What type of electrical wire would I need to run a few appliances on that is 500ft away?
What type of wire would I need in order to span 500ft away and still power a few appliances (radio, window fan, and 2 lights)?
Don’t know much about the electrical terms, but it sounds like there is too much resistance to just use extension cords.
A radio, window fan, and 2 lights (i.e. compact fluorescant, "CFL" types) is not a big ‘load’.
The fan and incandescant lamps (normal light bulbs) can handle voltages much lower than 120 Volts. The radio may, or may not be able to handle a lower line voltage — read the label or owner’s manual to be sure. If you use CFL bulbs, make sure you buy ones that are rated for lower line voltage, too.
Given a small load, and the probability that most of these 4 items can probably stand a lower line voltage, you can use five 100′ extension cords, each one at 12 gauge. Or, buy 500′ of 12-3 "Romex" type house wiring (might be cheaper than 5 extension cords).
12 gauge wire is 1.6 Ohms per 1000′ (which you have — exactly 1000 feet). A radio, fan, and 2 CFL light bulbs can be anywhere between 150 and 250 Watts (powerful fan). At 240 Watts that is 2 Amps. 2 Amps multiplied by 1.6 Ohms is a voltage drop of only 3.2 volts. This is certainly acceptable at the far end of the span.
With 12 gauge wire, you can probably run 500 Watts of stuff, but I wouldn’t go much higher.
With 10 gauge wire, you can run upwards of 1000 Watts of stuff.
As for safety and whether it is legal for a long-term installation — consult your local building ordinances.
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3 Comments
Aug 28, 2010 10:02 pm |
Probably wire that is at least 500 feet long.
References :
Aug 28, 2010 10:39 pm |
Depending on the temperature, it sounds like you will need between a 8ga or 10ga multistrand copper although if this is permanent I would calculated per NEC requirements.
References :
Aug 28, 2010 11:24 pm |
A radio, window fan, and 2 lights (i.e. compact fluorescant, "CFL" types) is not a big ‘load’.
The fan and incandescant lamps (normal light bulbs) can handle voltages much lower than 120 Volts. The radio may, or may not be able to handle a lower line voltage — read the label or owner’s manual to be sure. If you use CFL bulbs, make sure you buy ones that are rated for lower line voltage, too.
Given a small load, and the probability that most of these 4 items can probably stand a lower line voltage, you can use five 100′ extension cords, each one at 12 gauge. Or, buy 500′ of 12-3 "Romex" type house wiring (might be cheaper than 5 extension cords).
12 gauge wire is 1.6 Ohms per 1000′ (which you have — exactly 1000 feet). A radio, fan, and 2 CFL light bulbs can be anywhere between 150 and 250 Watts (powerful fan). At 240 Watts that is 2 Amps. 2 Amps multiplied by 1.6 Ohms is a voltage drop of only 3.2 volts. This is certainly acceptable at the far end of the span.
With 12 gauge wire, you can probably run 500 Watts of stuff, but I wouldn’t go much higher.
With 10 gauge wire, you can run upwards of 1000 Watts of stuff.
As for safety and whether it is legal for a long-term installation — consult your local building ordinances.
.
References :
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