I want to run a 6 gallon spacesaver water heater (20 amp circuit), about 15 lights, maybe 4 electrical outlets, and an oil radiant heater - in a small barn. I will be running an underground wire from our house to the barn - 1 feet. The barn will have its own grounding rod and breaker box. How can I calculate / or how many amps do I need leaving off the house breaker for this project, and what size wire would be best to run underground?
Thank for your help
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- How many amps are needed?
As was specified before, use #6 wire and a 40 or 50A breaker. If the existing 10/3 wire you found is type UF or is THWN in conduit, then 30A is the max you can use. That may not be enough.
At that distance you are limited to about 16 amps at 240 and maintain 3% voltage drop.
http://www.electrician.com/vd_calculator.html
Or with #6, 40 amps.
But you really need to look at what you max load really is.
What size lights?
What size and how many electric heaters?
What will be operated from the recetpacels and in what combination.
http://www.electrician.com/vd_calculator.html
Or with #6, 40 amps.
But you really need to look at what you max load really is.
What size lights?
What size and how many electric heaters?
What will be operated from the recetpacels and in what combination.
