The "Shed" #2: Dirtwork....augh.

After a few weeks of essentially doing nothing but research (including bugging my master electrician father inlaw) about how to NOT metaphorically shoot myself in the foot I finally broke ground on the electrical supply to the new shed. Graciously my father offered his tiller and his own back to help me get the trench dug and the 40 feet of main line put into it’s permanent location in just under four hours…no idea how long it would have taken without the now 24 year old tiller that still cranks on the first pull.

I went with an 8/2 outdoor line (40 amp) buried at roughly the 18 inch, code required, depth. Me and my father decided to add in some pvc to the entrance locations of the wire going to the shed and the house to help clean up the look and reduce any “accidents” that might arise from future weed eater incidents. There might also be the added protection of the exposed wire to UV exposure and any unforeseen wildlife interactions. The gauge/setup of the wire will not allow for a future 220 line in the shed but I honestly don’t see the need arising in the next few years; if at all. Due to the small space of my microshop I will be focusing on small footprint machines as well as; relying heavily on handtool practices to accomplish what might otherwise be handled with larger powertools.

I also went ahead and purchased the subpanel, breakers, boxes, and outlets to have those installed before begging my father in law to help me with the final runs of romex and ultimately the service hookup to the main panel at the house. I am planning to duplicate my previous shop usage of electrical outlets for light installation as it allows for instant changes to lighting needs.

The autumn air looms this coming week as the many trees around my property have started to shed their foliage and I am hoping dearly that the shed can have light and heat before winter hits.

My next post should include the first interior work as the electrical boxes and the like are installed.