Having too much fun wiring

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 7, 2002

Now that I have electricity in my barn I've been running new lines everywhere! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif I've run three separate 110V lines to what's going to be my shop area and run three outlet boxes off each of them. I have another line for a couple floodlights there and will likely run one more for future lighting. I've also run a 220V line there for my welder with outlets on opposite shop walls with a couple more in other areas so I can use it wherever I might want. Multiple ceiling lights in the storage area have a three way switch at each outside door and a four way at each interior passage to the shop and arena areas. I'll probably be done with everything inside tomorrow so I may have to think about some exterior lighting just so I can keep running wires. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Kodiak · Aug 7, 2002

You are going to run a dedicated line for your future adult beverage cooler aren't you.

Kodiak · Aug 7, 2002

You are going to run a dedicated line for your future adult beverage cooler aren't you. My own shop eventually became equipped with this fine appliance as well as a microwave, a cable drop and TV, dedicated modem line, telephone, and of course my who cares if I get grease on it Lazyboy Rocker recliner. Now if you all can just tell me how to get enough time to enjoy it.

Golfgar4 · Aug 7, 2002

"Now if you all can just tell me how to get enough time to enjoy it."

Well...............you should know what's coming Russ!

Mount it on your tractor!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Kodiak · Aug 7, 2002

Lets see Tv mounted on loader tower. Lazyboy between ROPS. Fridge on 3PT. Replace Cable with Sat. dish, and modem hooked to Satcom. Powered by generator in the bucket. My only problem is how to hook up the backhoe. Fridge is still in the way. Guess thats grounds for newer bigger tractor, Heah, Heah, heah.

MossRoad · Aug 8, 2002

Put the fridge on top of a ROP mounted canopy and you will have a gravity fed beverage despensor. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Wingnut · Aug 8, 2002

Enjoy it while you can .... once you close it in ... it gets much more difficult to add lines. I had to make sure I did all my planning (adult beverages included) in advance as I insulated and gyproc'd the entire inside of my shop. Much easier to keep clean and looks better .... but definitely makes modifications a challenge.

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 8, 2002

"Enjoy it while you can .... once you close it in ... it gets much more difficult to add lines."

I agree. I'm trying to get as much wire everywhere as I can now while it's easy. I doubt I'll ever go quite as far as to have a commercial beverage cooler but an old fridge and microwave might find their way out there someday. With 12/3 run everywhere I think I'll be able to handle that kind of load with no problems.

One thing mentioned here that I haven't done yet (and should have done while I was running electrical wire) is run telephone lines. Right now I don't have a phone out there but would probably like to have one at some point if only to be able to tote my notebook out there and tap into the TBN brain trust while I'm working on a project. /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

Right now I'm putting one outlet on every post (8' apart) on the three fixed shop walls (the fourth shop wall can be moved to expand the shop into what is now storage). Each wall will be on a separate breaker. I'm also putting in junction boxes on each truss overhead. I'll probably use just two breakers for the ceiling boxes.

One thing I haven't decided is how to wire the shop lights. I could have two zones on separate switches or could somewhat alterrnate lights so that either switch brought lights to everywhere while the second switch simply added more light. Does this make any sense or is it a sign I have too much time on my hands to think about this stuff? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I think I'm probably going a bit overboard on the number of boxes and breakers but they're relatively cheap and I do have 42 slots in my breaker box to fill. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

MossRoad · Aug 9, 2002

If the run from the house to the out building is 300 feet or less, instead of running phone lines, you might want to run a couple of CAT5 network cables. They can be used for phone and converted to network later. And they are relatively cheap. Usually under $75.00 for 1000 feet. Just a thought.

Wingnut · Aug 9, 2002

Since I had to do mine at once before closing in the walls .... I made sure my plan included phone lines and a separate circuit for ceiling fans.
I guess I should've also added cat5 .... but decided the PC fo rthe shop didn't need to be networked. I might change my mind in the future ... if I were doing it today, I'd add it. (I closed the walls up 3 years ago before networking everything in the house.)

pete

Hoosier_Daddy · Aug 9, 2002

Gary, If your plan is to cover the inside walls you might take some pic's before doing so so you know where the wires are. I did this when I finished the basement walls in case I needed to refer back to where something was routed. And, it's always nice to look back at what you went through when the job is done. Kind of rewarding and with digital it's pretty cheap to do.

As far as lights. I assume fluorescent is you choice. Yes, zone them. Boxes and switches are prety cheap. And, if you have 4 bulb units you can always put just 2 bulbs from each unit on separate switches. Kind of like low light, high light. I mix my fluorescent lighs up. One cool white and one warm white. It gives a bright and soft light to the area. It really helps me since I have a problem with glare.

And, don't forget an outlet box in the rafters for a pull down trouble light. Gotta have one of them around.......

Enjoying this low humidity weather? Tom

wasabi · Aug 9, 2002

I can maximally relate.

At this very moment, I'm responding from our metal pole barn at Bearpen Farm. Last week I had high speed satelite put up, providing Directv feed as well so I can have the latest financial news while out here. There is pounding noise in the background...it is the Verizon guy putting in an 8' ground to finish up the "hard" phone line for voice and fax.

An electrician is on his way to move the elec meter from the old house we are about to tear down to the barn with 200 amp service. I've got about half the lights and plug boxes finished. Anout fifty feet away I'm in the process of building a rustic bath house with its own 100 amp panel for lights, washer, dryer, spa pump, heater, water heater and GFIPlugs.

So, I too have been a wiring fool...I agree it is pretty entertaining. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Golfgar4 · Aug 9, 2002

"...I'm in the process of building a rustic bath house with its own 100 amp panel for lights, washer, dryer, spa pump, heater, water heater and GFIPlugs."

RUSTIC?????? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

Did he really say RUSTIC?? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

If that's Doug's idea of rustic, I really want to see his idea of LUXURIOUS! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

MossRoad · Aug 9, 2002

Yup, he said RUSTIC!

Wingnut · Aug 10, 2002

but probably hit the enter key for adding (rustic-)LOOKING

patrickg · Aug 10, 2002

All this wiring talk makes me jealous. I am about 2-4 weeks (estimated) away from electricity at construction site for new house. I asked if they would provide a standard 200 amp setup and the eng said yes, then explained that if I put the new integrated meter thingamabob on the house NOT ON THE POLE I could have 350 amp service. I like that! They are puting in 3 poles, two dead men, a transformer, and a couple hundred feet of underground cable. I pay $218 (includes joining co-op) plus $1.18 per foot for underground.

I asked how they read the meter, binocs or what, wanting to turn the meter so the reader could see it easily. Well, "Great Days in Science!" Their computer talks to the computer in the meter box via a modem working through the power lines like a "wireless intercom" and it reports the reading. It takes 8 seconds to query a specific box and get the reading back to the office.

Patrick

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 10, 2002

I thought about CAT5 or CAT6 cable there but didn't think it would be necessary since I just have an uninsulated, dirt-floored pole barn now. It was built and used as a stable with ten stalls and an arena. I'm not a horse owner so I'd like to insulate it and pour a concrete floor. Maybe I ought to reconsider the CAT5 or CAT6 there.

As to the distance to the house, it's about 7 or 8 miles. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I may end up building there someday but right now the only structure on the property is the pole barn.

Wingnut · Aug 11, 2002

yep ... remote reading in various forms has been in operation for awhile already. I've heard of several cities where the water and gas meters are read automatically via RF while the meter reader slowly drives down the street.

Bird · Aug 11, 2002

Patrick, I hadn't heard about the modem, computer meter reading; sounds good. Of course, I am aware of the type that Wingnut mentioned and the few people I've talked to with any experience with it thought it was great. Yours sounds even better. And then of course there are still those of us out in the boondocks who have to read our own meters and mail in the readings each month./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

MossRoad · Aug 11, 2002

As to the distance to the house, it's about 7 or 8 miles.

Better go microwave! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Sorry, I forgot. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif