Outdoor Power Tips & Electrical Outlet Installation
Running power outside is one of the most convenient ways to deal with long-term power needs. It can save you the hassle of using multiple extension cords for hard-to-reach areas, and it can illuminate areas of your shed or backyard that otherwise would remain dark. There are various methods you can use to run power outdoors, but one of the best ways involves using running a tech cable. You’ll need to make sure that you have the proper permits required to run new electrical work since many areas require specific standards.
Proper planning is the linchpin of useful outdoor power. You should plan the routes for the conduits and measure the ideal conduit length that you’ll be needing. Be sure to take into account the depth of the conduit and any turns it must make. Create a trench along your route and lay the conduit carefully. You’ll also need the materials at the ends of the conduit, like the electrical boxes, fittings, electrical tape, duct seal, switches, and the wires themselves.
If you’re running power to a secondary structure, like a detached garage or shed, you’ll need to align your trench with the side of the building where you want the power to enter. With the help of an LB fitting, you can end the PVC conduit on the outer wall of the building and attach it to an electrical box through the wall.
Once the conduit is installed correctly, you can pull the wires through. Use a fish tape to thread wire through the conduit, and have someone pull the wire through the other end as you feed it into the first. This will significantly speed up the process. Once the wires are pulled through, you can connect them.
At this point in the process, the power installation itself is mostly complete, but you’ll want to go back and cover your tracks as best you can so it isn’t apparent. You can use grass seed and straw to cover the newly-buried trench, and soon it will blend end with the rest of the grass. You can also hide the conduit on the outer wall of the free building with many different coverings, or put something around it, so it isn’t readily noticeable.
Once you’ve got the exterior work complete, you can add new fixtures on the interior of the structure with the first electrical box as a source. This allows you to run outlets, lights, and any other electrical fixtures that you might need. Be sure that your circuit is capable of handling whatever load you wish to place on it. If you have any questions about your outdoor power needs, contact the experts at AJ’s Electrical Service and Repair. You can call (604) 359-1992 or email info@ajselectrical.ca with any questions.
