[Contra]

I am looking at adding power out back in my shed. I measured the run it is about 39 feet and I want to do this under ground. My external breaker box is on the rear most side of my house and I will add a breaker switch and run it from there.
I need to add a light over head, add my small roll around A/C and my computers as I intend to make this my external office.

I have already had the city and AT&T / Spectrum come out and mark where the lines are so I am ready to dig. I have read that I can bury wire direct without conduit and it will be OK?
I am looking at doing this ASAP as I need the extra room.

Can anyone suggest the correct size line and breaker switch, I was thinking 14/2 and a 20 amp breaker would do the trick, but any thoughts?
here are some pics of the markings.

Red-power line from city
orange-AT&T/Spectrum
White- Proposed power run from me

 

[chandler48]

First, 14-2 can only be protected by a 15 amp breaker, and will limit what you have in your shed. Secondly are you prepared to dig a trench 24" deep, as will be required using UF cable.

I would run conduit at 18" and use THWN wire (Black, white, and green), at least #12 protected by a 20 amp GFCI breaker.

Don't be digging too closely to those marks as they are just approximations as to where the cables are. Go at least 3' from them as you don't want to cut through the power, phone, nor whatever else is out there.

 

[cmwhitmoyer]

Might want to consider 2 circuits: 1- 20 amp dedicated for the a/c and the other 20 amp for the lights and computers.

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[Bondo]

Might want to consider 2 circuits: 1- 20 amp dedicated for the a/c and the other 20 amp for the lights and computers.

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Ayuh,.... In that case run 12-3, direct burial cable,....

 

[rjniles]

First, 14-2 can only be protected by a 15 amp breaker, and will limit what you have in your shed. Secondly are you prepared to dig a trench 24" deep, as will be required using UF cable.

I would run conduit at 18" and use THWN wire (Black, white, and green), at least #12 protected by a 20 amp GFCI breaker.

Don't be digging too closely to those marks as they are just approximations as to where the cables are. Go at least 3' from them as you don't want to cut through the power, phone, nor whatever else is out there.

A 15 or 20 amp GFCI protected circuit only requires 12" burial depth. Not that I disagree that conduit is a better option but I try not to quote my preferences as code.

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[chandler48]

I agree, RJ, but I see, now that he may actually be needing a larger circuit set up and a sub panel as well, so we'll see what transforms in the posts.

 

[roughneck]

Computers, a portable air conditioner and lights, your going to need more then a 15 amp circuit.
Why not bite the bullet and put a small sub panel in now?

 

[Contra]

I can if needed, I will probably rent a small trencher and dig it from the side of the house to the middle of the shed, that will be far away from the lines that they painted. I will have an electrician install the breakers as I am not confident I can do it without problems. I will also do PVC for the conduit or should I use flex conduit like the gray tubing seen in the pic.

I did a larger cable and I will get a 40 AMP breaker
does this look better?

 

[roughneck]

No, none of that would be correct.
The breaker would be much too big for 12 wire. Carflex isn’t for underground use.
Your also not considering individual load protection in the shed.

 

[Contra]

well I really dont know what to use, can you guys suggests some wire size, breaker size and conduit...I can do all the labor of digging the trench and wiring up the shed with romex but this other stuff is a little bit out of my league.

 

[roughneck]

Doing so will need an answer from you.
How much power do you really need out there? How many computers? How big of an air conditioner?
A small 50 amp service would possibly be adequate.
But if your going through the trouble of buying wire, trenching, and everything else it’s better to plan ahead now.

 

[Contra]

Well, I am gonna run my one computer, two LED 32" monitors probably run a florescent light that will hang from the ceiling, run my 12,000 BTU portable A/C and the Qi wireless charger for my phone and hook up my printer.

 

[jbfan]

Well, I am gonna run my one computer, two LED 32" monitors probably run a florescent light that will hang from the ceiling, run my 12,000 BTU portable A/C and the Qi wireless charger for my phone and hook up my printer.

Forget the florescent light and go with LED.

I suggest a 30 amp service, #10 wire(black, red, white, green), a small 4 circuit panel in the shed with 2 20 amp circuits.

As a contractor, the only part I would want you to do is big the trench. Everything else I would provide and install.

 

[roughneck]

Probably a 50 amp circuit would be a minimum.
A small sub panel and #6 wire.
If you do a sub panel you’ll need 3 conductor.
You’ll have to either do UF rated wire or run conduit.

 

[ron45]

Just my pinion.

Not a permanent/big shed.

I would dedicate a circuit from the box so that two extension chords could be run from an outside outlet to the shed through a buried pipe. Once inside it they could be plug into so outlets could be used.

This way it could all be moved quickly if need be and there would still be an outside outlet from the house.

 

[rjniles]

Just my pinion.

Not a permanent/big shed.

I would dedicate a circuit from the box so that two extension chords could be run from an outside outlet to the shed through a buried pipe. Once inside it they could be plug into so outlets could be used.

This way it could all be moved quickly if need be and there would still be an outside outlet from the house.

Cords are not compliant to be used in place of permanent wiring.

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[udraft]

I was thinking along the same lines as JB .
Check the local codes, you can direct bury type UF wire.

Or economy might be to use NM type wire, no sheath, in a conduit, box to box.

 

[rjniles]

I was thinking along the same lines as JB .
Check the local codes, you can direct bury type UF wire.

Or economy might be to use NM type wire, no sheath, in a conduit, box to box.

Removing these sheath from NM is not compliant and you can't use underground in conduit.

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[ron45]

Cords are not compliant to be used in place of permanent wiring.

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I think I said not a permanent shed.

It's on skids.?

I'm not saying your wrong, electric is not my game.

 

[HotRodx10]

Running 2 extension cords from the same outlet on a single line doesn't gain you anything. Check your AC, but I think it going to require wiring, outlet, and cord capable of carrying 20 amps. The other stuff will pull 5 amps or less.



Whether you run cord or permanent wiring, you want everything else on a separate line from the AC, anyway. From what I understand, compressors are the absolute worst for out-of-phase power feedback that is detrimental to sensitive electronics (and likely LED bulbs).


You can run 2 lines to a standard duplex outlet and separate the 2 plugs by breaking the break-off tabs on the side. See step 6 here at the link below.


https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-wire-split-outlets-1152331)