Wiring exterior pavilion

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powerpete69

powerpete69

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Location
Northeast, Ohio
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Professional Electrical Engineer
Hey folks,
I am having the Amish construct a pavilion like the one in the picture. They are breaking ground next week.
I am going to have a small Nema 3R sub panel, 240/120V with 30 amp feeder, #10 - 3 wire plus ground. Using PVC conduit 18" underground and then feeding sub panel with pvc conduit. All good. I happen to have a spare hundred foot feeder cable, hence the reason I'm going with that combo as the actual panel cost next to nothing.

The ceiling will be that dark mahogany you see in the picture and the rest of the wood will be stained with just a bit more of a yellowish hue for lack of better term.
Here's the question though. I am going to have lights, switches, receptacles and a ceiling fan.
From the 30 amp panel out, what would you use to feed all the lights, switches, fan.....etc? PVC would look dorky I'm guessing.
MC cable that was maybe exterior damp rated with PVC sheeth......or possibly using a exterior rated romex under the ceiling?
Anyone done this before? What did you use that would look really good? Or what might you suggest?
Thank you for your time.
 

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Dennis Alwon said:
Personally I would pipe down the 6x6 boards and perhaps run UF cable up in the ceiling
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Ok...so UF cable is the proper name for exterior rated romex it would appear. I see it at home depot or Lowes or wherever.
When you say "pipe down" the 6 X 6 boards....do you mean run PVC conduit horizontally and smartly down the horizontal beams? I ask because it seems like you could use the UF cable for that and you could hide the UF cable on top of the beam close to rafters....?
Or did you mean run the PVC conduit vertically down the vertical posts for switches and receptacles for accidental bump protection?
 
Yes Pipe down the posts to recep. and switches. You can sleeve the uf in the conduit.

I am sorry but we have already gone to far with helping you on this in spite of the fact you are an EE. When EE's become diy'ers we are not allowed to help. I must close this thread
 
Thanks. What I'm really looking for is what would "look the best". I just spoke w city inspector. He said even using standard romex under the canopy meets code. Pipe up or down the vertical posts with PVC.
 
powerpete69 said:
Thanks. What I'm really looking for is what would "look the best". I just spoke w city inspector. He said even using standard romex under the canopy meets code. Pipe up or down the vertical posts with PVC.
Click to expand...
He may pass nm cable but IMO, that is not code, especially when you run down the columns in conduit. NM cable would be in a wet location and that is a No No

300.9 Raceways in Wet Locations Abovegrade. Where raceways
are installed in wet locations abovegrade, the interior of
these raceways shall be considered to be a wet location. Insulated
conductors and cables installed in raceways in wet locations
abovegrade shall comply with 310.10(C).
Click to expand...
 
I have had the carpenters saw a 3/4” wide groove into the posts to lay the wire in, then capped it with a 1 1/2” steel plate the entire length, then they wrapped the post with the rough sawn boards. The steel plate protects the wire from nails. Don’t know if that will work in your application.
 
powerpete69 said:
Hey folks,
I am having the Amish construct a pavilion like the one in the picture. They are breaking ground next week.
I am going to have a small Nema 3R sub panel, 240/120V with 30 amp feeder, #10 - 3 wire plus ground. Using PVC conduit 18" underground and then feeding sub panel with pvc conduit. All good. I happen to have a spare hundred foot feeder cable, hence the reason I'm going with that combo as the actual panel cost next to nothing.

The ceiling will be that dark mahogany you see in the picture and the rest of the wood will be stained with just a bit more of a yellowish hue for lack of better term.
Here's the question though. I am going to have lights, switches, receptacles and a ceiling fan.
From the 30 amp panel out, what would you use to feed all the lights, switches, fan.....etc? PVC would look dorky I'm guessing.
MC cable that was maybe exterior damp rated with PVC sheeth......or possibly using a exterior rated romex under the ceiling?
Anyone done this before? What did you use that would look really good? Or what might you suggest?
Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...
I would do everything in emt, with outdoor boxes. It’s a clean look, and the sun doesn’t bother it.
 
What I might do is make a Chase or false beam to run the circuits down and also enclose your switches. You could have a little door on hinges. Otherwise you are stuck with those ugly exterior rated switches which are going to limit your choice of lighting controls. If you just make it so they are "inside" you can use any normal dimmer fan control etc. I would probably use rigid for the wiring but EMT would work and be a little easier. Poly coated MC might not look so bad too.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
He may pass nm cable but IMO, that is not code, especially when you run down the columns in conduit. NM cable would be in a wet location and that is a No No
Click to expand...
Pretty much every outdoor pavillion/stage I've seen over the last 20 years around here has been wired in NM, at least the part that's under some sort of roof, even the wall receptacles are wired in NM if the wall extends down to the ground, yet the entire shelter is open on one side. This of course means sun is going to be shining on it at least part of the year, and rain can blow in via the open side.

No clue if these were actually inspected, but they are commercial installations (parks, bars) so god help them if they weren't and there's a problem.
 
Full disclosure, I've never done this before. But I would consider cutting a channel down one of the 6x6 posts to recess your wiring method and hide it with a vinyl 6x6 post sleeve.
Screenshot_20230302-112736.png
 
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