Re: OT: Barn Electric

Posted by John T on November 17, 2006 at 08:40:34 from (66.244.90.5):

In Reply to: OT: Barn Electric posted by Kent in KC on November 17, 2006 at 07:50:11:

Kent, First of all, if I was gonna run any sort of an electrical service to a remote Pole Building THERES NO WAY I WOULD ONLY PROVIDE A 120 VOLT SERVICE.............ESPECIALLY if you already have sufficient conductors........

Consider upgrades using 240 volt motors for like a small compressor or a 240 volt welder so they only draw ONE HALF as much current and theres less voltage drop in that long wire run......

THAT BEING SAID, but depending on the current draw, and based upon a 400 foot wire run, that No. 2 aluminum you chose is smaller then I would have recommended so as to lessen voltage drop across the 400 feet of cable. Thats NOT to say it wont work, its just to say at high current draw the lines voltage drop could become a problematic issue on bigger motor loads.

REGARDLESS OF ANY VOLTAGE DROP CONCERNS, if you run both phases out there (A & B) for 240 volts but balance individual 120 volt loads the best you can (some loads on Phase A the others on Phase B) you will reduce the Neutral return current WHICH IS A DEFINITE POSITIVE. If theres the same pure resistive load (at same phase angle etc) on both phases of 120 volts, there wouldnt be any Neutral current YAYYYYYYYYYY

YES that wire will handle 240 volts, it would have one leg like Phase A red on one conductor and the other Phase B black on the other with the common bare/white conductor serving as the Neutral return current path. SUBJECT TO DISCLAIMER BELOW CONCERNING 3 VERSUS 4 CONDUCTORS

Soooooooooo Id definitely run 240 volts out there........Id use 240 volt motors or welders wherever possible,,,,,,,,Voltage Drop could (depends on load amps) be a problem.

You can go to Dave Holts or other electrical websites to plug in the wire size and length in feet and the amperage to determine voltage drop if necessary, but if you already have that wire buried you can, of course, go ahead and use it for a 120/240 volt service (depending n subject to load amps and voltage drop) just rememebr 240 volt loads will only draw half the current and reduce voltage drop...........

DISCLAIMER Im too rusty on the NEC (long retired) n too lazy to look up the rules regarding services to remote agricultural buildings regarding any necessity for four versus only three conductors from your main service panel to that remote location (if you run 240 volts) PLUS around here with pole buildings having concrete floors we have to use GFI receptacles!!!!!!! BE ADVISED N FOREWARNED

John T (LOng retired electrical engineer)

Replies:

• Re: OT: Barn Electric Paul in On 09:03:48 11/17/06 (1)
  • Re: OT: Barn Electric John T 09:19:17 11/17/06 (0)

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