Question for electricians

[Ishi&Elvis]

I want to run an electrical line to my pole barn. It is about 300' from my house, maybe a short bit more. When we built our house, the electrician put in two stubs, one for a future garage, and one for an electric entry gate. Can I use one of those to run a wire out to the pole barn? I have access to a trencher, and do I need to bury it in conduit? How deep? I want to have an ability to turn on a light in an enclosed part of the barn and a plug in. What type of wire should I use if this is possible?
Thanks.

[Ishi&Elvis]

ttt

[easeup]

yes.....I assume you have the stub outs from the house with their own breaker. you can use direct bury cable or run in pvc conduit. put in down a couple feet too.

[Tequilazo]

Code compliant answers:

You can use any cable listed for direct burial or THHN if using conduit
For 120v 20a circuit you will need 2c#4cu w/G @ 300' to stay within a 3% voltage drop

Burial depths:

direct burial - 24" if over 20a circuit
RGC - 6"
PVC - 18"
120v 20a - 12" - the feeder breaker will need to be a GFCI - (residential circuits only) - direct burial

[FCoDxDart]

Are you just wanting a single circuit out there, or are you setting up a sub panel? If you are setting up a sub panel which makes way more sense than running a single circuit, you'll want to use THHN 3 and PVC conduit for a 100 amp circuit. That will allow you to run a welder, plug in a camper, or other larger draw things. As long as the stubs are 2" its not too bad, any smaller and pulling becomes a real challenge without lube. Just did all this for my barn back in December of 2019.

[Ishi&Elvis]

I will have to check the circuits, one was going to be for lights in the garage and the other for an electric gate. Thanks for the info on the GFCI at the tail end. I was thinking RGC. I live way out in the sticks, so not sure if there is a code out here like there would be in town. Thank you to both of you, much appreciated.

[Ishi&Elvis]

No welder or camper. Might want to plug in an air compressor for low tires, but just a light socket in the storage part that is enclosed, and a plugin for the compressor, or maybe a hand tool like a power drill, sawzall, etc.

[Tequilazo]

No welder or camper. Might want to plug in an air compressor for low tires, but just a light socket in the storage part that is enclosed, and a plugin for the compressor, or maybe a hand tool like a power drill, sawzall, etc.

If all you will be powering are LED fixture(s) and a compressor/power tool you can get by w/ a 20a ckt. If you are going to install HID fixtures anything higher amperage let us know and I'm sure myself or someone can guide you in the right direction. If you're in the sticks, you are likely not governed by any local jurisdiction - just the NEC. Good Luck.

[Big Lee]

Are you just wanting a single circuit out there, or are you setting up a sub panel? If you are setting up a sub panel which makes way more sense than running a single circuit, you'll want to use THHN 3 and PVC conduit for a 100 amp circuit. That will allow you to run a welder, plug in a camper, or other larger draw things. As long as the stubs are 2" its not too bad, any smaller and pulling becomes a real challenge without lube. Just did all this for my barn back in December of 2019.

Sound advice here. Always lube before pulling.

[Ishi&Elvis]

Thanks for the reply. Pretty simple stuff for me, nothing big, just a light so my wife can see what she is hoarding in the storage part. I sometimes have to plug in a battery charger for a tractor when I leave the key on, and compressor for low tires, but other than that, nothing big.
I will check the panel to see what they put in on the circuit for those two stubbed lines.

[Big_gun]

what size conduits did they install for these.... did they just go down and 90 Or dead end straight down? how big of a barn? if its a small shed 1 ckt would work, if your going to expande OR its a decent size barn I would go for a couple of ckts maybe run 220v for welder OR the like and to reduce wire size for voltage drop. I would bury in conduit if at all possible to keep gophers etc away...bury at least 18" to 2' when you install determine wire size / size conduit to that and install mule tape or rope etc ... but lube is also good...

[texansfan]

Code compliant answers:

For 120v 20a circuit you will need 2c#4cu w/G @ 300' to stay within a 3% voltage drop
l

What size wire did you recommend him?
What about if it was aluminum instead of copper?

[db@100]

Code compliant answers:

You can use any cable listed for direct burial or THHN if using conduit
For 120v 20a circuit you will need 2c#4cu w/G @ 300' to stay within a 3% voltage drop

Burial depths:

direct burial - 24" if over 20a circuit
RGC - 6"
PVC - 18"
120v 20a - 12" - the feeder breaker will need to be a GFCI - (residential circuits only) - direct burial

Did you allow for the compressor starting under a load? I didn't see where he said how big the compressor will be. Too big a motor trying to start under a load and the voltage may drop.

[Mike D]

Are you just wanting a single circuit out there, or are you setting up a sub panel? If you are setting up a sub panel which makes way more sense than running a single circuit, you'll want to use THHN 3 and PVC conduit for a 100 amp circuit. That will allow you to run a welder, plug in a camper, or other larger draw things. As long as the stubs are 2" its not too bad, any smaller and pulling becomes a real challenge without lube. Just did all this for my barn back in December of 2019.

You won’t be able to run a 100A circuit 300 feet and still use #3 wire. The voltage drop will be very high.

Code compliant answers:

You can use any cable listed for direct burial or THHN if using conduit
For 120v 20a circuit you will need 2c#4cu w/G @ 300' to stay within a 3% voltage drop

Burial depths:

direct burial - 24" if over 20a circuit
RGC - 6"
PVC - 18"
120v 20a - 12" - the feeder breaker will need to be a GFCI - (residential circuits only) - direct burial

Problem is no 20A breaker is going to accept a #4 conductor.


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[Mike D]

I would run at minimum a 30 amp 240 volt circuit out there. Put you a small 4-6 circuit panel and distribute from there.






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