Help for temporary wiring outdoors 400+ feet

Bgm94

I am constructing a shed in the backyard of my brothers house, and the closest outlet is about 400 feet away. I do not want to risk running multiple lengths of extension cord for i am needing to power at least 2 drills at once or 1 circular saw alone. I also do not want to have to cut the lumber near the house and drag it on-site. I was looking into running this type of wire from the house to the site:
http://tinyurl.com/2ee92dc

Would this be a safe and satisfying option?

Also, in the future, if i ran it underground through those grayish pipes, could i use it as a permanent outlet socket?

Thanks,
Bill

Speedy Petey

Generator.

Speedy Petey

And no. That wire is wrong on several levels.

Yoyizit

You'd at least need a boost transformer at one end of the wire, because you'll lose 20 vac @ 15A.

How 'bout a deep cycle battery and invertor? It can also used for emer. power elsewhere. A 150 A-h battery will give you an hour or so of runtime for your saw.

The Deez

the best thing to do for a perm safe installation would be to install a small 30 amp sub panel in the shed with a 15 amp light circuit and a 15 amp circuit for a couple outlets. it's a little pricey because you need to upsize your conductors to compensate for the voltage drop. you would need to run a minimum of #2 size copper conductors for the 400ft length which will give you roughly 2% voltage drop which is more then acceptable. but like I said, the wire will cost a pretty penny. Thats 1200ft of #2 copper with 400ft of #8 copper for the ground. but it's safe and legal way to do this.

As for a short term thing for construction you will need a generator without a doubt, even with 400ft of #10 heavy duty extension cord your looking at 12% or 14 volts of loss at 15 amps, it might work, but the current draw for the compensated voltage drop will most likely pop the breaker. good luck!

Bgm94

Could someone point me in the right direction for a generator thats affordable, but can run the tools i mentioned above? Like what wattage rating would i be looking for?
Thanks
Bill

frenchelectrican

For the 400 feet distance you will need 10mm² { #8 THHN.THWN in the conduit } and a small subpanel you will need 30 amp duex pole breaker at the house location { main breaker } and at subpanel get 12 or 16 space load centre with main breaker { that will become service disconnect }

You will need 4 of them { Black , Red , White et Green }

The wire you put up in the link that is wrong one to use and the NM is not allowed to use in underground conduit run at all second thing is distance the 4.0mm² twinner { 12-2 W/G } is not big enough for circule saw but it may be ok for couple lamps but nothing more.

And yeah you will need RCD { GFCI } anyway for all circuits.

Oh Ouais{ yeah } if you going to use the generator you will need at least 2500 watt minuim size otherwise you may not able get the circuar saw to start up The last one I have see in European side they have 2.5 KW for about 400 Euros that is a cheap model without any fancy items on it.

Merci.
Marc

The Deez

#8 at 400ft will result in 15% voltage loss over this distance about 20volts. your drills and such will not like running at less then 100volts and the 30 amp breaker at the main service will trip. The lower the voltage the higher the amperage is to compensate for that load.

jbfan

Battery powered drill and saws, and recharge them with a 400 watt inverter and deep cycle battery.

__________________
Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

Bgm94

ima be working for 6 hours straight, unless i buy 4 extra batteries and chargers, i dont think that will work

Yoyizit

Dunno' fer' sure but the saw and drills might only be running less than 50% of the time, one minute each for each cut or hole.

Speedy Petey

Look in the direction of the nearest home center or power equipment supplier.

Anything from 2500 watts on up will do fine.

Bgm94

Thank you speedy!

frenchelectrican

But just becarefull when you slect some of the cheap generators may affect the battery charger performace..

Now for the conductor size and distance somehow I make a small goof I used the European wire and tempture chart instead of Americian side for underground run and you really need 16mm² { #6 THHN/THWN } if direct burail you will need at least 25mm² due the tempture rating is diffrent otherwise a 100 amp mobile home underground feeder cable will work just fine with this useage but do not go over 40 amp breaker on this one otherwise you will face with voltage drop again.

Merci.
Marc