[wparker]

I am wiring my pole barn (detached, obviously), mostly for lights and basic electircal needs (no significant loads). I already ran conduit from the main box in the house to a 100 amp panel in the garage, a distance of 110 feet total. I had a 500 Foot spool of THHN/THWN #6 and ran 4 strands through the conduit. I intend to have two "hots" (Black/Red), one neutral (white), and one ground (green). I intend to put in a 40 amp in the house and back feed a 40 amp in the barn. There will be one circuit for lighting and two for outlets. In the barn panel, would it be proper to: Backfeed the circuit breaker with the red and black; Attach the white to the neutral bar(which will not be bonded to the ground or panel); and Attach the green to the ground bar? Do I need ground rods? There are no other connections from the house to the barn.

 

[rjniles]

Curious on how you are getting red, black, white and green out of a 500 foot spool of THWN?

 

[kbsparky]

Sounds about right. You will have to install ground rods at the outbuilding, and bond them to your green conductor in the sub-panel.

As for backfeeding the 40 Amp breaker, this is permissible as long as that breaker has a retaining kit installed to prevent it from accidentally being unplugged while energized.

 

[SD515]

Curious on how you are getting red, black, white and green out of a 500 foot spool of THWN?

Good call rj. You can't re-color #6 in conduit.

 

[wparker]

Thank you for the replies. The wire is red. I taped the ends in each box the corresponding black, white and green - the entire length that was in the box. I will insert the ground rods and secure the backfed breaker. Thanks again.

 

[rjniles]

As SD515 stated, it is a code violation to remark wire #6 or smaller. Your inspection will fail and you will have to rerun. Avoid all that and get the correct color THWN

 

[SD515]

And you would only have to change the white and green. It's ok to use the red for the 2 'hot' legs, you don't have to re-color them.

 

[kbsparky]

As SD515 stated, it is a code violation to remark wire #6 or smaller. Your inspection will fail and you will have to rerun. Avoid all that and get the correct color THWN

A stupid rule that has little basis in safety. The tape doesn't care whether the wire is a #6 or #4. Some inspectors won't have a cow over #6 that has been taped on the ends, either. Your mileage may vary.

 

[SD515]

True. I would suspect manufacturers had a hand in that rule. You’re right, the tape doesn’t care what it’s attached too. I know the electrons don’t care what color the wire is. But rules are rules…I didn’t write ‘em…just have to follow ‘em. Just trying to point 'em out.