Today I’m going to show you how to get power to your shed. I’ve done quite a few electrical videos, so if you need any other tips, visit my website!
Step 1: Locate the breaker box and drill a hole for the LB weight
This process can be used for anything in your garden that you want to power whether it’s a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen, or even a yard feature like a pond. Just consider if you have enough space in your breaker box and of course all your local codes. I’m comfortable tackling this project on my own, but if you’re not, there’s never any shame in hiring a professional. Let’s go ahead and get started.
The first thing I need to do is locate the breaker box so I can figure out a way to get to the outside of the building I’m running the wires to. Quick change of scene here but this is the outside of the wall I was just referring to. I use an appropriately sized hole saw to mount the LB.
Step 2: Place the channel
To get inside, the piece doesn’t even pass through a wall. Therefore, you can just cut a piece of the channel to pass it completely. Know that they make a different cement for electrical conduit rather than the regular cement you are used to. I’m going to add a port so I’ll add a straight piece of duct and then raise the port high so it’s easier to access. Next, from the outlet, I’ll go through another straight piece of conduit that will go down to the ground from the outlet, and then go into a 90 degree fitting.
According to the code, the sharp edge in the channel is still very sharp. To overcome this, you need to wear a male connector to protect the wires. After gluing the joints together, I attached the outlet box to the building, and then also placed a strap near the bottom. The great thing about the conduit is the flexibility it has, so I used my shoes to push it into the building while I secured it.
The purpose of the LB is so you can get around a tight corner in two steps rather than one, which means you can take off the back, pull out the full amount of Romex and then put it back down. You can make this tight corner really easy.
Step 3: Drill into the code
Okay, let’s talk about the materials you’ll need to get down to the ground and the depth of your trench. It all ties together. In my case, I’m using PVC conduit but if I were to use metal conduit, I could get away with it (by code) by only going into the ground 6 inches. I didn’t want to deal with bending or anything like that, so I chose to use PVC conduit which meant I had to go into the ground at least 12 inches.
My minimum trench depth should be 12 inches provided the GFCI is on the circuit somewhere. This is why I am adding an outlet. Not only is it easy to have outlets anywhere you will be doing electrical work but it also means I have access to 12 inches whereas if I didn’t add a GFCI the minimum I would need for my trench is 18 inches.
Just be aware that there are stipulations on how deep you should go in your trench depending on what you are using.
Step 4: Feed the power line into the trench
This out line is my Romex that comes from the breaker box but now I’m going to feed my live power line which is rated as buried directly in this trench. I try to feed him with my right hand, pull him with my left hand, and use my shoe to keep the tube down.
I fed through enough power line to get down into the trench and then any length to get me to where I would install my first outlet. Now that I’ve got my wiring here, it’s the same song and dance. You need some sort of hole to now take you inside to fit the LB, and then stumble back to go inside. From here, you have a straight piece of duct and it will all be glued. Here, I’ll get another 90 with this installation to make sure it meets the code. Once they are attached, you can feed them.
Step 5: Secure the power cord and close the trench
A little prebend goes a long way. Also note that they make a lubricant for chasing the wires and this really makes it easier. Again, take off the back of the LB to make chasing that wire up quick and easy. I attached another clip to the bottom of the channel and then attached the button to the back and called this project done.
Well, other than filling the trench, which is the easy part. there. As if it never happened unless it happened.
I hope you enjoy watching this project, and I’ll leave you a link in the description to several other electrical videos I’ve made if any of them are helpful for what you’re doing. This is how you run power to the shed.
