3/3 tec cable for this shop?

[Mike_B]

Hi guys,

I've built a 32X24 shop with 10'4" walls in beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada. It's piped for hydronic (1/2" pex, 3 loops ~234' each) and insulated below the slab with 2" extruded polysyrene. Walls are r20 and the ceiling will be r40 blown in. a standard 3' insulated man-door and a 2" thick 16'X9' rool up door. It has 3 thermopane windows that are 24" X28".

Sooo...

I'd like to eventually power the hydronic system with an electric boiler (no natural gas in my area) as well as run a decent compressor (60 gal, 230V), TIG welder, and all my lights (13 x 2 bulb T8's), grinder/drills/ random tools. etc.

I've got to run a cable from the shop to the house that will probably end up being 100' in length.

I've got an electrician looking into the cable required and he is suggesting 3/3 tec cable. Unfortunately, he's having a hard time getting back to me and I can't find a price for this cable locally, so I'm wondering if 3/3 just isn't that common or if I have to search for it by a different name. Or... do I even need 3/3?

I'm sure I've left out some details here so please forgive my garage journal noob-ness.

 

[CNGsaves]

Shop sounds terrific. Hope you took a ton of pictures as it was going up as you can still start thread in Gallery section to document the build. GJer's just LOVE shop builds !! Pictures of snow and Nova Scotia is just topping on the cake !!

Presume you are going buried electric. You trenching it yourself and installing 3" conduit?? What wholesale suppliers you have nearby for electric wire?? I'd recommend going with "norm" that others are using as your cost will be lower - - - this will undoubtedly be aluminum. Sparky's will chime in soon and give you all the details.

And also, Welcome to GJ !

 

[justsam]

With an electric boiler, you will need some power. No doubt why your electrician is recommending 3 gauge, considering the length of the run.

The Teck cable can be direct bury so conduit not required, however at that size you are looking at about $10 to $15/foot. It may be cheaper, and more easily upgraded to bury conduit and use a lower cost wire.

 

[Mike_B]

Thanks for the responses guys!

I am leaning towards conduit anyway. I'm not overly familiar with the wholesale suppliers for wiring.

I'm a mech. tech guy. Give me SolidWorks and a CNC mill or lathe anyday. Electrical.... not so much.

 

[pattenp]

If using conduit you should look at using individual conductors. #1 aluminum THHN/THWN-2 is the same ampcapacity as #3 copper. Southwire's Canadian product is "SIMpull Aluminum T90"

 

[jeff000]

With an electric boiler, you will need some power. No doubt why your electrician is recommending 3 gauge, considering the length of the run.

The Teck cable can be direct bury so conduit not required, however at that size you are looking at about $10 to $15/foot. It may be cheaper, and more easily upgraded to bury conduit and use a lower cost wire.

3/3 copper teck is $20.67/m as a cash sale at Westburne or Eecol. (CDN).

I would use USCI90, it's direct burial (just needs mechanical protection until its a foot under the ground), and cheap at $10.18/m for 0/3.

 

[tfi racing]

Save your money,#1/3 conductor ACWU is what you need,USC or USEB won't have the extra bonding conductor that you require.If it is a straight,easy run, pvc conduit and #1
aluminum conductors may be an alternative,but a lot more work.

 

[awonderfulworld]

I second ACWU90 - #2 (2/2/2/6 aluminum) is very common for 100 amp house feeds and thus, very cheap compared to #1. It's armored so no pvc needed in ground, only above ground where exposed.

I've got it feeding my garage and it was easy to get in, the only challenge is the bend radius is 12" so keep that in mind.

Goes for less than$10 a metre but I think in Canada only licensed electricians can buy aluminum wire (at least that's what I'm told - my electrician supplied it)

 

[tfi racing]

You could use #2,but for the distance and a few bucks more I would bump it up a size,but I agree it is cheaper because it is more readily available.As for electricians only allowed to buy aluminum wire,no such rule at least around here,likely an urban myth spread by the electrical wholesalers so they can avoid dealing with PITA homeowners.

 

[alfredeneuman]

3/3 copper teck is $20.67/m as a cash sale at Westburne or Eecol. (CDN).

I would use USCI90, it's direct burial (just needs mechanical protection until its a foot under the ground), and cheap at $10.18/m for 0/3.

At $20.67 for 1000 feet you'd do better just to buy the cable, strip it, scrap it, and become a wealthy man.



Unless your talking per Meter which is still a good deal