I'm planning on installing a Mighty Mule automatic gate about 500 feet from an existing 200 amp panel that currently runs an irrigation well, 110V outlet and an irrigation timer but will power a shop at some point in the future (the shop will not be near this panel so the power will have to be run from there to another part of my property when the shop is built). My options for powering the gate seem to be to run the Mighty Mule low voltage wire (about $200) from the gate to the outlet near the panel and plug in the transformer there. Or I could run another 110 line 500 feet to the gate and plug in the transformer near the gate. It might be nice to have power near the gate to run a light or intercom in the future, but not really necesary. Any idea what gauge wire I would need to run for a 110V outlet 500' from the electrical source- and can I just direct bury the wire (either the low voltage or the wire for the outlet) or should I use conduit? This project is all ready running into more $ than I anticipated so would like to keep it inexpensive if I can. I'm no electrician- but this would just be wiring in a breaker to the exisiting panel and then wiring an outlet on the other end, 500' just seems like a long way to go. Any advice appreciated.
electrical wiring for automatic gate?
- Thread starter anojones
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I'm planning on installing a Mighty Mule automatic gate about 500 feet from an existing 200 amp panel that currently runs an irrigation well, 110V outlet and an irrigation timer but will power a shop at some point in the future (the shop will not be near this panel so the power will have to be run from there to another part of my property when the shop is built). My options for powering the gate seem to be to run the Mighty Mule low voltage wire (about $200) from the gate to the outlet near the panel and plug in the transformer there. Or I could run another 110 line 500 feet to the gate and plug in the transformer near the gate. It might be nice to have power near the gate to run a light or intercom in the future, but not really necesary. Any idea what gauge wire I would need to run for a 110V outlet 500' from the electrical source- and can I just direct bury the wire (either the low voltage or the wire for the outlet) or should I use conduit? This project is all ready running into more $ than I anticipated so would like to keep it inexpensive if I can. I'm no electrician- but this would just be wiring in a breaker to the exisiting panel and then wiring an outlet on the other end, 500' just seems like a long way to go. Any advice appreciated.
Shimon
Platinum Member
I would run their small transformer wire to your existing outlet. If your panel is 500' away then you need to calculate voltage drop for 1000' of wire (there and back). Ordinarily you could use 14awg wire for a 15amp outlet. But given your distance and the requirement for no more than 3% voltage drop for branch circuits (I may be wrong on that...someone who knows the code better can chime in) then you don't want more than 4v of drop so you would need to run 4awg wire and 500' of that will be more than $200 plus conduit. I would direct bury their wire.
Don't they make a solar kit for those gates? I would look into that.
Don't they make a solar kit for those gates? I would look into that.
Shimon
Platinum Member
I would run their small transformer wire to your existing outlet. If your panel is 500' away then you need to calculate voltage drop for 1000' of wire (there and back). Ordinarily you could use 14awg wire for a 15amp outlet. But given your distance and the requirement for no more than 3% voltage drop for branch circuits (I may be wrong on that...someone who knows the code better can chime in) then you don't want more than 4v of drop so you would need to run 4awg wire and 500' of that will be more than $200 plus conduit. I would direct bury their wire.
Don't they make a solar kit for those gates? I would look into that.
Don't they make a solar kit for those gates? I would look into that.
RickS
Silver Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Don't they make a solar kit for those gates? I would look into that. )</font>
Yes, you can get solar power with battery backup. No wiring necessary according to TSC.
TSC Mighty Mule solar panel
Yes, you can get solar power with battery backup. No wiring necessary according to TSC.
TSC Mighty Mule solar panel
RickS
Silver Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Don't they make a solar kit for those gates? I would look into that. )</font>
Yes, you can get solar power with battery backup. No wiring necessary according to TSC.
TSC Mighty Mule solar panel
Yes, you can get solar power with battery backup. No wiring necessary according to TSC.
TSC Mighty Mule solar panel
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
This is what I've done, and it's not up to any code, but it's cheap and it works.
Buy a 1,000 foot roll of 12/2 romex from Lowes. Then buy 500 feet of thin wall 3/4 inch pvc pipe in 20 ft lengths with the bell on one end.
Dig a shallow trench, lay out the wire and slide the pipe through it while glueing each stick together. At the endes that will be exposed, use grey schedule 40 pipe into a junction box.
At the gate, put in an outlet. You can also add a light that comes on at night to the gate if it's real dark in your area. I have several lights at my entrance and realy like them. The outlet gets used more than you'd think. One time my weed eater was out of gas, so I just used my electric one!!!
Your biggest fear with using the romex is it's not for underground use. If it gets wet, you will have problems down the road. That's why I like the pipe, to keep moisture out. At the ends of your lines, fille up the pipes with silicone. Just pump in as much as you can with your caulking gun!!!
You might be able to find the grey romex that is for underground and outdoor use, but as far as I know, it doesn't come in long lengths.
Eddie
Buy a 1,000 foot roll of 12/2 romex from Lowes. Then buy 500 feet of thin wall 3/4 inch pvc pipe in 20 ft lengths with the bell on one end.
Dig a shallow trench, lay out the wire and slide the pipe through it while glueing each stick together. At the endes that will be exposed, use grey schedule 40 pipe into a junction box.
At the gate, put in an outlet. You can also add a light that comes on at night to the gate if it's real dark in your area. I have several lights at my entrance and realy like them. The outlet gets used more than you'd think. One time my weed eater was out of gas, so I just used my electric one!!!
Your biggest fear with using the romex is it's not for underground use. If it gets wet, you will have problems down the road. That's why I like the pipe, to keep moisture out. At the ends of your lines, fille up the pipes with silicone. Just pump in as much as you can with your caulking gun!!!
You might be able to find the grey romex that is for underground and outdoor use, but as far as I know, it doesn't come in long lengths.
Eddie
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
This is what I've done, and it's not up to any code, but it's cheap and it works.
Buy a 1,000 foot roll of 12/2 romex from Lowes. Then buy 500 feet of thin wall 3/4 inch pvc pipe in 20 ft lengths with the bell on one end.
Dig a shallow trench, lay out the wire and slide the pipe through it while glueing each stick together. At the endes that will be exposed, use grey schedule 40 pipe into a junction box.
At the gate, put in an outlet. You can also add a light that comes on at night to the gate if it's real dark in your area. I have several lights at my entrance and realy like them. The outlet gets used more than you'd think. One time my weed eater was out of gas, so I just used my electric one!!!
Your biggest fear with using the romex is it's not for underground use. If it gets wet, you will have problems down the road. That's why I like the pipe, to keep moisture out. At the ends of your lines, fille up the pipes with silicone. Just pump in as much as you can with your caulking gun!!!
You might be able to find the grey romex that is for underground and outdoor use, but as far as I know, it doesn't come in long lengths.
Eddie
Buy a 1,000 foot roll of 12/2 romex from Lowes. Then buy 500 feet of thin wall 3/4 inch pvc pipe in 20 ft lengths with the bell on one end.
Dig a shallow trench, lay out the wire and slide the pipe through it while glueing each stick together. At the endes that will be exposed, use grey schedule 40 pipe into a junction box.
At the gate, put in an outlet. You can also add a light that comes on at night to the gate if it's real dark in your area. I have several lights at my entrance and realy like them. The outlet gets used more than you'd think. One time my weed eater was out of gas, so I just used my electric one!!!
Your biggest fear with using the romex is it's not for underground use. If it gets wet, you will have problems down the road. That's why I like the pipe, to keep moisture out. At the ends of your lines, fille up the pipes with silicone. Just pump in as much as you can with your caulking gun!!!
You might be able to find the grey romex that is for underground and outdoor use, but as far as I know, it doesn't come in long lengths.
Eddie
heehaw
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2000
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- 2,076
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- russellville, arkansas
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20 years ago, i used direct burial wire, 500ft to my well house: 10-2wg: i put two runs in, one for 220 and one for 110: they have worked flawlessly for this 20 years. now that i have said that, it will probably quit today!!! direct burial works really well, as long as someone doesn't knick or cut the outer covering.
heehaw
heehaw
heehaw
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2000
- Messages
- 2,076
- Location
- russellville, arkansas
- Tractor
- Kubota M4900, B7510 and RTV
20 years ago, i used direct burial wire, 500ft to my well house: 10-2wg: i put two runs in, one for 220 and one for 110: they have worked flawlessly for this 20 years. now that i have said that, it will probably quit today!!! direct burial works really well, as long as someone doesn't knick or cut the outer covering.
heehaw
heehaw