[Ohno59]

Finally decided to bite the bullet and run a feed to the shed. Its approx 125-150ft away.

-Separate Neutral/Ground in 125a Sub Panel in shed with main breaker installed (DP 30a also)

-15amp breakers for the existing 14ga runs. GFCI outlet already installed on exterior.

-2 8ft ground rods with #10 THWN- Min 6ft apart- Below ground

-3/4" PVC Conduit 18" Deep

-80ft #10 4 Conductor (H1,H2,N,G) THWN Underground

-50ft 10/3 NM Splice in J-Box going to panel at house

-30amp 2 pole breaker in Main panel

All this sound kosher?

Questions:
1. Is #10 THWN suitable for the ground rods since that is the feeder size? Should it also be in conduit, or can it just run through a small hole in the floor outside?

2. What is an easy way to drive a ground rod without power tools? I heard a hole, water, and hammer is simple? LOL.........

 

[rrolleston]

Seems like you got it. But 6 is what is used for ground rods and 4 if it's subject to damage. I always just get #4 stranded. Easy to bend and not too expensive.

You could always run another piece of conduit it's cheap enough if you want tv or phone out in the shed.

 

[Ohno59]

Seems like you got it. But 6 is what is used for ground rods and 4 if it's subject to damage. I always just get #4 stranded. Easy to bend and not too expensive.

You could always run another piece of conduit it's cheap enough if you want tv or phone out in the shed.

Awesome......and thanks......

I will probably just get the #4 stranded. I only need 15ft. I'll sleeve it from the floor into the ground since I have some chew happy animals around here.

Good idea on the phone and cable! I'll run an Ethernet cable and a piece of coax.

 

[rrolleston]

I'll sleeve it from the floor into the ground since I have some chew happy animals around here.

They must be big if they can chew that wire. Also good idea to use MC cable there. My uncle had all his wire chewed up in his garage.

 

[Ohno59]

They must be big if they can chew that wire. Also good idea to use MC cable there. My uncle had all his wire chewed up in his garage.

LOL......it's only outside. The shed is completely sealed and closed up. I have a computer, stereo, TV and carpeting in there. Wiring is still done up along the top eve though away from the ground so its protected.

 

[philS]

Ground rod is optional, no? But obviously ground and neutral should not be bonded at the subpanel.

 

[jbfan]

Ground rod is optional, no? But obviously ground and neutral should not be bonded at the subpanel.

Ground rods are not optional.

 

[philS]

Ground rods are not optional.

So what's the rule - detached structure requires ground rod? In fact all my detached structures have been pump houses and I ground to the well casing. But clearly a subpanel within the same structure as the panel doesn't require a separate ground rod, though I'm under the impression that it's ok to install one if one wanted.

 

[rrolleston]

So what's the rule - detached structure requires ground rod? In fact all my detached structures have been pump houses and I ground to the well casing. But clearly a subpanel within the same structure as the panel doesn't require a separate ground rod, though I'm under the impression that it's ok to install one if one wanted.

All sub panels in detached structures require ground rods and four wire feeds with separate neutral and ground.

 

[philS]

Thanks. That actually affects the cabin I'm in now. I've got a ground rod at the cabin already, left over from when the PV system and main panel were located there. Right now it's hooked only to the lightning rod. I'll run another line tomorrow form the ground rod to the subpanel.

What's the logic here? A backup against a fault in the ground wire? Added insurance against stray voltage effects?