100 Broilers and Fermented Feed Project

[ChickenCanoe]

It's possible to get an extension cord (or make one) heavy enough to support most loads. The problem is, most people will use the cheapest one possible and start a fire.

I have a 100' 10 gauge extension running out to the coops from an outlet right at the GFCI breaker. The breaker will trip before the 10 gauge wire will overheat.

The fuse/breaker protects the wire, not the load.
Never use a wire undersized for the overcurrent protection.

Virtually anything is possible to be powered at any distance but one needs to do the math and be willing to pay for the copper to do so.
When in doubt, hire an electrician. Or better yet, a good one.

 

[aoxa]

It's possible to get an extension cord (or make one) heavy enough to support most loads. The problem is, most people will use the cheapest one possible and start a fire.

I have a 100' 10 gauge extension running out to the coops from an outlet right at the GFCI breaker. The breaker will trip before the 10 gauge wire will overheat.

The fuse/breaker protects the wire, not the load.
Never use a wire undersized for the overcurrent protection.

Virtually anything is possible to be powered at any distance but one needs to do the math and be willing to pay for the copper to do so.
When in doubt, hire an electrician. Or better yet, a good one.

The thing is, the average joe does not understand what is a proper extension cord for the purpose you intend it for. It's unfortunate for sure.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If I was to use an extension cord, I would use a contractor extension cord.. Really heavy duty. I have seen extension cords actually burn up... The same day of the fire, my FIL told us to have an electrician come in and install new outlets.. Isn't that terrible? We knew it was unsafe, yet we didn't take more precautions. My hay was right by my power bar.

My fire was totally preventable and our fault. I know that... But I sure wish fire prevention was more publicized. If I had of heard of someone having a barn fire because of how I was setting things up, I would have done something.. But the thought NEVER occurred to me that it was extremely unsafe. I did not know the importance of keeping hay away from outlets, and overloading fuses...

My house needs to be rewired as well, and I am nervous every day. We have a fuse system that is wired weird. It has too many wires going to some fuses, and very few going to others. I am having someone come and redo everything to breakers instead of fuses. I hate fuses.

Only one wire is allowed to be fed from each fuse or breaker (by the NEC).

The contractor extension cord may be more rugged but isn't really that important. It is the gauge of the wire in relation to the distance, the size of the load and the size of the breaker/fuse.

The load will attempt to pull the current, if the fuse is large enough, it will supply the current. If the wire is too small, it will overheat and start a fire. If the gauge is sufficient, no problems at that point in the system.
Sometimes, if one is trying to operate a motor and the wire too small or too long, the motor won't get enough energy and burn up.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The thing is, the average joe does not understand what is a proper extension cord for the purpose you intend it for. It's unfortunate for sure.

I'm sure we're in agreement on these topics.

I reiterate, ~~be willing to pay for the copper to do so. When in doubt, hire an electrician. Or better yet, a good one.

Cutting corners with electricity, as with many things, is more costly than doing them correctly.

 

[aoxa]

Only one wire is allowed to be fed from each fuse or breaker (by the NEC).

The contractor extension cord may be more rugged but isn't really that important. It is the gauge of the wire in relation to the distance, the size of the load and the size of the breaker/fuse.

The load will attempt to pull the current, if the fuse is large enough, it will supply the current. If the wire is too small, it will overheat and start a fire. If the gauge is sufficient, no problems at that point in the system.
Sometimes, if one is trying to operate a motor and the wire too small or too long, the motor won't get enough energy and burn up.

Why would fuses blow since I have an electrician right here

I have these super long fuses and it powers my dryer and my oven. Nothing else. I have fuses for one single outlet. It's the strangest thing.. I am looking forward to having it fixed for sure. Just need to get my taxes filed so we can use the refund...

 

[apteryx]

If I was to use an extension cord, I would use a contractor extension cord.. Really heavy duty. I have seen extension cords actually burn up... The same day of the fire, my FIL told us to have an electrician come in and install new outlets.. Isn't that terrible? We knew it was unsafe, yet we didn't take more precautions. My hay was right by my power bar.

My fire was totally preventable and our fault. I know that... But I sure wish fire prevention was more publicized. If I had of heard of someone having a barn fire because of how I was setting things up, I would have done something.. But the thought NEVER occurred to me that it was extremely unsafe. I did not know the importance of keeping hay away from outlets, and overloading fuses...

My house needs to be rewired as well, and I am nervous every day. We have a fuse system that is wired weird. It has too many wires going to some fuses, and very few going to others. I am having someone come and redo everything to breakers instead of fuses. I hate fuses.

When my wife and I first moved into our house I noticed that the fuses for the circuit to the dryer didn't look right and replaced them. I refused to leave the dryer on when we weren't home or if we were going to bed for that very reason. The first week after we replace the main panel with breakers instead of fuses I slept very well.

 

[aoxa]

When my wife and I first moved into our house I noticed that the fuses for the circuit to the dryer didn't look right and replaced them. I refused to leave the dryer on when we weren't home or if we were going to bed for that very reason. The first week after we replace the main panel with breakers instead of fuses I slept very well.

We are the same way. Dryer cannot be on unless we are in the house.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Why would fuses blow since I have an electrician right here

I have these super long fuses and it powers my dryer and my oven. Nothing else. I have fuses for one single outlet. It's the strangest thing.. I am looking forward to having it fixed for sure. Just need to get my taxes filed so we can use the refund...

An electrician can't keep the fuses from blowing just by standing next to them.

When houses age, people do strange things in them related to wiring and plumbing.

The size of the fuse doesn't necessarily reflect the load it can handle. It's the numbers - Amps, Voltage and time delay.

The oven should have it's own circuit, as should anything else that produces heat, has a compressor or big motor. AC, furnace, refrigerator, dryer, water heater, freezer, sump, dishwasher & disposal can be on a single circuit, outdoor powered equipment (welder, pool, etc.)

Some older houses, power panels don't have the capacity for modern fangled equipment. That may require a new feed and breaker panel.

When my wife and I first moved into our house I noticed that the fuses for the circuit to the dryer didn't look right and replaced them. I refused to leave the dryer on when we weren't home or if we were going to bed for that very reason. The first week after we replace the main panel with breakers instead of fuses I slept very well.

Breaker panels are much easier and more common now but fuses, in most cases are safer. A fuse can blow in the first cycle of the sine wave in event of an overload - which is a 60th of a second. A breaker can't trip that fast which possibly can cause an explosion. I don't want to alarm anyone because they're deemed safe and are, above all, resettable.

 

[aoxa]

An electrician can't keep the fuses from blowing just by standing next to them.

When houses age, people do strange things in them related to wiring and plumbing.

The size of the fuse doesn't necessarily reflect the load it can handle. It's the numbers - Amps, Voltage and time delay.

The oven should have it's own circuit, as should anything else that produces heat, has a compressor or big motor. AC, furnace, refrigerator, dryer, water heater, freezer, sump, dishwasher & disposal can be on a single circuit, outdoor powered equipment (welder, pool, etc.)

Some older houses, power panels don't have the capacity for modern fangled equipment. That may require a new feed and breaker panel.





Breaker panels are much easier and more common now but fuses, in most cases are safer. A fuse can blow in the first cycle of the sine wave in event of an overload - which is a 60th of a second. A breaker can't trip that fast which possibly can cause an explosion. I don't want to alarm anyone because they're deemed safe and are, above all, resettable.

No I don't mean you help me fix it, just answer how it can happen You did.

We do have a separate breaker panel, though I have no clue what it is for... We just bought this house from my in-laws in October.

 

[apteryx]

An electrician can't keep the fuses from blowing just by standing next to them.

When houses age, people do strange things in them related to wiring and plumbing.


Breaker panels are much easier and more common now but fuses, in most cases are safer. A fuse can blow in the first cycle of the sine wave in event of an overload - which is a 60th of a second. A breaker can't trip that fast which possibly can cause an explosion. I don't want to alarm anyone because they're deemed safe and are, above all, resettable.

Our house certainly had some strange things done to both the wiring and the plumbing. I think I have now traced every wire in the house to find the oddities.

We went from a fuse box with a grand total of 6 fuses to a breaker box with about 20 breakers. Needless to say some of the original circuits were a bit overloaded. There are still a couple of circuits that I feel need to be split up, but it is a major improvement from where it was.