[jaracose]

I recently built a 14X18 shed and I'm preparing to run electricity to it from my house. I've been researching several options but I'm hoping someone could offer some advice.
First of all, I will give you the rundown in terms of power that I will need in the shed:
 I will be installing 2 electrical heaters. Each heater is 4800Watts using a 240 volt circuit.
 I will need 4 electrical plugs for general purpose like radio, small power tools etc.
 I will need 6 lights 1 of which will be an outside motion sensor light. In total I suspect the lights will not exceed 1000 Watts in total.

I am planning to install a sub panel in the shed and feed the power to it from my main panel in my house. Given that it is a detached shed, I am planning to dig a trench and run wire underground.

I'm hoping someone can answer the following questions for me:
1. Will 10/3 (dryer wire) be enough to connect the main panel to the sub panel in my shed? I am planning to run a PVC conduit.
2. Would a 30 AMP double pole breaker be enough in my main panel for the circuit?
3. Would a 30 AMP subpanel be enough for the shed?
4. How would you suggest I set up the sub panel in the shed? Should I use a 15 AMP single breaker to take care of the lights? Should I install a 20 AMP single breaker for the plug ins? What about the heaters?

Any help or suggestions you have would be great.

Thanks

[tkrussell]

You cannot use "dryer wire", I suspect it is #10-3 nonmetallic cable, Romex. Romex is not allowed in wet locations, such as underground, and yes, even in conduit.

Would be good to know distance so to be sure voltage drop is not an issue.

30 Amps is too small. Better if it was 50 or 60 amps.

This would need 1 inch PVC and 3 #8 and 1 #10 THHN/THWN copper wire for 50 amp or 3#6 and 1 #10 for 60 amp. Which ever you can afford.

Need a 2 pole 50 or 60 at the Main panel.

If no more than 6 branch circuits in the shed panel, no Main is needed there, if more than 6 circuits, the shed panel needs a Main breaker.

Bury the PVC 18 in deep, some areas want a warning tape 12 in below grade above the conduit.


Try to use conduit the entire distance to the main panel other wise NM cable cane be used, but not the same size as the conduit wiring, get back on that if cable is needed.

The conduit must be a complete system.


The shed panel will need at least one ground rod connecting to a separate equipment ground bar in the panel, with a #6 copper wire.

The neutral bar must be insulated and isolated from the equipment ground.

The lighting should be on one circuit, can be 15 with #14 wire or a 20 amp with #12 wire.

Outlets should be all #12 wire and 20 amp CB. All outlets need GFI protection, can be with a CB or an outlet.

The heaters can be one 15 Amp circuit for each, or one 30 Amp circuit with #10 wire for both.

Hope this helps. And you thought this was going to be easy. Get back with answers and any other questions.