I was wondering if you would go for it. I want to run 125' of 220 and 110 wiring to the out building. A spool of 10-2 250' is ideal, 1/2 for each run. Now I have used 10-2 for short temporary 220 runs in the past, so I know it will do it, but would you run it permanently to run a 20 amp air compressor? The price difference to buy 10-3 250' is substantial.
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10-2 for light duty 220
- Thread starter Kev442
- Start date
Aceman
Well-known member
You can't legally run more than one branch circuit/feeder to a building. Your 10-3 is OK, but two 10-2's are not.
I hadn't even considered that two wires is not legal. Seems silly (and more dangerous) to run one wire fully loaded and then have to split the circuit as opposed to two wires getting much lighter duty. Offhand, I would say there are a lot of illegally wires outbuildings around here.
Anyway, I'll put that down as a no on 10-2 from you.
Anyway, I'll put that down as a no on 10-2 from you.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
Legality and code requirements aside, I'd run the 2 wires at a lower load.
Aceman
Well-known member
Seems silly (and more dangerous) to run one wire fully loaded and then have to split the circuit as opposed to two wires getting much lighter duty.
It's not silly and more dangerous running a single cable out there if you size it properly. You stated 20 amp air compressor, which means absolutely nothing without knowing the voltage. If it's 120 volt that still frees up one leg of that 10-3 cable. If it's 240 volt, your going to want a larger cable than 10-3.
And yes, they're are a lot of illegally wired outbuildings out there. I can't count how many I've seen fed with direct buried Romex.
sberry
Banned
They make a quad alum number 2 just for this, ideal for deeding out buildings. Its in most box stores.
Shiny Lil Detlr
Member
You can't legally run more than one branch circuit/feeder to a building. Your 10-3 is OK, but two 10-2's are not.
You sure about that? I had a licensed electrician run two branch circuits to my outbuilding and he never said anything about it being an issue. I've got 12-2 and 10-3, both UF cables direct buried in a trench that goes below the frost line.
There's also 2" Schedule 80 conduit in the same trench, with a flexible compressed air line inside the conduit. As far as I'm aware, none of that is illegal or against code.
as far as two cables, the reason this is a no no is all of a circuit's conductors have to be in the same cable or raceway.
To the guy with two circuits: so the guy that did it was licensed....did he pull a permit and have it inspected? Two circuits (a MWBC counts as one) to a detached structure is illegal. There are a couple exceptions. For example if you have a light in the outbuilding controlled by a switch in the house, that can have its own cable.
To the guy with two circuits: so the guy that did it was licensed....did he pull a permit and have it inspected? Two circuits (a MWBC counts as one) to a detached structure is illegal. There are a couple exceptions. For example if you have a light in the outbuilding controlled by a switch in the house, that can have its own cable.