I plan to run power from my shop (100 amp service) to a stall (100' away). There will be 2x 8' strip lights and 1 outlet on this 20 amp circuit. I plan to run 1 1/2" PVC conduit (size of stub outs coming from shop pad) underground to the kennel and metal conduit above ground to the lights, light switch and always hot outlet.

I have two questions:

1.) I assume I need to run a ground wire from the panel in the shop to the lights and outlet since the PVC will not allow to use the conduit as a ground. If I ground the junction box as soon as i transition to metal from PVC, can i use the conduit as a ground from that point forward? (i.e. ground the outlet and lights directly to junction box rather than running a wire)

2.) What size wire do i need to run? Here's the kicker - if it's not too much incremental cost, I'd like to have the capability to add another bay of lights and an outlet to a carport another 100' away (total of 200' to the panel in the shop) later on down the road. I ran the online calculators and they recommend 6 awg THWN-2. I don't like the idea of running wire this big because of the $$ and the thought of trying to connect #6 to a light switch. Am i missing something? Is there anyway around this? If not, I plan on just running 10 AWG THWN-2 and not worrying about the carport.

Thanks in advance for your help. Sorry about the long post.

 

I should add that this is all 120V.

Thanks again.

 

Yes.At 100 feet #12 is okay.

You may want to run a multiwire circuit. That is two hots and a neutral. Then you would have two 20 amp circuits. You might want to up size to #10 if there will be any motor loads at the carport since it will be 200 feet. From the stall to the carport would only need to be #12.

 

Thanks for your help. How could I add GFCI protection to the both circuits if I wire a multi-wire branch circuit as you recommended? Each circuit (animal stall and carport) will have lights controlled by a switch and an always hot GFCI outlet.

 

The "always hot" GFI receptacle would protect the one circuit. Any additional receptacles could be connected to the load side.

You could use a dead front GFI to protect the other circuit if no receptacles were planned to be on that circuit.