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Posted by Joey on August 18, 2005, 8:04 pm
Hi all,
I'm running electric to a new shop building underground for about
185 feet. I'm considering using aluminum tri-plex #4 or #6 inside
1" PVC buried about 2 feet. I'll be running a 120V air compressor,
an arc welder, and a 120V window A/C but not all at the same time.
The reason I'm looking at the aluminum tri-plex is the cost which
is .70/.85 cents a foot in my area. Is this the best and least
expensive way to do this job ? I'm doing it myself so I'm not
worried about code but I will have sufficient breakers on both
ends. Any suggestions/ideas please ?
J
SW Georgia
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Posted by mrkool on August 18, 2005, 8:18 pm
Hey Joey,
If I were you, I'd definetly go for the copper, as for amp draw, #6 awg
is usually good for
60 amps at 100 ft and #4 is 80 amps at 100 ft, BUT for aluminum #6 is
only good for
40 amps at 100 ft and #4 is 60 amps, so you see you loose 20 amps by
using aluminum.
The air compressor and 120v window unit won't be a problem, but your
aluminum might
get pretty hot with the welder after running awhile, it happened to me
once, got real hot
real fast, even with a breaker.
mrkool
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Posted by John Grabowski on August 18, 2005, 8:53 pm
I'm not sure if you want the best way to do the job or the cheapest.
From my own experiences repairing underground aluminum conductors, I would
never use it that way even in conduit. Copper is the way to go underground.
I suggest that you use a larger conduit such as 11/4" to make it easier to
pull. It might be cheaper to buy individual conductors instead of the
triplex. It is a long run so you should go with the larger size wire. For
a 220 volt service you will need 4 conductors. The grounding conductor can
be smaller based on the size of the other conductors.
Since you are doing it yourself it is all the more reason to pull a permit
and have the work inspected.
John Grabowski
http://www.mrelectrician.tv
> Hi all,
>
> I'm running electric to a new shop building underground for about
> 185 feet. I'm considering using aluminum tri-plex #4 or #6 inside
> 1" PVC buried about 2 feet. I'll be running a 120V air compressor,
> an arc welder, and a 120V window A/C but not all at the same time.
> The reason I'm looking at the aluminum tri-plex is the cost which
> is .70/.85 cents a foot in my area. Is this the best and least
> expensive way to do this job ? I'm doing it myself so I'm not
> worried about code but I will have sufficient breakers on both
> ends. Any suggestions/ideas please ?
>
> J
> SW Georgia
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Posted by zxcvbob on August 18, 2005, 11:07 pm
Joey wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm running electric to a new shop building underground for about
> 185 feet. I'm considering using aluminum tri-plex #4 or #6 inside
> 1" PVC buried about 2 feet. I'll be running a 120V air compressor,
> an arc welder, and a 120V window A/C but not all at the same time.
> The reason I'm looking at the aluminum tri-plex is the cost which
> is .70/.85 cents a foot in my area. Is this the best and least
> expensive way to do this job ? I'm doing it myself so I'm not
> worried about code but I will have sufficient breakers on both
> ends. Any suggestions/ideas please ?
>
> J
> SW Georgia
Check the price of #4 (or #3) aluminum UF cable; individual conductors
rather than triplex. I'd be tempted to direct-bury that with a bare #6
solid copper wire for the ground. I don't know if you can double-up the
neutral and ground wire that way or if you'd need 4 conductors. (For
overhead wiring you'd only need three, but underground is probably
different.)
If you use triplex or quadplex cable, make sure it is rated for
underground use and isn't just for overhead wiring.
BTW, overhead wiring is a PITA, so I don't recommend that method.
See if you can rewire the air compressor for 240V; some of them are
convertible. It will be a lot happier on 240V.
Bob
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Posted by Member TPVFD on August 19, 2005, 12:37 am
Joey wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm running electric to a new shop building underground for about
> 185 feet. I'm considering using aluminum tri-plex #4 or #6 inside
> 1" PVC buried about 2 feet. I'll be running a 120V air compressor,
> an arc welder, and a 120V window A/C but not all at the same time.
> The reason I'm looking at the aluminum tri-plex is the cost which
> is .70/.85 cents a foot in my area. Is this the best and least
> expensive way to do this job ? I'm doing it myself so I'm not
> worried about code but I will have sufficient breakers on both
> ends. Any suggestions/ideas please ?
>
> J
> SW Georgia
It's your house so do as you please but we would need to know what the
motor size is on your air compressor, the name plate current draw of
your arc welder, and the amperage draw of your window air conditioner in
order to answer your question.
--
Tom Horne
"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison
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