Feeder type confirmation

[kf4zht]

Powering a new to me shop, 100a service. Power will feed from outside main breaker panel on opposite end of house. I would prefer not to trench as there are a lot of older trees in a very small yard and don't want to harm the root systems.

So my rough plan was to go under the house (crawlspace) to the corner nearest the shop. I then have a raised patio with a roughly 18" tall block wall. Transition to conduit and complete the run along the side of the patio to the shop.

1. Can I use SER cable the whole way - I know under the house is fine and by my reading it's OK outside in conduit, just maybe not buried
2. Any reason I can use pvc conduit for this?
3. Do I need to be up the wall a required distance to make sure it's "aboveground" or can the conduit lay on the dirt as long as it's not buried?

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[alfredeneuman]

1. Can I use SER cable the whole way - I know under the house is fine and by my reading it's OK outside in conduit, just maybe not buried
3. Do I need to be up the wall a required distance to make sure it's "aboveground" or can the conduit lay on the dirt as long as it's not buried?

No you can't lay it above ground.
You can however use rigid conduit. The burial depth required is only 6".
Because it needs to needs to be buried, you can't use SER all the way.

 

[kf4zht]

And why can't it be mounted to the stem wall? Outside horizontal conduit is somewhat common commercial side

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[alfredeneuman]

I misunderstood you.
If it doesn't have to underground you can use SER all the way in Sch80PVC.

 

[pattenp]

How long of a run will the conduit be? SER is going to be a pain to pull in conduit.

 

[alfredeneuman]

How long of a run will the conduit be? SER is going to be a pain to pull in conduit.

That all depends on the size of the conduit.
(EDIT) Super Extreme overkill alert It's available in 6" https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/0749564

 

[kf4zht]

How long of a run will the conduit be? SER is going to be a pain to pull in conduit.

About 30ft total - 2 straight runs with an external 90 that will probably have a pull elbow. Then a 90 sweep into the building.

It won't be fun, but I pull large coax for radio systems on conduit enough to know a few trick (con as many helpers as possible). Honestly I'm not looking forward to dragging that stuff through the crawl space, it's doable but due to additions its not a straight shot.

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[ard]

About 30ft total -

Thats almost pickaxe/hand dig territory. IMO better than bolting to a retaining wall. Dont think it will kill trees, but YMMV

 

[Zeke]

Trees are tough.

 

[ard]

roots even tougher...

 

[kf4zht]

Thats almost pickaxe/hand dig territory. IMO better than bolting to a retaining wall. Dont think it will kill trees, but YMMV

Trees are tough.

roots even tougher...

It's more that harming this tree to the point it needed to be taken down would likely require a crane reaching over my house and a very large bill. Also it would remove the very nice shade on my patio

The worst conduit is going to be where it turns to enter the building, but that would be there either way