![]() I guess I'll have to get up the courage to go ask them about it (except I'm 1500 miles from there right now). I know there are a lot of barns in the area where I'm building that are over 500 feet from the main house, and have power fed by that main. Was hoping they could have some ideas for me, since I didn't find anything similar enough to what I'm doing to be sure yet. I think one was over 800 feet, but maybe only 60 amps. Those people were running 200 to 400 feet, various amps. It was pretty obvious they were not getting permits either, not when you read stuff like "I need to have this done by tomorrow, for a party we are having" and "my buddy got ahead of himself and already installed the wire". I guess those people are gone, or not reading my question. I only posted here because I saw a lot of posts about running sub-panels to pole barns when I was searching for answers, and most of them where here. I'm sure its different in some places, just glad I've never lived there, and I've lived in OH, TX, AZ, WA, CA, big and small. Yet, I can drive around and see almost every house has had major additions, a lot of it recent work also. out of 412 houses in my 20-year old subdivision, only 7 have had ANY permits pulled ever (yes, the database goes back 20 years, pretty cool). Heck, even in the big city I'm currently trying to get out of, I just did an online permit search. I don't think the govt, at any level, is going to start that kind of war over a bunch of houses built in the middle of no where without permits. There must be 1,000 homes that were built without permits in this county, and none are the type to bend-over when asked. Around here, if they tried to pull that crap, it would be one hell of a war. What about line loss? I haven't seen any calculators for my needs, but I'm thinking 240 volts going 500 feet is going to end up with a lot of loss, maybe even 30%?ĭestroy my house because it was built without a permit? Wow, I'm glad I don't live in your area. Is voltage drop going to be a major issue? Even if I don't run anything that needs 240 volts? The main panel is 240 volts, so even if I had 50% voltage drop, my sub-panel could get 120 volts? Or does it not work that way, and I'd really end up with 2x 60 volts? What wire size and type should I use? I think the primary panel might only have lugs for 3/0 or smaller. Also all have no permits, so even if I went the permit route for the electric it would have to be a free-standing type panel (meant for an RV hook-up) that I would then have to violate anyway to get over to my house, since they don't let you use a normal house panel when the house itself isn't legal - bastards! As with most everything in my area, the house, septic, well, etc. ![]() If I go the $8,000 power company way I have to pull permits and all that junk, otherwise I will not. As far as code, I like to follow it when possible, but safety is #1 for me. I have a tractor, so digging the trench is no problem at all. I haven't purchased any wire yet, or conduit, so really I'm open to any ideas or thoughts. That is only for the transformer, then I still have the cost of the 2 panels and wiring them either way. Not sure if it is worth spending that $8,000 or not. The power company can install a transformer on the other side of the property for about $8,000, then my 2 panels would only be about 150 feet away from the transformer, if I placed it in the middle of them. ![]() It could be a few years before I need the 2nd one, for an additional house, possibly never. Currently, the first sub-panel that is 500 feet away is most important, as I will be building a house there soon. I need 1 or 2 100 amp panels on the other side of the property, the first one is 500 feet from the main panel, and the next one another 300 feet beyond that. It has a newly installed 200 amp electrical service panel on one side of the property that is currently only used for a temporary cabin. I've got several acres of forrest land in the northwest USA. Also, I do have others with much more knowledge helping me on this project, and they won't let me do anything stupid. Sorry, but the govt gets enough of my money directly from my paycheck, sometimes I don't feel like giving them even more, but mostly I don't like dealing with their B.S. In fact, a pro will probably be worried by my lack of knowledge and me stating I don't mind doing things without permits or following code 100%. I'm looking for general advise at this stage, so you don't need to be a pro to respond.
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