Running power to an external building

[beelzerob]

Oh, clever. I have a 2" hole saw already, so I'm good there. Thanks, that's exactly what I needed.

Yes, there's a 2" 90 sweep on both ends of the run. Nice and gentle curve for pulling stuff through.

BSR, were you indicating that for running conduit in the structure itself (from the box to the lights), I'd have to use metal, or is PVC ok? I know various other similar structures I've seen around the area use PVC, which I'd imagine is cheaper and easier to work with.

 

[beelzerob]

Nuts....I just realized that running conduit in the outside building means I won't be able to use my romex there either. I've got like 250 ft of this stuff laying around, and I'm still going to have to go buy wire. Grrrrrrr.

I don't suppose it's good enough if I just strip the outer jacket off the romex, is it? (assuming a bare copper wire going through conduit would be ok...haha!)

You can have romex exposed in the open walls of the garage and basement ceiling...I assume that's because they're considered unfinished places. Maybe my outdoor structure truss area can be considered that....

 

[sleepovr]

Oh, clever. I have a 2" hole saw already, so I'm good there. Thanks, that's exactly what I needed.

A 2" hole saw will also not be big enough for a 2" connector, The hole size for 2" is actually 2.5". 2" also might be overkill for a couple of lights considering you can run anywhere between 74 and 100 conductors in it depending which ones are used.

 

[sda]

I don't suppose it's good enough if I just strip the outer jacket off the romex, is it? (assuming a bare copper wire going through conduit would be ok...haha!)

No, and no.

 

[sda]

On a related topic, in case anyone knows this....I've got a 2" conduit coming out of the ground out at the shed. What do I run that into so I can then run it out in separate 3/4" conduit to the lighting fixtures? I guess I'm looking for some kind of gang or junction box that accepts a 2" conduit coming in. I'd have the same issue inside the garage where the 2" conduit comes through the wall. I couldn't find anything at all suitable at Lowes.

Its not the right way to do it, but If you just want to "get er done", sail over to the isle of plummin and see what type of fittings you can find there.

1/2" is adequate for lights.

 

[beelzerob]

A 2" hole saw will also not be big enough for a 2" connector, The hole size for 2" is actually 2.5". 2" also might be overkill for a couple of lights considering you can run anywhere between 74 and 100 conductors in it depending which ones are used.

Figures it wouldn't be that easy...

2" is way overkill for this, but I had 3 10' sticks of it left over from our house construction, so I was happy to use it. Kinda dumb, of course, because all of the fittings I'm having to use are much more expensive than if I'd just thrown away the sticks and used 3/4 or 1" throughout....oh well.

 

[klindy]

Nuts....I just realized that running conduit in the outside building means I won't be able to use my romex there either. I've got like 250 ft of this stuff laying around, and I'm still going to have to go buy wire. Grrrrrrr.

I don't suppose it's good enough if I just strip the outer jacket off the romex, is it? (assuming a bare copper wire going through conduit would be ok...haha!)

You can have romex exposed in the open walls of the garage and basement ceiling...I assume that's because they're considered unfinished places. Maybe my outdoor structure truss area can be considered that....

Generally speaking you can use typical indoor romex wire in an exposed situation as long as it is dry, protected from sunlight and protected if it's installed in a location where it can get damaged. So, you shuold be able to run it around the ceiling joists exposed but you'll need protect it from water, sun and damage if it's exposed on the walls (where you can potentially damage it). Running it inside conduit stubbed up to the height of the ceiling should be acceptable.

Also, if you plan on storing anything on top of the ceiling joists, you can't leave romex exposed on top of the joists when there is a ceiling height of 39" or more above the joist. The idea is to prevent stepping or storing anything on the wire and pinching it (and/or damaging it). Not sure if the code has changed but I recall the 39" height limitation from somewhere.

 

[beelzerob]

well that's good to hear...it'll definitely be protected from all of that stuff. And no storage on the trusses, except maybe a board or 2...probably not even those because it'll be pretty high up, so not convenient.

Thanks for all the help! I went to Lowes today and found that junction box you talked about, so I think I'm good to go.

 

[beelzerob]

So here's a thought....

I just realized I have a lot of leftover pump wire. It's 12/2 (so 3 total conductors), stranded, and NOT in an external sheath. It's basically made to go in a pipe, since that's exactly what it does from the house to the pump.

Any reason offhand I can't use that for the house to outbuilding run through the conduit? If there's anything I hate, it's having to buy MORE stuff when I might have something onhand that works already.

 

[pete_c]

Last year worked on a project (security part) - warehouse and lay down yard. Similar concerns came up. The "needs" were to have perimeter security (low voltage) including video. The laydown yard was large and already paved (lack of communications - architect - contractor - owner) so no more trenching was done. A wireless approach was then suggested and project became cost prohibitive so security was brought down a few notches. One empty metal pipe remained from the main warehouse to a smaller warehouse in the middle of the laydown yard. This pipe was used for low voltage "stuff".