Question for those that have done this before:

I have a shed in my backyard and want to run power out to it. All I really want are 4 standard outlets and an overhead light and switch. I have no problem digging the run out to the shed from the house and wiring the inside with the switch and outlets but I am green as far as connecting the line to the fuse box in the house.

Is this something that I could read up on and do or this best left to a "pro" to come out and hook up the line to the house?

12/1/2007 11:45:17 PM

I've almost made this thread about ten times.

12/1/2007 11:50:56 PM

If you can wire up a ceiling fan, switch, or outlet you should be able to do this. Just check for voltage on anything before you touch it. Home Depot has a book on residential wiring that should be helpful. Take a breaker off and take it in to HD or lowes to get another one of the same style or tap off any other 20 amp breaker at the very least.

12/2/2007 12:15:42 AM

As far as "Code" is concerned - Where would be a good place to find this info?

My plan was to go to Home Depot tomorrow and get what I need for inside the shed, I got that covered.

But what I don't know is from a code standard for the run to the house - Do I need another small breaker box in the shed? It would seem that it wouldn't be a bad idea from the standpoint of, if I ever pop a breaker I don't have to run back up to the house. And then can I just assume the lackey at HD will know the type of line I need to use to run from the shed to the Fuse Box in the house and the tubing? Would I even need to use another type line?

12/2/2007 12:28:16 AM

the best place is the latest NEC--in lieu of that, i would recommend the latest edition of "wiring simplified"

12/2/2007 1:33:58 AM

please make sure you either use burial-rated cable or stick it in conduit...

and yes, for a run such as that, if i recall correctly, you'll need a second breaker box to be at code.

12/2/2007 8:59:03 AM

don't forget to CALL before you dig, it's best to get your utilities out there to make sure you don't cut any existing lines.

12/2/2007 9:15:41 AM

^ & ^^

Yep, was planning on conduit.

You will never believe what the previous owner did. In the old shed he buried an extension cord about 3" underground and ran it to the crawl space and had one of those adapters that screwed into the light socket. Talk about rigged!.

12/2/2007 9:43:16 AM

I do not know that much about house wiring, so maybe someone else can confirm this. Because the wire is going to be run underground where it is likely to get wet, should he use a different kind of breaker in the house than standard? Something that can detect ground fault (current flowing along the ground wire from the hot wire), which would signify that somewhere along the route the insulation was compromised and your yard is being electrified. Or do regular breakers already test for this? I didn't think so; I thought regular breakers only tested for power surges.

12/2/2007 9:53:10 AM

haha, you detect a ground fault by the breaker being off

[Edited on December 2, 2007 at 1:39 PM. Reason : that's what breakers do]

12/2/2007 1:38:43 PM

Yeah, GFI are just sensitive enough to detect a ground fault through you. A regular breaker will take care of bad wiring.

If it turns out to be pain to feed wire all the way to your box, just tap on to any line. You'd be amazed how much a 20amp breaker can handle.

Don't get any permits or call anyone. Just do it.

12/2/2007 6:05:19 PM

joking aside, if i remember right, there are different depth requirements for non-GFI branch circuits--something like 2 feet i think

12/2/2007 6:45:36 PM

^^...
I am leaning that way as far as a permit goes.

12/2/2007 6:54:58 PM

Quote :

"If it turns out to be pain to feed wire all the way to your box, just tap on to any line. You'd be amazed how much a 20amp breaker can handle."

dont do this

you really will want the option to kill power to the shed if you need it, and if there are any problems with the shed wiring, that wont fuck up any other circuits

if you are going to do it, do it right

[Edited on December 2, 2007 at 7:02 PM. Reason : and ≠ any

12/2/2007 7:01:37 PM

yeah, i wouldn't do that unless maybe it was the garage

12/2/2007 7:11:49 PM

Definitely putting in a new 20 amp breaker.

I found this nice little tutorial to help. They guy has a bunch of other do it your self stuff as well. This is one of the better DIY websites I have found - pictures a plus always.

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/elect/panel/breaker/install.htm

12/2/2007 7:23:01 PM

I've been wanting to do this for awhile now

once you've done it, plz to report on how easy (or not) it was

12/2/2007 7:54:01 PM

I'll take plenty of photos

12/2/2007 7:58:06 PM

Also - where do you guys recommend I rent a trencher from?

12/2/2007 8:40:05 PM

holland on western?

12/2/2007 8:41:43 PM

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG or else you may cut power, cable, GAS, phone, etc.

12/2/2007 10:53:48 PM

I got that on my list as well:

Isn't there a number in Raleigh you can call and they will come out and mark it for free?

12/2/2007 11:08:16 PM

511 or 611

12/3/2007 12:30:20 AM

^ Thanks it was 811 just as an FYI for others planning to do the same.

I called and figured they would tell me something like a week or two and was surprised when they said it would be done by Dec 5th at 6pm.

Gotta get my stuff together! Didn't think it would be that quick!
Now on to find a place to get the trencher.

Sorry - I am turning this into my shed lighting blog.

[Edited on December 3, 2007 at 6:01 PM. Reason : ...]

12/3/2007 5:59:15 PM

it's pretty interesting, actually, post some before and after pics of the project. I like DIY home projects

12/3/2007 6:03:38 PM

Quote :

"Thanks it was 811 just as an FYI for others planning to do the same."

lol

i figured i would have been wrong

12/3/2007 6:28:38 PM

how far are you trenching? those motherfuckers (trenchers) can be beastly. at least it's not going to be hot outside.

12/3/2007 8:36:29 PM

I would say no farther than 75 - 100 feet.

I called Home Depot and they have a brand new ditch witch for $99 for 4 hours.
I do not see how it will take any longer than 2 hours to go that far.

Very true as far as the heat goes just hope it doesn't decide to rain!

12/3/2007 9:54:07 PM

i find that any time i have a landscaping or other outdoor job to do that no matter what kind of drought we're in, it will rain 3 inches that day, all day long

so basically, i should've just planned outdoor shit every day this summer and we wouldn't be in this mess, fuck!

12/3/2007 10:18:34 PM

just got a house and it has wiring and shit run out to a work shop and even to a garden shed. has a breaker with 120 and 220 power sectcy

12/4/2007 12:39:30 AM

^^ Haha! I just know this is going to happen to me this weekend.

They didn't come to mark the yard today so they have until tomorrow night to get done.

12/4/2007 7:48:05 PM

walk behind trenchers are a pain in the ass, but for that short of a run it'll be okay. any longer and it's worth the extra for a ride on.

i can't believe anyone hasn't mentioned this yet, but how it's wired into the panel box largely depends on what brand it is. post that up, and myself or someone else can probably give you a much more detailed explanation.

if you haven't already, you also need to ensure you've got enough reserve spots and enough service on the main breaker to do it. on an older home, it could still have 100 amp service which can make add ons a pain.

even if you're using conduit, i would still recommend using buriable wire. conduit isn't immune to collecting moisture, dirt, etc. over the years.

12/4/2007 8:17:34 PM

Quote :

"i find that any time i have a landscaping or other outdoor job to do that no matter what kind of drought we're in, it will rain 3 inches that day, all day long so basically, i should've just planned outdoor shit every day this summer and we wouldn't be in this mess, fuck!"

Yes, you are the reason why we are in a drought...

12/4/2007 8:21:35 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XgYkdPyIkyg


get off the shed.

12/4/2007 9:23:55 PM

^ Very funny.

Ok so nobody ever came over today to spray the backyard.
Looks like I will need to call tomorrow and see whats up.

12/5/2007 10:43:26 PM

Quote :

"i can't believe anyone hasn't mentioned this yet, but how it's wired into the panel box largely depends on what brand it is. post that up, and myself or someone else can probably give you a much more detailed explanation."

I'm not quite sure what you're getting at here so I posted some pictures of my panel. As for your second point about the 100 amp service - the house was built in the early 90's and I would assume its not 100 amp.




I also put up some pictures of the shed so you guys can see what I started with and where I am at now. You know - since I turned this into my shed blog thread and all.

12/6/2007 9:14:41 PM

nice job on the shed

how long did it take to do that?
you come up with the blueprints, or get them from elsewhere?

12/6/2007 11:46:52 PM

I doubt there were any blueprints.

[Edited on December 7, 2007 at 9:04 AM. Reason : .]

12/7/2007 9:03:19 AM

Actually, I bought the plans for this shed and just changed what I wanted.

10 x 14

http://www.summerwood.com/products/sheds/glen-echo/1089.html

12/7/2007 9:32:05 AM

it's a square D. one of the more common brands. for 120v, your hot wire (either red or black) will screw to the breaker, and it simply clicks/pulls in and out of the main powered rail. you'll see all the grounds (green) screw to a single strip, and all the neutrals/commons (white) go to another. if you're running 240v, the only difference is you'll use both power wires (both red and black) connected to the two terminals that will be on the breaker.

you don't have to pull the whole box to access things unless for some reason you can't get the wire fished back into it or need to add a new conduit. just undo the two screws (one top/one bottom) and that front piece will come off. the little tabs simply snap off real easy to make a spot for the new breaker.

[Edited on December 18, 2007 at 2:16 AM. Reason : .]

12/18/2007 2:15:39 AM

OK put this thing off long enough. Going to wire the inside today and then dig tomorrow.

Decided not to use a sub panel. Just going to meet in a junction box and then tap off from there.

12/28/2007 11:04:42 AM

Did you run a new ground wire into the ground, or did you run it back to the main panel in your house?

12/28/2007 11:13:45 AM

After spending a good while at Home Depot this afternoon I have changed my mind.

I am putting it in conduit, putting a sub-panel in the shed and installing a 3 way switch in the house for a light on the shed.

I just haven't decided on the size of the wire out to the shed - I think 8-3 will be enough. The sub-panel box I want is a 70amp box that has room for 6 breakers. Way more than I need but there was no in-between, it was either 2 or 6. I figured I could keep the bench on one breaker, lights on another, compressor on one and then an outlet mounted on the outside on another. Any thoughts?

Was thinking of stopping by habitat for humanity and seeing what they had in the way of lights.

12/28/2007 5:23:05 PM

Ended up using 6-3 for my wire. Put it in conduit as well. It is not exactly easy to do pull that stuff through either.
And of course - it decided to rain like crazy for a few days before I dug so there was more mud than I could have ever wanted. I got it all in today and have to fill in tomorrow and then connect it to the panel in the house.

I ended up renting a ditch witch from Home Depot - it had a tough time with the pine trees but didn't take all that long.

1/3/2008 10:51:24 PM

Got everything covered up yesterday and have the panel wired in the shed with one outlet so far. If I were ever to do this again I would either lay plywood or plastic strip down where the dirt is moved to so that it would make such a mess. I also had tons of dirt left over so I just extended out my bed.
Need to connect the wire to the main panel in the house today and give it a test. For those of you that said you wanted to see pictures of how I did this is there anything you want to see?

1/5/2008 8:31:21 AM

draw up a diagram of where you have run that cable and the depth that it is in case you forget

1/5/2008 3:50:32 PM