Hey everyone! I just bought a house and there's an outdoor outlet in my backyard, about 50-60 feet away from the house, that works perfectly. I'm considering running power from that outlet to a shed located 100-150 feet further back. I'm not planning to use many high-drain devices, just a chicken water dish heater, a heat lamp, and possibly some security cameras. I might also need to plug in corded tools occasionally. Is this possible? By the way, I'm located in New York, USA.
3 Answers
You'll definitely have to keep an eye on voltage drop regulations, which can vary depending on where you are. Since you're running power over a distance, it's key to know how much current you expect to draw. For your setup, a #10 gauge wire might work for a 20-amp circuit at that distance, but heavier gauge wire is better if you're expecting to power more devices in the future. Calculate accordingly to keep the drop under 3%!
It's great that you're planning ahead! Just remember, the heater is considered high drain, so definitely calculate the total power. I'd suggest thinking about installing a subpanel in the shed eventually, especially if you want to power more than just a few lights or tools. That way, you could set up multiple circuits for different uses without overloading any single one.
Using heavier gauge wire is the way to go to avoid voltage drop issues, but also consider your entire power setup now and in the future. If you're thinking of things like welding or running larger tools, a dedicated subpanel with a higher amp breakout would be a smart move. Planning for a 40 amp breaker with #4 AWG wire could set you up nicely for anything you might want to do down the line!
Yeah, for longer runs like that, heavier wire is really necessary, especially if you're using heaters. It's all about balancing what you need now versus what you might want later!