 |
Messages and Online Forum Q&A
| If you find the answer to this question useful, kindly CLICK
TO PAY here. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Indoor riding arena lightingFrom: ameribritfarm@cs.com
Category: Electrical/Lighting
Remote Name: 152.163.252.129
Date: 30 May 2003
Time: 07:44 PM
CommentsWe have just built an indoor riding arena 136 x 65 x 14 and are about to put in lights. After a thorough evaluation of the options, we have selected to install 24 high output fluorescent lights each of which has a draw of 0.75 amps. My intention is to have 8 lights on a circuit to give a total draw per circuit of 6A. I also have to run an additional circuit for outlets to run a couple of fans for ventilation but I do not believe that the draw on this circuit will be significant.
So far, so good. My problems are as follows;
1. The nearest panel to feed the indoor is in a barn about 400-500' away and therefore the drop is quite significant. What size cable do I need to run from the main panel to the sub-panel at the indoor and roughly speaking, how much is it per foot.
2. What size subpanel should I install ? I have 200A at the main panel and it only runs lights and outlets and so the total draw is minimal at the main panel.
3. To complicate matters, I want to be able to switch the lights on and off from both ends of the building and therefore I need to use 3-way switches. IS there a good reference text you can point me towards which illustrates how to wire 8 lights in a circuit with two 3-way switches.
4. On balance, would you recommend a subpanel or would it be easier/cheaper to run 4 or 5 circuits from the main panel to the indoor and wire directly to switches etc. Given the length of run, is this even possible ?
5. The transformer that feeds the 200A main panel is only about 100 feet from the indoor. Can the local utility pull more amperage from that transformer straight into the indoor to give me another service ? Is this likely to be cheaper/quicker than the subpanel route ?
5. I'm a pretty competent DIYer but I haven't installed a sub panel before although it looks pretty straightforward - no different to wiring a hot water heater or any other largish appliance. I've done a lot of new farm construction wiring but nothing quite as complex as this. Is it really that much of a leap ? Again, any advice on intermediate level texts would be useful.
I guess I've exhausted my main questions. Thank you in advacne for any advice you may be able to give.
|
|
