How much should I expect to pay for electricity in pole barn

Skdrcr23 · Feb 29, 2016

Hello, I'm looking for some advice on running
Electricity to pole barn. It's about 100 feet from
My house. I plan on running a 60 gal 5gp compressor
And 2 post lift. I've searched a little bit on using the
Mhf 2 2 2 4 and 90 amp breaker and what not but
It may be just a little over my skillset to accomplish myself

CNGsaves · Feb 29, 2016

You've already got the best low-cost recipe . . . MHF Al 2-2-2-4 which is about $1.50/ft. Then you would also have 2" plastic electrical conduit and the 90 degree sweeps for buried conduit coming out of ground.

Negotiate with your electrician that you'll dig trench and put in the 2" conduit and he'll pull wire and terminate, plus subpanel in garage. You'll also need 2 ground rods at the garage tied to the subpanel. The garage subpanel can just be matching 100A brand that you have in the house. Limiting breaker of 90A would be in the house feeding the MHF Al 2-2-2-4 to garage.

Dig the trench deeper than AHJ requires and put 2" electrical conduit on bottom. Then backfill 12" and install a 2nd conduit for low voltage stuff like CATV/internet/phone/security/intercom/etc.

UPDATE GJ Profile with a Location so you'll get best advice for country.

wyliesdiesels · Feb 29, 2016

And dont forget to isolate the neutral bar. U may need to purchase a separate ground bar kit.

rburke65 · Feb 29, 2016

Be smart....run an extra conduit for ? Cable, tv, whatever.

Pwrgeek · Mar 1, 2016

Depends on what you have them do. Couple scenarios and what you would pay here for them.

You trench and install conduit. They pull and terminate wire and install sub panel. You install all circuits from sub panel to devices. They provide wire and panel. Your cost (here) about $1500 - $2000.

Same as above only they do the trench and conduit. Your cost $3000 - 3500.

They do the whole thing including a bunch of outlets and lights. All the point of use devices you mention. Your cost prob $10k plus.

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cajunfirehawk · Mar 1, 2016

I just ran mine or should say I had a licensed electrician run mine; 85' run to a 100 amp sub-panel he installed, labor and materials, $1k, YMMV.

CNGsaves · Mar 1, 2016

cajunfirehawk said:
I just ran mine or should say I had a licensed electrician run mine; 85' run to a 100 amp sub-panel he installed, labor and materials, $1k, YMMV.

^ ^ ^ WTH . . . . HOW ??? You "secretly" pay with LOTS of 409 ???? :pimpflash

. .

. . .
. . . . . you know . . . . for "medical" . . . . !!!

Skdrcr23 · Mar 1, 2016

Thanks for the info guys. I think I will probably do the trench and conduit. Can the Mhf ai 2 2 2 4 be ran directly in the house to 90a breaker or will I need junction box?

Pwrgeek · Mar 1, 2016

Skdrcr23 said:
Thanks for the info guys. I think I will probably do the trench and conduit. Can the Mhf ai 2 2 2 4 be ran directly in the house to 90a breaker or will I need junction box?

Only requirement on MHF is that it must be in conduit anywhere above ground or inside a building.

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Skdrcr23 · Mar 4, 2016

So it's best to run conduit the entire length of the Mhf from house to shop then? 90amp breaker at house and
100 breaker at subpanel in shop. Why do I need 2 grounding rods vs just 1? Could I use 100 breaker on
Both sides if I can find 90a breaker to match the brand of my main panel? Also is it better to run single strand 14 Guage wire to recepticles vs romex since wire will be exposed in shop?

CNGsaves · Mar 4, 2016

Skdrcr23 said:
{A}So it's best to run conduit the entire length of the MHF from house to shop then? 90amp breaker at house and 100amp breaker at subpanel in shop??

{B}Why do I need 2 grounding rods vs just 1?

{C}Could I use 100amp breaker on both sides if I can't find 90amp breaker to match the brand of my main panel?

{D}Also is it better to run single strand 14 Gauge wire to receptacles vs Romex since wire will be exposed in shop?

I'm not a sparky, but based on hundreds of GJ threads with same questions that GJ Sparky's answered . . .
{A} Yes , Yes , Yes. Bury the MHF 2-2-2-4 deep in trench in conduit so you can backfill and add another conduit with low voltage wire like CATV, internet, phone, security, etc.
{B} Because it's code requirement.
{C} No. Need 90A breaker in house as that's maximum allowed to power the MHF Al 2-2-2-4 out to subpanel in garage.
{D} Your choice. What's there now?? Sheetrocked walls already or open studs?? Let's see PIC's of what's in garage now.

Finally, UPDATE GJ Profile with Location as electrical codes vary by country.

lakeroadster · Mar 4, 2016

^^^ Your Location Is? ^^^

Sometimes a Ditch Witch works great. Where I live the ground is basically boulders... so that requires a mini excavator or a back hoe for the trench, and that adds $$$$ real quick.

I was quoted $2800 to pull a permit, trench 100 ft from meter box to barn, install 100 amp service with Square D breaker panel, install (1) outside light and (1) inside outlet.

wyliesdiesels · Mar 4, 2016

Skdrcr23 said:
So it's best to run conduit the entire length of the Mhf from house to shop then? 90amp breaker at house and
100 breaker at subpanel in shop. Why do I need 2 grounding rods vs just 1? Could I use 100 breaker on
Both sides if I can find 90a breaker to match the brand of my main panel? Also is it better to run single strand 14 Guage wire to recepticles vs romex since wire will be exposed in shop?

Indiividual conductors will need to be in conduit....

Skdrcr23 · Mar 4, 2016

Open studs. I was thinking of using 12 2 for the lights and
14 2 for recepticles. I'm still a few months away from doing anything. Still kind of just learning everything right now

Shiftless · Mar 5, 2016

Skdrcr23 said:
Open studs. I was thinking of using 12 2 for the lights and
14 2 for recepticles. I'm still a few months away from doing anything. Still kind of just learning everything right now

Do you really intend to run 14 ga. wire for receptacles? Sometimes guys run 14 ga. for lights especially if they are running low wattage LED fixtures. But please spend a few extra pennies and run 12 ga. to your receptacles and protect the circuits with 20 amp breakers. You will thank me later.

CNGsaves · Mar 5, 2016

^ ^ ^ This. Run 12 gauge wire for all outlets and 20A circuit breaker. That way you can run a 120v air compressor and not trip the breaker/overload the wire.

Only use 14 gauge for lighting wiring on separate circuit(s).

Pwrgeek · Mar 5, 2016

CNGsaves said:
^ ^ ^ This. Run 12 gauge wire for all outlets and 20A circuit breaker. That way you can run a 120v air compressor and not trip the breaker/overload the wire.

Only use 14 gauge for lighting wiring on separate circuit(s).

I ran all 14 ga for general use outlets and 12 for point of use tools (table saw, drill press, mini mill). One thing I did do though is run all circuits so that there are two duplex receptacles in each box and they are on separate circuits. 99.9% of 120V devices will run on 15A. You get into trouble when you end up with multiple large draws on a single circuit.

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matt151617 · Mar 7, 2016

Are you doing the interior wiring yourself? If so, you can definitely run the wire from the house panel yourself. It's still adding another circuit on, just like adding an outlet circuit. Put in more outlets than you think you'll need! I would also add a 240v outlet somewhere in the garage.

Whatever you decide on, make sure you pull the proper permits (now), and get it inspected.

Skdrcr23 · Mar 13, 2016

I have a bryant main panel house. Can I use an Eaton 100a sub panel in detached building. I believe the breakers/panels are compatable just making sure.

CNGsaves · Mar 14, 2016

^ ^ ^ Post up PIC's of house main panel that you plan on adding breaker to feed the garage.
. . . . . PIC with cover on . . . . and . . . PIC with cover off.

Sparky's also will want your . . . . COUNTRY . . . Where you at ??

UPDATE GJ Profile with a Location.

wyliesdiesels · Mar 14, 2016

Skdrcr23 said:
I have a bryant main panel house. Can I use an Eaton 100a sub panel in detached building. I believe the breakers/panels are compatable just making sure.

Theres no code or requirement that says u have to match the brand of subpanel to the brand of main panel...

fastbike02 · Mar 14, 2016

I did some research and ran my own line to my shop, after trencher rental and materials it cost me right at 400 bucks

How much should I expect to pay for electricity in pole barn

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