50A 240V Plug with #2 Wire?

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Is this 300ft of cable and all your loads going to be behind a 50 amp GFCI breaker on the temp service? I don't think that would turn out well. Can you just trench, throw some 1/0 quad URD in the ground and run a 100A circuit out to your build site to avoid having a GFCI at the front of the long run.
 
Todd0x1 said:
Is this 300ft of cable and all your loads going to be behind a 50 amp GFCI breaker on the temp service? I don't think that would turn out well. Can you just trench, throw some 1/0 quad URD in the ground and run a 100A circuit out to your build site to avoid having a GFCI at the front of the long run.
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Hi, I was trying to figure out if I’m allowed to do something like that without have the inspector look at it? The other problem is not sure I’ll have time to trench 300 ft before winter
 
mystereons41 said:
Hi, I was trying to figure out if I’m allowed to do something like that without have the inspector look at it? The other problem is not sure I’ll have time to trench 300 ft before winter
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is the ground dirt or solid rock? If you have 2ft of dirt 300ft is no big deal for a small trencher. whats the problem with having the inspector look at it?
 
Todd0x1 said:
is the ground dirt or solid rock? If you have 2ft of dirt 300ft is no big deal for a small trencher. whats the problem with having the inspector look at it?
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I guess I’m a little concerned that between digging the trench and scheduling the inspector, it might be difficult to get done before December (live in the mountains). We’re digging in dirt with some medium rocks, so not too bad. But we’re also digging up a hill through the forest, so roots are a problem. How how hard is it with a trencher up hill? Going to start trying to dig tomorrow to see how bad it is. We at least need to go 15 feet from pole per the utility.
 
zbang said:
Should have asked this before-
Why do you need connectors at all?
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Hi, by connectors do you mean the spliced 50 amp extension cord or the 50 amp plug? As far as the splice it was because I couldn’t find a 50 amp plug that would take larger than #4. But another member gave me a tip to follow up on for that, so I’ll look into that. As far as the plug, I wasn’t sure if we were allowed to connect wire directly to the panel and run it up hill on the ground. Probably not to code. I think maybe it was you who mentioned an NEC article about temp installations, but I’m not sure if our case would qualify or not. Right now I’m thinking if we could get 100 ft underground from the pole with the meter pedestal, the 50 amp extension cord would be more realistic. I have a couple different options at this point after getting advice from everyone, so hopefully one works out!
 
I would go U/G all the way to the site with a 100A circuit, then set a small panel on a post with one or two 50A receptacles and a couple 20s..
 
mystereons41 said:
I guess I’m a little concerned that between digging the trench and scheduling the inspector, it might be difficult to get done before December (live in the mountains). We’re digging in dirt with some medium rocks, so not too bad. But we’re also digging up a hill through the forest, so roots are a problem. How how hard is it with a trencher up hill? Going to start trying to dig tomorrow to see how bad it is. We at least need to go 15 feet from pole per the utility.
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if roots and uphill are a problem, you're using the wrong trencher

300' should be opened by lunchtime
 
Meltric_South said:
Ever thought about going to a larger plug and receptacle. Nothing wrong with having the plug oversized as well as the wire.
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That means going from $10-15 plug to a $50+ plug though ;)

Even though added splice box plus splicing devices may be just as much if not more.
 
mystereons41 said:
Hi, I would prefer to go to a larger plug, but so far I can’t find one that goes above #4!
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Larger plug means 60 Amp or larger - most likely something of a pin and sleeve type plug, straight blade plugs pretty much don't exist above 60 amp I believe. A 100 amp version had better accept #4 conductor.

Also consider GFCI protection, potential capacitive leakage on a long run causing nuisance trips. Since this is temporary wiring it doesn't require a plug/receptacle, you can "hard wire" flexible cord in such a situation, which would also make the GFCI requirement go away.

I myself would have likely run the permanent supply conductors to the house, may or may not have installed the permanent panel depending on conditions. If not the permanent panel would have somehow installed a temp panel on those permanent conductors and made that the "construction power" and change over to permanent panel later on.
 
kwired said:
Larger plug means 60 Amp or larger - most likely something of a pin and sleeve type plug, straight blade plugs pretty much don't exist above 60 amp I believe. A 100 amp version had better accept #4 conductor.

Also consider GFCI protection, potential capacitive leakage on a long run causing nuisance trips. Since this is temporary wiring it doesn't require a plug/receptacle, you can "hard wire" flexible cord in such a situation, which would also make the GFCI requirement go away.

I myself would have likely run the permanent supply conductors to the house, may or may not have installed the permanent panel depending on conditions. If not the permanent panel would have somehow installed a temp panel on those permanent conductors and made that the "construction power" and change over to permanent panel later on.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks! Gives me something to think about :)
 
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