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View Full Version : Wiring to an outbuilding


Kyle_in_rure
Dec 18, 2011, 12:38 PM
We have an outbuilding that is about 30 feet from the house. It was actually the original "house" and used to have it's own service drop and meter. However, the service was removed several years ago because my dad was tired of the cable being draped across the yard (It was only 5-6 feet off the ground) and paying a separate electric bill. The meter, fuse box, and existing wiring are all still intact. The only electrical fixtures in the building are two light fixtures and two outlets. The fuse box is a "General" brand; it has two large "pull out" holders that hold cartridge fuses, one for "Main" and one for "Range", plus four fuses underneath. To my knowledge, only two or three circuits are used, because there are only two outlets and two lights. There is no actual "Range" plug.

Back at the main house, there is one dedicated 20AMP circuit that goes to an outdoor light with 12 awg wire. I was wondering if I could put a junction box on the main house where the wire for the light comes out and carry it to the outbuilding to the fuse box inside? It would be about 40 ft of wire all together and would be buried underground. There is a grounding rod at the outbuilding where the old service used to be. If I can't do this, is there a way I could turn the fuse box into a sort of junction box? Please bear with my wordiness. Thanks

Kyle_in_rure
Dec 18, 2011, 12:42 PM
***Clarification: the two outlets in the outbuilding are standard 120volt outlets, and the 20 amp circuit from the house powers nothing but the outdoor light.

tkrussell
Dec 19, 2011, 08:32 AM
You can use the old fuse panel for a junction box as long as you can close any unused openings, and there is a cover to enclose the splices, and you add one 20 amp switch to act as a disconect swicth to shut off the circuit before it feeds the lighting and outlets.

Kyle_in_rure
Dec 19, 2011, 08:22 PM
How would I find some sort of "cover" for the existing box? Could I just leave the existing fuses alone and splice around everything? I went and took the cover off the box today and there would be room to do this. Thanks for the help

tkrussell
Dec 20, 2011, 08:26 AM
Honestly, it would be simpler and a better job if you were to remove the fuse panel and splice the new feedr to the exisitng wiring all in one new junction box, may be a 4 inch square, may need a 4-11/16 inc square box.

Even a 6 x6 would only be a few dollars.

This would remove the fuse panel, that would only confuse someone in the future.

Kyle_in_rure
Dec 20, 2011, 08:16 PM
Yeah that's what I was thinking. After wondering about splicing around the fuses, I thought, what if someone goes to unscrew the fuses intending to turn off the power and ends up shocking themselves. I think the fuse box is around 6x6 anyway. Thanks for the help.