Conduit route and size

[Ralphxj]

Need to figure out the route for my conduit so I can get it in the ground sooner then I had planned. I'm burying my wood boiler water lines to the house and my electric will cross over them so I want to dig both trenches at the same time to avoid hitting my boiler lines un the future. Thinking for now I might be better off running the conduit up to the house and capping it until I'm ready to finish the job.

In the photo below, the shop is directly behind me in the photo with the pallet rack and silver tarp. I'm not sure if I would be better off running the line up out of the ground and up the wall into the attic and down to the panel. Or stay underground along the side of the house and then up to the meter/panel? I will have to cut and patch concrete either way. Up the back wall might not look as good, but less concrete to cut.

I'm currently not sure if I will be running my lines to my main panel or if I will be running to my meter and installing a new meter/panel combo outside to feed the house and shop. The main panel is on the opposite side of the wall from the meter in the photo below. The current lines are overhead so I have power now, but the new lines will be a completely new route.

What size conduit would work best for 2/0 mobile home feeder?

 

[pattenp]

2/0 MHF is direct bury conductors and are a little thicker. But they are compact conductors so the 2/0 will work in 2". That said I'd much rather pull it through 2.5". Are you sure you need 2/0 Al? That's 135A wire. 2/0 XHHW-2 will be easier to get through 2" conduit.

 

[Ralphxj]

2/0 MHF is direct bury conductors and are a little thicker. But they are compact conductors so the 2/0 will work in 2". That said I'd much rather pull it through 2.5". Are you sure you need 2/0 Al? That's 135A wire. 2/0 XHHW-2 will be easier to get through 2" conduit.

Can I run 2/0 XHHW-2 indoor without conduit? I would like 125amp if possible, so I figured 2/0 was my best bet. Should I upsized the conduit to 2.5in?

 

[pattenp]

The XHHW-2 has to be in conduit end-to-end. If you go with the 2/0 MHF I suggest the 2.5 for ease of pulling. The thing is MHF is an assembled cable of four twisted conductors, whereas the XHHW-2 is purchased as single conductors in the sizes you need. The 2/0 MHF is 2/0-2/0-2/0-1. If using XHHW-2, the ground can be a #4 with the other three conductors being 2/0 and that would be easier to pull through 2" conduit.

Edit: SER can be installed inside without conduit but you will need to transition to the MHF or the XHHW-2 via a junction box for the run between buildings.

 

[Ralphxj]

The XHHW-2 has to be in conduit end-to-end. If you go with the 2/0 MHF I suggest the 2.5 for ease of pulling. The thing is MHF is an assembled cable of four twisted conductors, whereas the XHHW-2 is purchased as single conductors in the sizes you need. The 2/0 MHF is 2/0-2/0-2/0-1. If using XHHW-2, the ground can be a #4 with the other three conductors being 2/0 and that would be easier to pull through 2" conduit.

Edit: SER can be installed inside without conduit but you will need to transition to the MHF or the XHHW-2 via a junction box for the run between buildings.

Would like to avoid a junction box if possible. But it's an option I guess.

 

[Ralphxj]

Anyone have any suggestions on my conduit route? Up and over or underneath the cement?

 

[nadogail]

Sorry, but I can't express an opinion without first walking the job.

 

[bamawildcat]

Run your boiler water lines. Run white pipe 3" PVC sleeves across your boiler lines 6 feet wide. Measure from a known point to the beginning and end of your sleeves. Tape sketch in your electrical panel. Don't worry about the electrical, and when you are ready years from now, you can run your mobile home feeder, or conduit, or heck even natural gas through the sleeves, and don't have to worry about hitting your boiler lines.

 

[pattenp]

My preference is all under ground. It's really a personal choice for you and how much trouble are you willing to go to.

 

[Ralphxj]

Run your boiler water lines. Run white pipe 3" PVC sleeves across your boiler lines 6 feet wide. Measure from a known point to the beginning and end of your sleeves. Tape sketch in your electrical panel. Don't worry about the electrical, and when you are ready years from now, you can run your mobile home feeder, or conduit, or heck even natural gas through the sleeves, and don't have to worry about hitting your boiler lines.

It's going a couple months max, I need to upgrade soon. Boiler project is first, then roof and ceiling then electrical upgrades hopefully before winter.

 

[Aceman]

I'd probably be inclined to install a 200/400A meter combo on the exterior of the home. Extend the grounding electrode conductors to the exterior metermain from the existing inside panel. Refeed the existing house panel with 4 wires and separate grounds and neutrals.

I'd run 2 inch conduit. Possibly cut a 2'x2' hole in the concrete under the future metermain location. Then rent a trailer air compressor with a mole and send it from the lawn under the sidewalk to the 2' x 2' hole location. When you remove the mole, it'll just leave a hole you can slide the 2" conduit through. It'll save a lot of concrete cutting and patching.

 

[rburke65]

Just my opinion but I’d go from existing meter location, down, and then trench to your new build