50 amp svs for small cow barn

[tflt]

Hi Team, it's time to call on the collective wisdom of the board. I have started a small organic grass-fed beef operation in my recent retirement. In the spring we built a small 24 x 24 feed barn, (pole construction) and need to bring power to it for lights, and a 50 watt heated miraco waterer. I have an existing equipment barn with 150 amp svs, 200 feet away. I have been considering future expansion but think that 50 amps will carry me well into the future. This would only be for lights, several receptacles, and the small heater in the waterer.
I have studied the sub panel diagram posted on the forum and feel good about the wiring, I am now in need of direction as to the feeder cable to use. It seems like 2-2-2-4 aluminum service cable item# 70203, from lowes would fit the bill nicely run through conduit, it says it's ok for wet locations, although I thought SER was not for use in conduit.

I am in the planning stage and would appreciate any advice on equipment and supplies for this project. The panel in the equipment barn is about empty. 2 breakers for receptacles, with nothing major running, one for lighting, (all fluorescent), and a 50 amp for my Lincoln 225 stick welder, seldom used, and 1 breaker for 2 garage door openers. I am sure I have left out some pertinent details but I want to start the conversation, and hear some thoughts about feeder cable.
Thanks for any ideas
Patrick

 

[tiggi]

Is your welder 220v? Consider installing sub panel in your barn. You can run 6/3 cable to it, which is good enough for 50A and it will give you 220v. And from your subpanel you can run lines according to your needs. sub panels are pretty cheap and so are breakers.

 

[theoldwizard1]

How far is the equipment barn away from the meter and what size and type of wire is run from the meter to its panel ?

This is important because of total voltage drop from the meter to the second panel. If you have a 3% voltage drop to the first panel and a 3% voltage drop to the second panel (typical design number, not likely because your loads in both building is very small) then the total voltage drop would be 5.9%. A bit high but livable.

The most cost effective wire would be 2-2-2-4 "mobile home feeder" (MHF) not "aluminum service cable". MHF is rated for direct burial as is USE-2. SE/SEU/SER is rated for "wet" but not "underground" installations.

MHF must be in a conduit anywhere it is above ground including inside buildings.

 

[tflt]

the subpanel in the equip barn is fed by aluminum 4/0, 4/0, 2/0. It is 101 feet away from the main panel in my house where the meter is, and is served by a 150 amp breaker in the house panel, through a 200 amp breaker in the equip barn panel. the panel in equip barn is a siemens load center with 30 spaces, #G3040B1200.
I was still working when we built the equip barn, and was very unhappy with the electrical work that was done in my main house panel. It has been inspected twice since the 150 amp breaker was jammed into the main panel and power brought to the equip barn with no issues arising. That's why I've been relying on myself from then forward.

Thank you for your help!

 

[wagzilla]

I would do 200 amp, room to grow!!! and nice for the next guy!!

James

 

[tflt]

I would do 200 amp, room to grow!!! and nice for the next guy!!

James

Not allowed to do 200. And, I believe I will be sprinkled in my pasture someday!
I'll let the next guy worry about it.

 

[Norcal]

Is your welder 220v? Consider installing sub panel in your barn. You can run 6/3 cable to it, which is good enough for 50A and it will give you 220v. And from your subpanel you can run lines according to your needs. sub panels are pretty cheap and so are breakers.

220 is a foreign voltage, went away here before the Nazi's got whupped.


To the OP, I would be very careful when doing electrical when livestock is present, stray voltages can do strange things.

 

[tflt]

Already mindful of that but thanks for the thought.

 

[theoldwizard1]

the subpanel in the equip barn is fed by aluminum 4/0, 4/0, 2/0. It is 101 feet away from the main panel in my house where the meter is, and is served by a 150 amp breaker in the house panel, ...

Your good !

You would get 1-2% VD with that size cable at 150A and 100'. You are using much ;ess than 150A, so you VD is less than 1%.

Putting a 50A breaker at the front end of that second sub is a smart, conservative idea ! If you are willing to live with a max of 6 circuits the sub in the feed barn will not require a disconnect/main breaker.

 

[tflt]

Thanks for the information. I am just realizing that 2 2 2 4 mhf seems a little scarce locally, I'll look harder tomorrow. could you recommend a service distribution panel suitable for the feed barn? I am looking at lowes right now and getting a little overwhelmed.

Thanks again!

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ You have a Home Depot nearby ??

MHF 2-2-2-4 Aluminum is in-store commonly stocked around $1.50 / ft.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

To the OP, I would be very careful when doing electrical when livestock is present, stray voltages can do strange things.

Find a local electrician knowledgeable in farm/barn/livestock wiring. He should know proper wiring and grounding procedures for buildings with farm animals. Cattle are very sensitive to stray voltage, even a couple of milliamps or less on a ground can keep them from producing milk and cause other problems. Get good solid info and follow it closely.

Charles

 

[theoldwizard1]

could you recommend a service distribution panel suitable for the feed barn? I am looking at lowes right now and getting a little overwhelmed.!

What brand do you have in the equipment shed ? I would stick with that.

Shop online first. It is easier to sort them out.

You want a "main lug" "6 space" "load center". Check the specs carefully because some of those may not have lugs big enough for 2 gauge wire. Go with one rated for 100A.

One more confusion factor. Square D (a very popular brand) sell 2 different incompatible lines of load centers/breaker - Homeline and QO. The pros prefer the QO line. You can save a few bucks if you don't want a door.

Square D (QO) 12-Circuit 6-Space 100-Amp Main Lug Load Center - Lowes $23.97

 

[tflt]

Thanks for all the great information, I'll get started and update my progress!

Patrick