Power to shed
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3473
Printed Date: 16 May 2025 at 9:18pm
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Topic: Power to shed
Posted By: cdremy
Subject: Power to shed
Date Posted: 10 May 2013 at 1:35pm
| Would like to run some power from the garage to my shed which is about 2o feet in distance. No plans on plugging in heavy draw equipment. What size wire would you suggest I use. |
Replies:
Posted By: bhamster
Date Posted: 10 May 2013 at 1:58pm
| I vote for 10 gauge. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 10 May 2013 at 2:03pm
|
I assume you want 120 volts, not 240. Seems like 20 feet always turns into 35 feet when you account for the actual wire routing: up, over, down. Also, always use larger than required wire on long runs to minimize voltage drop. I'd run 8AWG copper wire direct from the breaker panel and use a 30 amp circuit breaker. Then you can run pretty much anything you want, including your trailer. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 10 May 2013 at 2:14pm
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I did something similar to this. I ran 10/2 and it works fine but in hind site I wish I had run 8/2 or 10/3 and 240 Volts. I am at the end of the line on the utility and I get enough voltage drop from that. When I start anything with a motor it starts but the lights dim. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Podsible Dream
Date Posted: 10 May 2013 at 5:36pm
|
I agree with both bhamster and Seanl. however a check at the local home center at the price of a 50 foot coil of 8/2 will have you purchasing the 10/2- and still choking when you check out at the cashier. I just did the same for a new parking spot for the pod. About 20 ft run, used just about 35 feet of cable. I had a length of aluminum power cable from an old above ground run to the barn that I used to support the cable. I Use 10/2 with ground UF which can be buried or strung overhead. I used cable ties to fix the two wires together and constructed strain relief using some cable clamps on the alum support. This is powered from one leg in a 30a 240V box to a 30 amp outdoor box mounted next to the trailer. Unless one is going to run the AC on the pod, there is really no reason to go to even a 30a box, as the lights, fan and converter don't draw but less than 10amps. As far as voltage drop over distance, There are many home runs in a typical house that are over 20 feet that are run with 14 ga and 12 ga wire at 120v. The voltage drop is not sufficient to cause a problem with a typical household draw. A 2 hp vacuum cleaner will dip lights on start up, but not for a sufficient time period to cause damage ------------- Chris and Walt '10 RP-171 'Free Spirit' '13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 10 May 2013 at 6:26pm
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Assuming a 35 foot run (I agree that 20 feet will turn into 35 with bends), with a 20 amp load @ 120 volts (no reason to stick with a 15 amp circuit if you are going through all the trouble), you get a 2.3% voltage drop with 12 gauge wire. Since that is below 5%, you are good. However, if you plan on running high amperage loads like tools, as someone else said, go with 10 gauge to help deal with startup surges. http://www.nooutage.com/vdrop.htm - http://www.nooutage.com/vdrop.htm ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: cdremy
Date Posted: 11 May 2013 at 7:30am
| Thanks for your replies. |