Circuit Breaker Between Barn and House


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Old 05-09-18, 03:20 PM
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Circuit Breaker Between Barn and House

Hello,

I recently bought a home that has power running out to the barn. For some reason this power comes out of the ground about 20ft from the barn. Then it connects with wires in an outdoor junction box and goes back underground for the remaining 20 ft to the barn.

To make this safer, as well as more useful for me, I would like to place an outdoor circuit breaker box at this junction. Is this OK to do? This power obviously runs into the house and connects with the main circuit breaker box in the basement.


Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
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Old 05-09-18, 03:43 PM
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Assuming a 120/240 feed if there are two hots, a neutral, and a ground (four wires total) that would be okay. If 120v only no need.
 
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Old 05-09-18, 05:17 PM
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What size circuit are you talking about? There might not be much advantage.
 
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Old 05-10-18, 06:05 AM
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If the feed is more than 20 amps (as controlled by its breaker in the main breaker box) then a (watertight) breaker box is needed at this intermediate location in order to have an ordinary (outdoor) receptacle there. Depending on your power needs and local code, the intermediate breaker box might contain nothing but a single unit containing a single (15 or 20 amp) fuse or breaker and a single receptacle, together with connections to the feed.
 
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Old 05-10-18, 06:30 AM
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Allan I think you misread the O/P's first post. What he describes sounds like a splice because the feed was to short. No mention of wanting to install a receptacle.
 
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Old 05-11-18, 03:20 PM
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Hey guys, I actually do want to put a receptacle there. Sorry for leaving that out. But yes, the original wire was to short, so an impromptu and unsafe junction box has been placed out in the open with nothing to protect it.

So what I have done is put a 4x6 post in concrete and am going to secure either just a junction box or an actual breaker box.
 
 

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