I'm in the early stages of planing out a 30x50. I've already talked to a couple different electricians and have gotten different answers. I'm runnning 450' from the meter on the pole to my shop. My load will be 70 amps. Figured I'd run 4/0 and 100 amp panel would work but I think it might be wise to go ahead and install a 200 amp. My question I've gotten mixed answers on is. Should I run triplex or quadruplex. Some are saying the triplex is fine just drive ground rods at the shop. Others say just run the quad.
Feed to shop
- Thread starter aswob_5
- Start date
pattenp
Well-known member
If there is a disconnect at meter then quad. If straight off meter then tri. Ground rods are needed either way at shop.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
whoever is telling you to run 3-wire with a disconnect at the meter is wrong. and when they say to just drive ground rods (to make up for the missing EGC) theyre even more wrong and dont have a clue what theyre talking about.
a grounding electrode does not replace the need for an EGC. they are 2 different animals and do not provide the same functions.
code actually requires grounding electrodes at all detached structures so the people telling you to just run quad [without also driving rods] are also wrong.
please see this post on the electrical FAQs thread and i suggest finding a new electrician that actually knows what theyre doing.
Electrical FAQs
Welcome All I have started this sticky as an FAQ thread for info on the basics that are encountered countless times every week on here. Hopefully this will help some. If u have a topic request, go ahead and post it. And if you have an FAQ you would like covered let me know.... Or if you...
www.garagejournal.com
There's a disconnect at the meter. I'll be supplying the wire. This looks almost too good to be true compared to other prices I've found. Is there something I'm missing with this or is this good to go?
AC-WC
Well-known member
Much easier to find 100 amp panel and <$ then 75 and it does give you some wiggle room for future.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Ladder26
Member
I recently pulled ran electricity to my barn, which is 400 feet from the rear of my house.
Nassau National Cable is 100% legit and has great prices. Tip. I went directly to their web page and put items in my cart and didn't purchase them right away. And they emailed me a coupon for 5% off at the time. I not only ordered 400 foot of 4/0 4/0 4/0 2/0 for a supply line, I also ordered spools of #12 and #14 in all the necessary colors to run my circuits inside of the barn. Lastly, I rant my 4/0 to a junction box on the exterior of the barn and ran 3/0 THHN copper inside of the barn to the panel
Small tip! (Pros can correct me if I'm wrong) even though at lengths of 400-500 feet, voltage drops calculators say you can't pull 200 amps, I still used a 200 amp panel, mainly so the lugs on the main would accept the 3/0 copper cables. The boxes I looked at in the 100 amp range, had smaller lugs on the mains and I wasnt sure I'd he able to wrestle 3/0 copper into them.
Also, the 200 amp panel has more than enough room for future growth. As long as you understand the limitations of your wire and how many amps you can *realistically* pull... the 200 amp breaker will still be appropriate protection for a 4/0 sized cable.
Again, any professionals... feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Nassau National Cable is 100% legit and has great prices. Tip. I went directly to their web page and put items in my cart and didn't purchase them right away. And they emailed me a coupon for 5% off at the time. I not only ordered 400 foot of 4/0 4/0 4/0 2/0 for a supply line, I also ordered spools of #12 and #14 in all the necessary colors to run my circuits inside of the barn. Lastly, I rant my 4/0 to a junction box on the exterior of the barn and ran 3/0 THHN copper inside of the barn to the panel
Small tip! (Pros can correct me if I'm wrong) even though at lengths of 400-500 feet, voltage drops calculators say you can't pull 200 amps, I still used a 200 amp panel, mainly so the lugs on the main would accept the 3/0 copper cables. The boxes I looked at in the 100 amp range, had smaller lugs on the mains and I wasnt sure I'd he able to wrestle 3/0 copper into them.
Also, the 200 amp panel has more than enough room for future growth. As long as you understand the limitations of your wire and how many amps you can *realistically* pull... the 200 amp breaker will still be appropriate protection for a 4/0 sized cable.
Again, any professionals... feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The size of the panel in the shop doesn't matter from a voltage drop perspective, it's the size of the breaker feeding it in the house and the actual loads that do.
You could run #10 to a shed and put in the same 200a main breaker panel, you just can't use more than a 30a breaker in the house, that way the load can't exceed the rating of the wire.
I was planning something similar with a 350' run. At the time of my post I was trying to get some input on whether running a separate service was a better choice than feeding from the house to shed for a 100 amp service. Nearly all replies suggested feeding from the house. I checked into it and it actually was cheaper to run a separate service than do it all myself. 2nd meter is $5 a month. The electric company suggested a 2nd transformer closer to the shed which cost $1000 but they gave me a $2000 construction allowance. 100' of service from the transformer to shed is "free" - and the do all the work in my very stoney soil. I couldn't buy the wire for less than what it cost to install from the electric company and they are responsible for all the wiring to the shed and can be upgraded to a higher amp service if needed.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'd say those costs are atypical, but glad it worked well for you. I likely would have done the same