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jmerrett_gw

Long Distance Electric Run

12 years ago

I have 600' to run electric service from a service pole at the street to a cabin back in the woods. I have a clear driveway to bury the service in but too many trees to put in additional poles. My current needs are 20 amps of service. I plan to grow to need maybe 50 amps. Are there any electricians/engineers out there willing to voice in on the situation? I'm currently considering 1/0 wire (in schedule 40 conduit) but need to confirm that it will be sufficient. With my current and future loads, 1/0 wire, 600' - I calculate that I will have about a 9-10 volt drop. From 125 at the street, that should leave me 110v to 115v at the building. Any help would be appreciated!

Comments (4)

  • 12 years ago

    Have you checked with your POCO? They may have particular requirements, like maybe a 100 AMP minimum service, as well as helpful advice.

  • 12 years ago

    Do start with the POCO. The calculations involved are not complicated but there is no good way to run 240/120 for 600 feet without very significant voltage losses. Those losses come out of your pocket as well as adversely affecting the performance of your electrical equipment.
    For example, a 575 volt service mounted near the POCO line could be run with 600 volt conductors to near your point-of-use and a transformer owned by you could reduce it to 240/120 there. But it is not a low cost setup.

  • 12 years ago

    I agree with Randy. The POCO almost certainly has requirements of their own outside of the code. What "taps" are available for the service is also up to the utility. You just can't assume it's 125V. Note that whatever you install for wiring, your service disconnect needs to be at least 100A.

    Note that you must come up out of the ground (both on the house and pole ends) with schedule 80. Sched 40 is NOT approved to protect from physical damage.

  • 12 years ago

    Thanks again for the feedback! Yes, I will change the materials list to schedule 80 for the underground.

    Yes, they've quoted bringing high voltage to the house with transformers but it was about $9000 to do so.

    I've run calculations through several sites and they all say that I'll be under a 10 volt drop. I've check the neighbor's voltage and he is well above 120 volts. This should leave me with between 110v and 115v. Will that not be enough. I understand that motors will run better with 120v but most all of the equipment that I have says it is specd between 100v and 108v.

    I could spec up to 2/0 wire and see less of a drop.