Wiring a pole barn.

[slowTA]

I'm about to sign a contract on Friday for a 32x50 pole barn and need some general wiring suggestions. The barn will be insulated which includes liner panel and I would rather not run conduit to all my outlets and lights.

What is a good method to hang the panel and fixtures while avoiding the peaks of the liner panel?

My instinct is to run all my wires along the outside girts, to avoid drilling through the posts and to avoid accidentally getting drilled into when I put up shelves or cabinets. Is it a bad idea to run wires outside of the insulation, would the temperature swings degrade the romex?

I'm assuming I should run my wires to the approximate location of the outlet and leave enough slack so I can put them where l want them?

Also, in my previous house the main panel had a sub panel breaker installed at the factory (it was labelled 'do not remove'). It connected to both sides of the breaker and was double high as in the picture below. I can't find the proper name for this, I want to make sure my electrician installs this kind of panel in my house since the current one is full!

 

[Norcal]

I'm about to sign a contract on Friday for a 32x50 pole barn and need some general wiring suggestions. The barn will be insulated which includes liner panel and I would rather not run conduit to all my outlets and lights.

What is a good method to hang the panel and fixtures while avoiding the peaks of the liner panel?

My instinct is to run all my wires along the outside girts, to avoid drilling through the posts and to avoid accidentally getting drilled into when I put up shelves or cabinets. Is it a bad idea to run wires outside of the insulation, would the temperature swings degrade the romex?

I'm assuming I should run my wires to the approximate location of the outlet and leave enough slack so I can put them where l want them?

Also, in my previous house the main panel had a sub panel breaker installed at the factory (it was labelled 'do not remove'). It connected to both sides of the breaker and was double high as in the picture below. I can't find the proper name for this, I want to make sure my electrician installs this kind of panel in my house since the current one is full!

What do you mean by "double high"? The escutcheon of the breaker being higher, or covering both sides of the interior?

 

[slowTA]

Double high like a regular 220v breaker and double wide since it took up the space of 4 standard breakers.

I wish I had a picture with the cover off.

 

[Dagny]

Wires have to be 1 1/2 inches from edges. Do the thinwall it will be fun.

oh yeah dont drill the poles

 

[Dagny]

I think I know what you mean is it right where the space is in the breakers?

 

[Rc_Guy]

On my last pole barn for the ceiling I ran the wire to the approximate location for the lights and outlets for openers and cord reel.

Then when I finished putting panels on ceilings I went in the Attic and drilled a hold to put a grommet in and pull wire through and mount the box, all holes were drilled next to a purlin so I could screw box to the purlin.

Then I insulated the Attic.

 

[slowTA]

Wires have to be 1 1/2 inches from edges. Do the thinwall it will be fun.

oh yeah dont drill the poles

You mean the wires have to be 1.5" from the face of the wall? Is that from both the inside and outside of the wall?

 

[slowTA]

I think I know what you mean is it right where the space is in the breakers?

The breaker takes up spots 9 to 12, but only the left side sticks through the cover. It's the only 220V breaker in the picture.

 

[slowTA]

On my last pole barn for the ceiling I ran the wire to the approximate location for the lights and outlets for openers and cord reel.

Then when I finished putting panels on ceilings I went in the Attic and drilled a hold to put a grommet in and pull wire through and mount the box, all holes were drilled next to a purlin so I could screw box to the purlin.

Then I insulated the Attic.

Makes sense for the ceiling, I'm not sure how much access I'm going to have up there or if the builder plans on blowing the insulation up there the same day the liner goes up.

I'm half tempted to have wainscoting out on the inside so I'll have a slightly easier time adding outlets and stuff if needed later.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Double high like a regular 220v breaker and double wide since it took up the space of 4 standard breakers.

I wish I had a picture with the cover off.

Usually only larger breakers(such as 200a) take up more than 2 spaces.

Why do you specifically want a 4 space breaker?

Im not understanding your request.

Whats the rating of the breaker?

 

[Norcal]

Cutler-Hammer used to make a 2 pole 100A breaker that took 4 spaces in a panel, it's now quite obsolete, a CH2100 took it's place & uses 2 spaces.

 

[slowTA]

I believe it was a 100 amp breaker and it had some pretty beefy cable running to the garage. I figured this was the right way to do it and the fact that I can't Google it is frustrating me.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I believe it was a 100 amp breaker and it had some pretty beefy cable running to the garage. I figured this was the right way to do it and the fact that I can't Google it is frustrating me.

the 4 space breaker design is not a requirement for large breakers but rather a design exclusive to certain brands.

BTW breakers must be listed and labeled for the panel youre using them in. There may not even be a 4 space breaker for the panel you go with. So, why do you want a 4 space breaker?

What brand of panel do you currently have in your house?

Its a good idea to use the same brand as the existing panel(unless its obsolete of course) that way you can swap breakers in a pinch.

The panel pictured is a CH- cutler hammer.

 

[slowTA]

Got it! The old panel was probably from the mid 90s. Thanks for setting me straight. This is my current box, it's full, and messy, so it's getting replaced.

 

[Norcal]

Got it! The old panel was probably from the mid 90s. Thanks for setting me straight. This is my current box, it's full, and messy, so it's getting replaced.

The panel pictured is a older GE, they no longer use the same type of breaker for a main.

 

[slowTA]

Thanks for the info about the boxes.

Are there any other suggestions for running wire to the outlets and lights?

 

[Bert_]

Got it! The old panel was probably from the mid 90s. Thanks for setting me straight. This is my current box, it's full, and messy, so it's getting replaced.

The panel pictured is a older GE, they no longer use the same type of breaker for a main.

Those TQD's were a far superior main than the current one that's basically 4 stab in breakers. The new main is one of the major things I don't like about GE's current loadcenters.

 

[b-boy]

On my last pole barn for the ceiling I ran the wire to the approximate location for the lights and outlets for openers and cord reel.

Then when I finished putting panels on ceilings I went in the Attic and drilled a hold to put a grommet in and pull wire through and mount the box, all holes were drilled next to a purlin so I could screw box to the purlin.

Then I insulated the Attic.

Did you use metal panels? I'm trying to figure out the best way to do that now.

I'm using UFO LEDs that hang on a hook. The hook will be mounted on the joist. I was going to get a hole saw and drill into the ceiling panel near a joist, and place an old-work box in the hole. I'm not 100% sure that will work. My metal is corrugated, so I'm not sure the box will hold properly.

I'm trying to avoid mounting the boxes, then drilling the panels before I put them up. I really **** at that. I'm always off by 1/2 inch.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Did you use metal panels? I'm trying to figure out the best way to do that now.

I'm using UFO LEDs that hang on a hook. The hook will be mounted on the joist. I was going to get a hole saw and drill into the ceiling panel near a joist, and place an old-work box in the hole. I'm not 100% sure that will work. My metal is corrugated, so I'm not sure the box will hold properly.

I'm trying to avoid mounting the boxes, then drilling the panels before I put them up. I really **** at that. I'm always off by 1/2 inch.

yes, regular pole barn metal panels, that is why I ran the wires to the light and outlet locations close to purlins and put up the pole barn steel, then went in attic and drilled a hole the same size as a knockout in a electrical box, used a 1/2" strain or whatever they are called through the steel and the box and also screwed box to purlin.


That way none of the boxes ended up on a rib of the steel.

 

[slowTA]

I signed my contract today and asked the same question. The sales rep said I should run the wires inside of the posts and to leave a foot of slack in the wires. The liner crew will adjust the boxes to be centered in the flat of the panel.

Sounds easy enough to me!

 

[Junkyard Jim]

Did you use metal panels? I'm trying to figure out the best way to

I'm trying to avoid mounting the boxes, then drilling the panels before I put them up. I really **** at that. I'm always off by 1/2 inch.

I hung as much of my panel as I could to hold it up and then drilled on the inside of the of the junction box to get started and then a dremel to find the edge. A sonic cutter is handy then too. I got them done quicker than it took me to write this description once I got all the tools on the scaffolding.