Electric to storage building

[Jackhammer]

I have a storage building about 50' from the house. I would like to run electric to the building but i'm unsure which type wire to use.

Would it be alright to bury an extension cord to the building or should I get the city to run a new power line?

I was also considering gas for the building. Will I need galvanized pipe or will PVC be alright?

[giddonah]

there was another thread on the gas line thing, and also one on the electrical. Burrying an extension cord is not a good idea. I think the concensus was for pipe over pvc. For the long run of the electrical line, I'd go with something bigger than you would think to overcome any voltage loss.

[bkrahmer]

I'd run 10/3 for such a short run. You can go UF with or without conduit. Conduit is a good idea.

I don't believe PVC or galv meet code anywhere. You should use yellow poly, buried at least 18". Again, conduit is a good idea. Cheap insurance.

[Jackhammer]

Someone told me to use black pipe for the gas. Is this a joke or can I use any color I prefer?

[Rich]

haha.. Black pipe is not just the color. It's not a joke. Do a search on google for gas line black pipe - you should find a couple articles on it.

[bkrahmer]

You would use black pipe for inside a building, but not buried. Try to buy some yellow poly off your local LP supplier. It's cheap, it works, it won't corrode, and won't leak.

[VALENT]

around here they bury copper for the supply lines

[Rich]

We have black pipe in a pvc pipe from our meter to our backup generator. The line feeding the meter is poly.

[dhill]

learning,
What are you planning to hook up to electric in your storage building? That will determine what type and size of wire to run. Definitely, don't bury an extension cord. You might run your electric to a disconnect (breaker box). Be aware that you might be subject to a permit and inspection on what you're doing, depending upon your location. Regardless, I would make sure any work you do is according to standard code. You don't have to put the wire in conduit. For safety reasons, it might be best too. That's what the gray pvc pipe is for. I'm in the country and I used black plastic pipe as a conduit/pathway for pulling wire underground. I'd already dug the trench, and I put 1" pipe in it so that I could pull wire when I needed it. The plastic pipe is cheap, cheap.
As far as the gas, for sure use the black pipe inside the building if you run it there. Around here, supply lines are copper and buried about 18".

BK, what's the yellow poly? I've not heard of that being used around here, but if it's rated for gas and non-corrosive, I may want to check into using it instead of using copper for my propane feed.

[bkrahmer]

Yellow poly is just that. Polyethelene or something like that. It looks and feels like PEX. Common sizes are 1/2 and 3/4. It's usually run underground from the tank to the whole-house regulator, so it's at a bit higher pressure, hence the smaller size. It's definitely rated for gas, and surely non-corrosive.

I guess there's also yellow-wrapped black iron pipe that's suitable for bury, but again, it has a few cons. I'd stick to yellow poly (preferably) or copper.

[Rich]

I just saw that they also have a copper and polyethylene combination for gas and propane - I can't imagine that it would be very cost effective though. Copper core wrapped in poly..