I'm assuming stranded would be best for running through conduit? I had planned on assembling the conduit as I went along. Pull the wires then run the conduit over them until I get it all glued up. If I were to go with stranded THHN, I've seen something saying 12GA wire is standard for outlets, so I could use my 12/2 for the outlets and my 14/2 for the lighting and out all that on 20A and 15A breakers respectively.
My personal opinion as a hack that has done a bit of wiring and seen a ton done, stranded in conduit.
dont do that. not only does code require the conduit run to be fully assembled first but the wet glue can damage the insulation on the wire. remember PVC glue is a solvent and can melt the insulation on the wire which is also PVC.
I was referencing something I had seen on a YouTube channel by the "Excellent Laborer" saying he installs 20A breakers for outlets in houses, and uses 15A for lighting. Will 15A be adequate for a garage or barn lighting set up? I was thinking of doing several 15A circuits for lighting so none are over-taxed. Especially since I have such large sub-panels I will be able to run plenty of circuits.
Good point, I will assemble everything and budget for the THHN stranded if that's ultimately the route I end up going. My less than ideal other option is to run them through the wall. How many lines of Romex can I put through the same hole in studs?
I second this comment.
This was what I had been finding for aluminum cabling. Would I need to go for a cable gauge rated for 120A or higher to achieve my 80% load rating? What size ground? This site recommended 4 gauge copper ground with 2 gauge wire. I'll be operating in the 75°C bracket given all the breakers I've purchased are in that temp range.
I plan on installing a 100A breaker in the sub-panel at the top where a "MAIN" usually would reside (as a disconnect). I'll have the 90A breaker in the main panel supplying the power. I found a 90A breaker by accident and snapped it up. I'm going to replicate this project in my barn when I get the chance. My base project is just restoring power to the barn for my lighting, so it shouldn't be so complicated (to me). I have a small sub-panel in my barn running the lighting that is powered by a long wire from my house. I am going to get it disconnected and I will connect the current sub-panel in the barn to a 30A or so breaker in the soon-to-be installed new sub-panel. I'd probably disconnect everything but all the wiring is run throughout the barn through the rafters/floor joists in the ceiling and it would be a lot of work to pull everything out and then rewire it. Might make it look nicer though...
It may be URD however it does have an RHH/RHW rating
SER doesn't require conduit unless it is subject to damage.
Yes, I was..."shocked"
my plan is to redo all of that and feed that sub-panel from the new one I'm installing. Probably 30A and used 10/3 wire for it. That will be all my lighting for the barn...LEDs upstairs and down.I'm planning on a 90A sub-panel so I can have plenty of juice for the equipment I plan to run or expand into one day. The reason I'd use conduit is for running it along a rafter from outside (buring it for part of the run underground to go from outdoor main to the rafter of my barn) so it isn't tasty looking for any mice. They seem to love "spicy spaghetti".
SER can't be underground. You will need xhhw, mhf or URD for that. URD can't be indoors, so I would stay away from that.Yes, I was..."shocked"
I'm planning on a 90A sub-panel so I can have plenty of juice for the equipment I plan to run or expand into one day. The reason I'd use conduit is for running it along a rafter from outside (buring it for part of the run underground to go from outdoor main to the rafter of my barn) so it isn't tasty looking for any mice. They seem to love "spicy spaghetti".
Sounds like a lot of variables, complexity and headache for anyone doing that.
So what I'm seeing is the best option might be the "MHF" aka "Mobile Home Feeder"? It is roughly $3/foot, is allowed to be buried, can be run through conduit, and is approved for indoor/outdoor use? I'm sorry for the departure from my initial garage (all interior project) posting, but I'm mirroring the garage project to my barn with the variable being the main power source for the barn being an outdoor main breaker of 200A.
How does one go from a buried wire to conduit above ground? Do I just stick the conduit into the ground and feed the wire through it and then bury the cable and conduit end?
Yup. Run the conduit until the wire is deep enough (24" likely) and use a sweep to get it horizontal.
Reading this table here:
Good plan, a schematic would be very helpful so I know how to re-run if that's the route I wind up going. I have to do that for my garage too since the lighting and outlets are fed off a circuit in the house and only one light is running off of the sub-panel in the garage. The people who did the wiring years ago painted the wires when they sprayed the rafters/joists. Is using a junction box like that (even if kinda ugly) OK? If I were to re-run the wires, could I re-use the wires that are currently there, if not for their original circuit but maybe other circuits since they're all a little short?
I'd have to look closely if the box is overfilled, but otherwise, yeah, it is fine.
Thank you very much for your help and knowledge. The quotes I received for installing a panel and connecting it to the main breaker outside was $4100 and $4200 from two different electrical companies. They quoted $3k in materials alone
They either both don't want the job or the quotes are an indication of a "fair" price. Some stuff, like gfci breakers, can be very expensive and copper is very high.Thank you very much for your help and knowledge. The quotes I received for installing a panel and connecting it to the main breaker outside was $4100 and $4200 from two different electrical companies. They quoted $3k in materials alone
This will be a fun project to do because I have a lot of areas in my barn that are not lit and don't have power sources. What this means is that I'll be able to run conduit and THHN for some outlets and Romex for lighting (walls are concrete at outlet height). I can continue to convert my barn into a workshop as it is little more than glorified storage a this point because it is devoid of electrical circuits throughout.
I understand now what you are saying. I will use the lower rated breaker (90A) in the main panel feeding the sub-panel (where I will have the "main" be 100A since the breaker in the main panel will be the one that trips). The panel I bought it a 125A panel by Square D with 24 spaces, and I bought exactly the same stuff for my garage. 90A I managed to locate at a hardware store that stocks nearly everything, whereas Home Depot and Lowe's do not carry the more "odd" amp breakers like that. Do these panels come with a main breaker included? I saw on the package it only came with two 30A two-pole breakers and three 15A single-pole breakers. It did not mention a main breaker included, but maybe its already installed? I haven't opened the packages yet to look and see.
I'm bummed to hear they're the worst; but its what I have and what I have to work with now. I'll post pics of my wiring plan for comment in a little bit.
Great. A main breaker panel will always come with the main. Other breakers may or may not be included in the kit.
Here is the one I purchased. It was $89 when I bought it, so I think I will go back and get a price adjustment as its $20 cheaper than was before and I bought two of them. Looks like it was also 20A breakers and not 15A that came with it.
