ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (Scott35), 268 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#173977 01/24/08 03:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 59
D
Member
I am doing a job for a guy at church.He has a shed 169 ft from his house.He has a few flourescent lights and a welder 21 amps.Me and a buddy have done the calculations but I wanted your opinion.Not taking the future into account,which the owner says don't worry about(:)),should I not pull 10 to save him money?Also,not downsize nuetral?

dilydalyer #173978 01/24/08 04:31 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 625
S
Member
I'm not sure if the Code will allow this, but I would want to run two lines out there, one for the welder, and one for everything else, so that you don't have the lights dimming up and down (as much) from the welder.

dilydalyer #173979 01/24/08 04:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 751
E
Member
assuming 240 volts, 3% VD would be 7.2 volts
VD = 2 x I x L x R / 1,000, using the R per 1,000 feet in Table 8, Chapter 9.
Transposing: max R = 1,000 x 7.2 volts / 2 x I x L
L = 169 feet
I = 21 amps (or 25 amps with lights?)

so max R would be 1.1 to .85 ohm which means a #8 copper conductor would be required. (.809 ohm per 1,000 feet)
Neutral could be downsized for 240 volt load.

If you are running 120 volts, then maximum VD would be 3.6 volts.
and max R would = 1,000 x 3.6 / 2 x 25 x 169 = .42 ohm, which corresponds to a #4 copper conductor.

If you run less, you risk low voltage to appliances. Problem??? maybe, maybe not.


Earl
earlydean #173985 01/24/08 07:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 59
D
Member
As usual,I left out info:(..The welder is 230 volt,3 prong outlet(I am pulling 2 hots,nuetraland ground....thks

dilydalyer #173989 01/24/08 09:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,429
L
LK Offline
Member
I am trying to figure how you are going to same him money, he needs a 18 in deep trench and a lot of PVC and wire, hope he is getting a permit for this, if the job is done shabby and it leaks current to the neighbors property watch out. I would not even be a thing of saving money, but doing it right.

LK #174001 01/24/08 10:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 59
D
Member

yeah,LK,WE have a permit and there is an existing conduit.1000' no 8 270.oo,1000 no 10 140.oo.I intended to pull 8 from the start but thought I'd discuss the load and wire size among friends....Leaking current???????????

dilydalyer #174003 01/24/08 11:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
I think the welder is such intermittent service I would not get too crazy about it. When you have your mask down you won't see the light dim anyway. If he really thinks he will be adding a lot more load, then go with the #8 but 10 should be fine.


Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #174004 01/24/08 11:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 228
J
Member
I would really consider a second circuit for the light, if he runs the welder too long and pops the breaker, he will be in the dark with a really hot piece of metal in front of him.

gfretwell #174006 01/24/08 11:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 265
W
Member
Whatever you do he Will outgrow it, like a gold fish people expand to fit the size of their surroundings, I would present him with the prices and lrt him make the call. Personally I feel bigger is better, I would try to sell him some 6awg wire just to have the headroom. Greg is right on the nose with the welder, I have one that Hobart says needs a 50a breaker to run, been running it on a 30 for 3 years and never had a problem. Low amps and light duty cycle equals low required current.


Jimmy

Life is tough, Life is tougher when you are stupid
dilydalyer #174054 01/25/08 08:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,429
L
LK Offline
Member
Leaking current better known as stray, comes from various sources, poor substation grounding, bad power distribution designs, shabby underground work.

Every year we get calls I am getting a shock when I walk in the back yard, or when I touch the chain link fence, usually when we get to the job we may find a backyard shed that has been wired by a DIYer, and it usually had shabby wiring with faults causing us to get stray readings.

Hope this helps you understand, leaking current.

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5