Pole Barn Feeder

sparkysteve

I'm hooking up a pole barn on the property where I go hunting. Our friend has a small cabin with a pole service with a 6 circuit panel on the pole. I want to feed the barn from there. I'm using a 20 space 100 amp main lug panel I salvaged from a remodel job in the barn. I want to only run 60 amps to the barn to feed your typical lights/recepts/ and a couple baseboard heaters for a small room and possibly a small welder. Do they make a URD type cable with a ground. We use the triplex looking stuff for secondary at work alot. I'd like to go direct burial aluminum because of PVC and copper costs. Any input would be great.

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Steve

Master Electrician/Self-Proclaimed Handy-Man

mdshunk

Yup... it's normally called "mobile home feeder cable". Since you'll only be doing 60 amp, you might also consider type UF cable, as it comes in the gauge you desire.

On a personal note, I don't bury any wiring without putting it in conduit. It's not code, but a good idea. It is your place, however, so do what pleases you.

sparkysteve

#6 UF right? My Codebook is in our job trailer for the weekend.

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Steve

Master Electrician/Self-Proclaimed Handy-Man

mdshunk

Not quite. You do get to size UF according to the 60 degree column, but for #6 UF direct buried, the ampacity is only 55 amps. You can't normally get UF in sizes larger than #6, so you can install a 55 amp breaker at the head end. Other than that, you're looking at some 4-wire URD, like the mobile home feeder cable.

sparkysteve

One of these days I'm going to sit down and measure 310.16. I should get a copy of the NEC for the bathroom.

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Steve

Master Electrician/Self-Proclaimed Handy-Man