Estimate for electrical to storage barn

[jjscott]

I’m having a 14x20 storage barn built in backyard this summer and want to have electric run to it. I want to have probably 2 inside lights and possibly an outside light driven by a motion sensor. I want to be able to run a few tools out there. A table saw, miter saw…nothing much bigger than that. I would need to run a shop vac at the same time as the table saw. I would want the lights and the outlets to be on separate circuits. I would want the outlets wired for 20 amps.

I have 200 amp service to the house and the main panel is located on the backside of the house which is perfect for the barn hookup. The barn will be about 80ft from the house, so I’m planning for a 100ft run by the time the wires are terminated on both sides.

I would want the wires run in conduit and it should be a little bigger than what is needed in the event I want to do something crazy out there in the future and need a bigger wire pulled. It would probably be a good idea to have a second conduit run in case I want to do something that involves a computer.

I haven’t called an electrician for a quote yet, but I was wondering how much you guys think it would cost to do what I’m proposing?

 

[tinysparky]

All depends on how much oversizing you want.

BTW the following comments are my thoughts...I am not an electrician..

I decided to run 2-2-2-4 aluminum to my well pump house. I wanted 60 amps and this was the most cost effective solution I could get.

The allowable ampacity of this cable is 155 amps at 90 degrees C. When used in ducts, it has a lower allowable ampacity of 115 amps.

I paid a around 1.22 per foot delived from Amazon.

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[mm08822]

All depends on how much oversizing you want.

BTW the following comments are my thoughts...I am not an electrician..

I decided to run 2-2-2-4 aluminum to my well pump house. I wanted 60 amps and this was the most cost effective solution I could get.

The allowable ampacity of this cable is 155 amps at 90 degrees C. When used in ducts, it has a lower allowable ampacity of 115 amps.

I paid a around 1.22 per foot delived from Amazon.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

#2 Al is only good for 90a in conduit. Need to use the 75c column as that is most likely the rating of the termination hardware.

 

[ard]

80 ft
1.5 in PVC conduit to allow for future use
#6 wire for now, 60A breaker. Simple 60A subpanel, 2 circuits.

You can upsize later if you need. HOWEVER, that is a small room, IMO you will never need to upsize.

As far as cost, I have no idea. Under 500 in parts, weekend project if someone else did the digging.

 

[3rdgendslmech]

4-500 range if you bought the materials and did it yourself.....add 500% if you pay a company to do it

 

[mike93lx]

I'd run 2-2-2-4 mhf and install a 100a panel. Use a 60-90a breaker at the main... Whatever is readily available. The wire is cheap, can be direct buried and you'll never run out of space in the panel. The incremental cost for the bigger panel is minimal.

You will also need two ground rods

 

[ard]

I'd run 2-2-2-4 mhf and install a 100a panel.

for a single 14 by 20 foot room?

Not a fan of direct bury. But I do understand the rationale you are making....

 

[mike93lx]

for a single 14 by 20 foot room?

Not a fan of direct bury. But I do understand the rationale you are making....

Yeah.

That's plenty of room to end up with a welder, plasma, big compressor, big table saw, dust collector, etc. Plus any additions to the building in the future could increase demand. MHF is cheap. Why worry about it?

A 100a main breaker panel is what? $80? $100? Sure you can get a main lug 60a for $30 but i don't see that as a meaningful savings.

 

[ard]

Yeah.

That's plenty of room to end up with a welder, plasma, big compressor, big table saw, dust collector, etc. Plus any additions to the building in the future could increase demand. MHF is cheap. Why worry about it?

A 100a main breaker panel is what? $80? $100? Sure you can get a main lug 60a for $30 but i don't see that as a meaningful savings.

I hear you. But I simply would not trade a 1.5" conduit for direct bury.

I actually almost said in my post 'throw in a 100A panel now, even if you serve it with a 60A breaker.' So I guess I partly agree....

"plenty" of room, for all that?



Related question: If he was going to DIY, would the recommendations be different?? or conversely, will these minor upcharges of say $30 actually reflect what the pro will charge?

 

[mike93lx]

I hear you. But I simply would not trade a 1.5" conduit for direct bury.

I actually almost said in my post 'throw in a 100A panel now, even if you serve it with a 60A breaker.' So I guess I partly agree....

"plenty" of room, for all that?



Related question: If he was going to DIY, would the recommendations be different?? or conversely, will these minor upcharges of say $30 actually reflect what the pro will charge?

Even if a pro marks up materials 100%,the difference still isn't big. The main cost will be getting him there and time, neither will change by increasing wire or panel size a bit.

that's a plenty big enough shop for a slew of wood working tools and metal working gear. doesn't have to be a massive pole barn to demand a good amount of electricity.

if this was a storage shed that needed a single circuit for lights and single, low demand outlet, I'd probably run a 10/3 UF line and call it good. once you are talking about more demands, I'd go bigger and be done with it.

 

[jjscott]

80 ft
1.5 in PVC conduit to allow for future use
#6 wire for now, 60A breaker. Simple 60A subpanel, 2 circuits.

You can upsize later if you need. HOWEVER, that is a small room, IMO you will never need to upsize.

As far as cost, I have no idea. Under 500 in parts, weekend project if someone else did the digging.

This is in line with what I was thinking. Does anybody know how much an electrician would charge to do this. Ballpark. I live in northeast Ohio if that matters.

 

[mike93lx]

This is in line with what I was thinking. Does anybody know how much an electrician would charge to do this. Ballpark. I live in northeast Ohio if that matters.

you'll need two ground rods as well. depending on soil conditions, that could be a non issue or a big production.

trenching is probably a few hundred, again depending on soil conditions, and I'd guess an electrician would sub it out to an irrigation company.

couple hundred for conduit, fittings, and installation.

couple hundred for wire (way more if you want copper for some reason)

couple hundred for box, breakers, misc other.

Permit fee, if applicable. budget a little to have anything existing code issues fixed so they aren't a problem at inspection.

few hundred for labor to run the wire, mount the box.

Best WAG is $1-2k.

I just had my meter socket and riser replaced, two ground rods installed, and they ran a ground across the house to the water piping. it was part of a bigger project, but I believe it was $1600.

 

[ard]

This is in line with what I was thinking. Does anybody know how much an electrician would charge to do this. Ballpark. I live in northeast Ohio if that matters.

Post after mine said "add 500% for labor"..id agree

2500-3000 would not be at all surprising for a 'pro'

 

[jjscott]

Thanks, guys. I'm planning to have a permit pulled for this work, but I'm a bit concerned. I've done other electrical work such as running a dedicated circuit for my garage heater. I also installed a dedicated 20 amp circuit in the garage. I also paid an electrician on the side to wire in my air compressor and I didn't pull a permit for any of them. Will this be an issue when they come out to inspect the barn wiring?

I'm guessing it won't unless he see's a problem with the previous work.

Let me know your thoughts

 

[ard]

I wouldn't be overly concerned with just 'old unpermitted work'. They don't have a perfect record of each home, each job, what was or was not done. Nor will they pull all old records to do a forensic analysis of what it should look like today.

However, if there is something egregious (aka dangerous), they may say something. Which is a plus, IMO.

 

[Aceman]

You would be around $1500-2250 depending on the type of fixtures and amount of receps, etc.

Ditch digging not included.

 

[HellaFab]

there is no way your going to need 100amps.

if you have any workable space in the garage (aka a human can fit inside) you wont fit enough tools/equipment to pull that. the difference in price for wire to go from 60a to 100a is more than they are letting on here. a few hundred dollars more is percentage wise very large, especially when you don't need it.
something like daily driving a 5 ton truck when you only need to haul a 16' aluminum boat around.

 

[sberry]

Dig the Dutch 24 inches, run a 12/3 uf cable, come back here for instructions aftrr that on how to wire it. Wire comes in 100 and 250ft.

 

[mike93lx]

there is no way your going to need 100amps.

if you have any workable space in the garage (aka a human can fit inside) you wont fit enough tools/equipment to pull that. the difference in price for wire to go from 60a to 100a is more than they are letting on here. a few hundred dollars more is percentage wise very large, especially when you don't need it.
something like daily driving a 5 ton truck when you only need to haul a 16' aluminum boat around.

What's cheaper than mhf? If you are going to say we are wrong, at least give something to support.

Also, i specifically didn't say 100a as that is a big step. 2-2-2-4 is good for 90a

 

[b-boy]

I had water (48"), gas (24"), 2" electric conduit (18"),a nd 1" communication conduit run ~230ft. Total cost was 4K excluding the wire cost.

 

[sberry]

Could put in a multi wire 20A for 150$ in materials and the cost for a trench. A rental might be on order for hard ground.

 

[jjscott]

Dig the Dutch 24 inches, run a 12/3 uf cable, come back here for instructions aftrr that on how to wire it. Wire comes in 100 and 250ft.

I have no plans to do the work myself. I am just looking for an estimate for what you guys think the work would cost while I wait for an electrician to actually return my call. I hate waiting on these guys.

I'm not looking for a 100 amp circuit in my 14x20 barn. I'm gonna have a couple lights inside, possible one outside and a separate circuit to run some power tools. Nothing bigger than a table saw. I would want the circuit for the tools to be 20 amps. I would want the wire run in conduit and probably two separate runs in the event I want to do anything with a computer.

 

[Aceman]

I have no plans to do the work myself. I am just looking for an estimate for what you guys think the work would cost while I wait for an electrician to actually return my call. I hate waiting on these guys.

I'm not looking for a 100 amp circuit in my 14x20 barn. I'm gonna have a couple lights inside, possible one outside and a separate circuit to run some power tools. Nothing bigger than a table saw. I would want the circuit for the tools to be 20 amps. I would want the wire run in conduit and probably two separate runs in the event I want to do anything with a computer.

The code only allows one feeder or branch circuit to feed a building. You are allowed to use a 3 conductor cable or wiring method that shares a neutral and allows for 2 circuits. But, you are required to have a disconnecting means in place.

The simplest and best way to go about is to run a single 20+ amp feeder out there into a main breaker subpanel and then separate your different circuits out in the shed from the panel.

 

[jjscott]

The code only allows one feeder or branch circuit to feed a building. You are allowed to use a 3 conductor cable or wiring method that shares a neutral and allows for 2 circuits. But, you are required to have a disconnecting means in place.

The simplest and best way to go about is to run a single 20+ amp feeder out there into a main breaker subpanel and then separate your different circuits out in the shed from the panel.

Let me clarify my previous statement regarding two separate runs. I was referring to two separate conduit runs. One would be to source power the barn and the other would be used for anything other than power such as an ethernet cable for a computer or something along those lines. I wasn't talking about two separate power circuits in two separate conduit runs.

 

[ard]

I'm gonna have a couple lights inside, possible one outside and a separate circuit to run some power tools. Nothing bigger than a table saw. I would want the circuit for the tools to be 20 amps. I would want the wire run in conduit and probably two separate runs in the event I want to do anything with a computer.

Let me clarify my previous statement regarding two separate runs. I was referring to two separate conduit runs. One would be to source power the barn and the other would be used for anything other than power such as an ethernet cable for a computer or something along those lines. I wasn't talking about two separate power circuits in two separate conduit runs.

It sounded like you wanted two 20A circuits in the one conduit. This is not permitted. Doesnt matter one or two conduits.

 

[finn]

When I had power run to my current garage, the cost to upgrade from 60 amp, which is what the electrician recommended, to 100 amps, which I wanted , was in the area of a 30-40% up charge for a 250’ run.

I paid for the 100 amp service, but, in retrospect, he was probably correct, even with welders and a 5 hp compressor.

New tig welders with inverter technology use far less current than the old style transformer models.

 

[mike93lx]

When I had power run to my current garage, the cost to upgrade from 60 amp, which is what the electrician recommended, to 100 amps, which I wanted , was in the area of a 30-40% up charge for a 250’ run.

I paid for the 100 amp service, but, in retrospect, he was probably correct, even with welders and a 5 hp compressor.

New tig welders with inverter technology use far less current than the old style transformer models.

There is a big cost difference between 90a and 100a, assuming it is done correctly.

 

[Aceman]

There is a big cost difference between 90a and 100a, assuming it is done correctly.

I do electrical estimating for a living so I can tell you it's less than a $75 upcharge on a 250' run.

Do you consider that a big cost difference at 250 feet?

The only thing that changes going from 90 to 100 amps is the feeder breaker in the house panel and the two "hot" wires. Conduit stays the same, ground and neutral sizes stay the same, 100 amp main breaker panel at the garage/shop is still the same.

If we went from 60 to 100 amp, the upcharge is less than $200. Conduit is a little bigger, wires are all upsized, garage panel stays the same.

At 250 feet, that isn't much of adder to me either.

 

[sberry]

Guy wants an outlet and a couple of lights. Since he wants a vac along with a saw a 20A x2 circuit would be suffecient, the lights could be on the vac circuit.

 

[jjscott]

It sounded like you wanted two 20A circuits in the one conduit. This is not permitted. Doesnt matter one or two conduits.

Nope. Didn't mean it like that. The "separate circuit" quote was more about having a sub panel with two breakers in the barn that I would run two "separate circuits" from. One for the lights and one for the tools. I would have one circuit run in conduit from the main panel in the house to the sub panel in the barn. Make sense?

 

[jjscott]

Guy wants an outlet and a couple of lights. Since he wants a vac along with a saw a 20A x2 circuit would be sufficient, the lights could be on the vac circuit.

Yep. That pretty much sums it up. I don't have a need for 100 amp service out there. The electrician is coming out on Monday for an estimate. Will post when I have it.

 

[ard]

Nope. Didn't mean it like that. The "separate circuit" quote was more about having a sub panel with two breakers in the barn that I would run two "separate circuits" from. One for the lights and one for the tools. I would have one circuit run in conduit from the main panel in the house to the sub panel in the barn. Make sense?

Yup.

Exactly what everyone was suggesting.

Let us know when you get a number.

 

[Matt Matt]

Lighting=>15amp circuit on one pole
6 ish outlets on 1 pole
6 ish outlets on 2nd pole
Out door lighting on 2nd pole

Vacuum is on one
Table saw on the other
Lighting shared

situation is how big is your tablesaw motor??? Mine is 5 hp.

I would say run a 1 1/4 conduit with a feeder rated for 30 to 50 A.

You can rent the digger for under $40 for four hours. Then... This would be a Saturday job for an electrician off the clock $1000. Materials in.

Last job I did, I trenched for electrical and NG. It took almost 3 hours for 60 feet times two. I was just under the four hour return window

 

[7635tools]

Lighting=>15amp circuit on one pole
6 ish outlets on 1 pole
6 ish outlets on 2nd pole
Out door lighting on 2nd pole

Vacuum is on one
Table saw on the other
Lighting shared

situation is how big is your tablesaw motor??? Mine is 5 hp.

I would say run a 1 1/4 conduit with a feeder rated for 30 to 50 A.

You can rent the digger for under $40 for four hours. Then... This would be a Saturday job for an electrician off the clock $1000. Materials in.

Last job I did, I trenched for electrical and NG. It took almost 3 hours for 60 feet times two. I was just under the four hour return window

Be careful with getting electricians on the side that are not licensed and insured. In case something happens, who picks up the liability?


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