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Last minute electrical rough in help

gaums

New member
Joined
May 11, 2021
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3
Location
Arkansas
Hello everyone, I've lurked around these forums for years (and super intensely that last few months) but never posted. Here is the situation I've got myself into and I'm hoping to get bailed out.

I've purchased a 40'x40'x12' steel tube building with a 12' lean-to down one side. All the contractors I found in my area (central Arkansas) that I trusted to do my dirt and concrete work were super backed up, however, the one I hired had an opening in his schedule and is showing up tomorrow to frame and and expects to pour on Wednesday. My shop with be light duty and used primarily for wood working, gym, storage, etc. so I need power but nothing out of the ordinary. Unfortunately for me I haven't hired an electrician to help me put together a solid plan yet. Sure, I could delay but it would mean getting pushed back months in his schedule and I want to get going!

Upfront, I am not asking about how to run a single conductor but I would like to rough some stuff into my slab that an actual electrician can use later. Like I said, I haven't consulted with a pro yet so I'm not even sure if I'll be getting a new service at the building or maybe placing a pedestal out near the pole where I move my existing meter that then runs the house and shop on the same service. I'd like to avoid penetrating the wall for aesthetic reasons which is why I'm leaving toward the pedestal about about 50 yards away.

So...what, at a minimum, should I place now, prior to the pour? My youtube/google opinion is one 2" and two 1" sweeps located directly under where my panel will go in order to run the service cables, a ground wire to outside of building, and low voltage stuff if I ever wanted to (though I don't think I will). There are no permits required and only regulatory concern would be my electric coop rules. The require risers and elbows to be RMC or SCH 80 PVC with a 36" radius buried 36" below finished grade. Would having those 3 conduits in my pad allow my future electrician to wire me up without putting holes in my metal? Any opinion on the RMC vs the SCH 80? My interior walls won't be finished (probably) so maybe the RMC to protect better from physical damage? Anything else I've missed?

Thanks for the help!
 
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mike93lx

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Dec 9, 2013
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Richmond, VA
You can put a big cable through 2",so that really should be plenty. Same with 1" for a ground and low voltage. Those three should set you up quite well.

I'd do pvc and if you need more protection later, deal with it then using barriers. Pvc is quite easy to work with.

Having your excavator dig the trench and running conduit now would save you a lot of effort and cost later...
 

FordTruckWench

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Jan 8, 2015
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California
My youtube/google opinion is one 2" and two 1" sweeps located directly under where my panel will go in order to run the service cables, a ground wire to outside of building, and low voltage stuff if I ever wanted to (though I don't think I will).

Instead of, or better yet in addition to, the sweep for a ground wire, include a UFER ground hooked to the slab rebar. In simple terms, you connect the electrical ground to the rebar in the concrete instead of connecting it to a ground rod. I think having a piece of rebar stick up above the surface will suffice.
 

mike93lx

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Ufer is a great point. I would still put the extra conduit it now. Worst case, you spent 5 bucks that you don't end up needing
 

Sinatra

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Apr 22, 2013
Messages
117
Since you're a woodworker and most likely have a table saw, I would consider running a pipe under the slab to a location on the floor where you may locate the saw. That way you don't have the saw power cord running across the floor. You could also consider using the same floor box for a tube to a dust collector. I would also run a 3/4" conduit from the panel to the opposite corner of the building for future use.
 
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gaums

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May 11, 2021
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Arkansas
Thanks for all the suggestions!

I've read a lot about UFER but I'll have a vapor barrier under the entire slab (thickened edge but not real footers so barrier is still under it I think) so I think that prevents me from doing UFER.
 
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rkevins

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Aug 6, 2011
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952
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Central Arkansas
I would agree with stubbing up where a table saw or other big equipment would be, also anything that running a cord would be a trip hazard. a couple from one side to another will also keep some extra conduit out of the way. Be careful with all the storms popping up around us tonight.
 

acer66

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Dec 4, 2010
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Location
Western North Carolina
I’ll second a stub out or more a recessed box for a table saw etc..
The way I deal with it in my shop is I laid an anti fatigue matt over the cable.
 

rburke65

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Nov 10, 2007
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Location
Canfield, Ohio
When I built my shop…32’x56’…..I ran a 3/4” PVC conduits to the 4 corners from the panel and 3/4” conduits to between the 2 garage doors and the man door. It sure saved me from drilling 500 holes.
 

KenC

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Dec 20, 2009
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Location
oklahoma
I'm late but your power provider sounds like mine. 3" conduit is mandatory. They won't pull in anything smaller. 3 4/0 aluminum conductors are stiff and hard to pull. If a builder puts in 2", they don't get power. Period.
 
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gaums

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May 11, 2021
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Arkansas
All done with the rough-in. I ended up not being able to take off work so I started about 1700 and finished up around 0200 so we could pour today. Only to end up getting rained out. Oh well. We'll try again Monday. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
 
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