Outside Electric Run

[Jackhammer]

Advice needed.... I currently have a storage building about 30' from the house with electric. The line had been buried about 6" and was connected under the house. Someone did this by splicing into a wire that was suppling power to the receptacles in a bedroom.

I'm afraid by using this buried cable for my new storage building that I will continually throw a breaker.

I can't run a new line from the breaker box without some major work.

I have an electric box next to my a/c unit not far from the building. I realize this is 220 but could a line be ran off that box and reduced to 110?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. :?

[Vector]

I have an electric box next to my a/c unit not far from the building. I realize this is 220 but could a line be ran off that box and reduced to 110?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: Maybe, with some work. If you replace the box at the A/C (the A/C disconnect) with a sub-panel, you can then run seperate circuits from that sub-panel to the A/C and the outbuilding. In order for this to work, there *must* be 4 conductors running to the A/C disconnect, two "hots" a neutal and a ground. However, It's not terribly likely that there are that many conductors, as the A/C generally has no use for 110V, and so the neutral is left out.

You say the line is buried 6"? That's not near code at any rate. If it was in rigid conduit it would still have to be at least 12", 18" in PVC, and 24" if it's just an UF sheathed cable.

Rather than go down the road of converting the A/C disconnect to a sub-panel, let's explore why you can't run a line from the main breaker box?

What you have in place is certainly not code or safe.

[Jackhammer]

Vector, It looks llike I would have to practically tear a wall out inorder to get to the guts of the breaker box.

Would this be the most practical way of accomplishing this task?

[Vector]

Well, extending from an existing branch circuit is always problematic.

How large will this outbuilding be and what will be its uses? Just storage? Or will you have a workshop out there, or... ?

Do you have existing exterior receptacles on the house? Are they GFCI protected? Do they share a circuit with other stuff?

[generaltzao]

speaking of code, dosent the disconnect need to be at the enttry point of the wires at the detached building? id suggest leave the A/C alone run a 60A off the main to a 6 space LUG in the shed (must be rated as suitable for service equipment and have no more than 6 disconnects) either run #6USE 24-36" Underground or #6twhn +#8 Ground in 1"PVC.. just my 2 cents

thwn in PVC cost about $7 per foot (the most)with 240VAC and $5 per foot(the most) with 120VAC but cost less than the inspector doing several visits :wink:

small conduit hole under your main breaker, using pull boxes or access plates. looks professional and meets code

FYI 220V = 240V and 110V = 120V in my experiance

[VALENT]

Jackhammer, how many electrical circuits are you needing in the storage area and what will you be using them for? This can make a big difference in what you need to do.