, cupola lighting, and entry door lighting)
-1 run of receptacles (biggest load for now will be a pancake compressor)
Next year I will size up the service to the barn and add more receptacles.
Plan I have come up with is this:
-Dig down to expose the wiring at its full depth and remove the existing pipe
-Slip 1.5” PVC conduit over the cable. I figure a 90° elbow, followed by a 5ft or so stick should do it.
-Vinyl mounting block on the exterior wall that the conduit will pass through.
Open questions:
-Any reason to size up the conduit?
-In the sub panel the neutrals and grounds look to be bonded together. I understand this is not up to code on detached structures. I plan to install an equipment ground bar In the panel to separate them. Should I bother? Should I also drive a ground rod at the building?
I’ve never attempted something like this before. It makes sense in my mind but if this is a stupid plan please tell me so (and please, tell me why!)
I’ll add a few photos to the thread. Thanks for any advice!
