Electricity to Barns!

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jonnyspeed

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Hi, I'm about to fit out my outbuildings with lighting and sockets but am unsure on a few things.

There are 4 barns each to be installed with sockets, inside lighting, halogen security lights and outside sockets.

The plan is to take swa from the house supply to the first barn and fit a CU. From here I want to feed the other three barns (one off the other) and fit another CU in the second one to deal with barn 2,3. A Seperate feed from this CU on to barn 4 from which will have ciruit breakers in it as well. Basicaly barn 1 with CU. Barn 2 with CU and barn 4 with circuit breakers.

Does this make sense so far?

Sooo...

Barn 1:(CU1)

5 x 13a sockets(1 is outdoor)

2 x 100w lighting

1 x 500w halogen

Total 25m from house supply with 9m of it underground.

Barn 2:(CU2)

4 x 13a sockets (1 is outdoor)

1 x 100w lighting

1 x 500w halogen

This CU2 is 14 metres from CU1 with 11 meters underground

Barn 3:

5 x 13a sockets (2 outside)

2 x 100w lighting

1 x 500w halogen

Will be run off CU2 & is next door to Barn 2.

Barn 4:

4 x 13a sockets ( 1 is outdoor)

3 x 100w lighting

2 x 500w halogen

Seperate feed from CU2 22m away to mini circuit breakers.

Each barn will be wired in singles in conduit.

- 3300w for lighting

- 234A for skts at full capacity or

(16000)69A at 4000 watts per barn

I know all sockets won't be used at full capacity so am thinking maybe 3000 - 4000w per barn?

My dilemma is working out cable calculation for such a long distance and multiple CU's with fuse ratings and rcd's etc.

I have learnt all calcs at college but not for more than 1 CU. Never done something this big before and parts of this are a jumble to me at the

moment, so I thought I'd come on here and bother you all and ask for any advice :)

The good thing is I don't have a deadline, but really really want to figure this out and learn from it as i'm caring for my dad at the same time who has dementia and is very hard work. This is my escape from it all you might say.

Can anyone guide me in the right direction?

Thankyou in advance!

Jonny

 
What do you plan on plugging in? A domestic house may have 4 people using stuff on a 32A ring! What size is your main fuse?

Are you sure 500W halogens are the way to go?

 
cooker, fridges, freezers, heaters, tools etc was estimating for further usage in the future like possible conversion to living accomodation.

100A Main fuse.

I can be persuaded on 500w though. you thinking 300w?

 
I thought 500w Halogens were now no longer on sale, the same as 100w lamps?

Doc H.

 
I think the 500w are still available as I saw them on a website today. I was calculating 100w for max lighting but I reckon I'll be using 60 watters anyway :0)

 
Are these barns to be converted into residences or what ... Johnny ? Its either a coupla plugs and a light in each or the full Monty .

There a big difference between four barns with a light in each and four residences .

Whats with this 234 amps on the sockets ? Is there a couple of guys in each barn, with arc welders plugged in ?

If the 500w THs are for floodlighting then change to sodium or compact fluoros.

 
Lol, ok let's forget about the living accomodation. Was just a thought anyway.

I just added the sockets up but realised I didn't need to do it like that after I posted. Would love an arc welder one day tho :)

 
Agree with the smartfloods; or MH discharge :)

Before you can begin calculating any cables (or type / sizes of OCPD) ; you need to have a demand figure for each building.

There is also the issue of RCDs - do you need `em (somewhere - yes), where, how to provide discrimination, etc.

Think on it a little, and come back to us......

KME

 
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