240 volt 200 amp disconnect switch question

[ponytug]

Thank you. This is why I posted this question on here!!!!

I'm looking on Amazon and only seeing dry location use. I'll keep looking. I don't need this anytime soon, but it's better to have what I need here so I can use it when I need it.

Do you put an underground splice like this in a junction box of some kind? Or do you just bury it and mark the location in case you have to come back and bury it again?

I believe per code, you can bury it and walk away, but I wouldn't flag that minimal effort that as great practice. As you know that you will need to find it to splice in the wires to the shop, I would either put it in a vault, or mark it in some way that will make it easy to find and work on. I would bear in mind the minimum NEC code burial for direct burial is 24", 18" for PVC conduit, and 6" for metal conduit.

https://adamselectric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Minimum-Cover-Requirements.pdf

If the shop build is imminent, I would be tempted to do the splice, and run the shop feeder line in one go to save work, and leave a really solid marker adjacent to the splice point as a "just in case" for the future. (E.g. a 6" concrete plug going down 3-4', with an incision on the top to mark wire orientation, and distance from the marker, or a section of oil pipe with a metal plate on top.)

All the best,

Peter

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm not sure what a vault is?

My line is buried 4 feet deep. I'll dig down by the house to find it and pull it out of the wall. I'm not sure If I can get it out of the wall, but I'll try. If not, I can cut it.

I have no plans on running the line to the shop area now. I still have to move fencing, remove trees and build up the pad. That's the type of stuff I do when I don't have extra cash to put into the house just to keep busy, but not a priority at all. For me, the Shop will be a luxury that has to wait until all the other things get done.

The breaker for the line is in a box next to the meter. The meter is in my pasture with my animals. Odds of it getting turned on by accident are zero.



My current thinking is to buy the direct bury splices for all four wires and install them to the existing wire. Put it all in a box that's at ground level so I know where it's at. Maybe cover it with some rocks or something that doesn't look like an electrical box right next to my front porch. And then leave it until I'm ready for it.

Does this make sense?

I'm relieved to not have this inside my wall.

Thank you!!!!

 

[Midniteoyl]

I'm not sure what a vault is?

In-ground electrical box/splice box/junction box.. basically a box w/lid that you can leave showing or just underground in order to find and repair, or add too, the connection later. Also helps to protect the splice:

Amazon.com : inground electrical box

 

[Midniteoyl]

Just make sure you get the ones rated for high voltage, not the 'sprinkler box'

 

[EddieWalker]

Thank you. I was thinking it was something like that.

 

[grsthegreat]

Yes it's rated for outdoors, which means it exceeds any indoor requirements.

Its not that, its that he wants it to mount flush indoors and cover with a picture. A 3r cover makes that tough

 

[grsthegreat]

If you can interrupt the wires underground, that would be best.

 

[Torvy]

Also, to clear a few things up for myself and maybe others, the panel that's closest to the meter is the main. Anything past that is a sub-panel and has to be wired as such, which means isolated neutrals and grounds.

Au contraire, mein Herr.

The one that's connected directly is the main. My barn is physically closer, but the lines run from the street to the house and then to the barn. I have the 200 service as well. We put it in for future fast charging or welding needs.

Since the barn feeds off of the house, we just need a generator big enough to power both. The generator feeds into the house box and the barn draws what it needs just like when it isn't on a generator.

Like Eddie, we have no code other than for septic.

 

[grsthegreat]

Au contraire, mein Herr.

The one that's connected directly is the main. My barn is physically closer, but the lines run from the street to the house and then to the barn. I have the 200 service as well. We put it in for future fast charging or welding needs.

Since the barn feeds off of the house, we just need a generator big enough to power both. The generator feeds into the house box and the barn draws what it needs just like when it isn't on a generator.

Like Eddie, we have no code other than for septic.

He didnt deny whet your saying, all he said was the first panel (or panels) directly tied into the meter is the main panel. Every other panel after that is a sub panel.

In your case, if you put a 200 amp transfer switch on the house panel, it will power both house and barn as you said.

 

[MossRoad]