OT: Wire size for LONG run!

milesvdustin

So I am erecting (teehee) a 70' tower on the high point of my property in order to get internet. I need to run power to it and it is 700' away from my breaker panel. I only need 120 volt and the equipment from the internet company uses 1 amp. What wire do I need? 

Another option would be coming off my meter disconnect, same distance involved. 

tarheelmatt

milesvdustin said:

So I am erecting (teehee) a 70' tower on the high point of my property in order to get internet. I need to run power to it and it is 700' away from my breaker panel. I only need 120 volt and the equipment from the internet company uses 1 amp. What wire do I need? 

Another option would be coming off my meter disconnect, same distance involved. 

For 770', #12 AWG should suffice, and be less than 3% voltage drop.  

Skiddymarker

Agree with Matt - here is the calculator if you want to play around..
http://www.csgnetwork.com/voltagedropcalc.html

milesvdustin

Would I just wire it into a standard 15A breaker in my panel? And would i need a ground at the tower for this run or not because its not a subpanel

nolaegghead

I believe GFCI circuits must be 20 A min.  Tower should be grounded well for lightening.

nolaegghead

I would check with an electrician, this isn't a routine home circuit.

tarheelmatt

A standard 15A CB will be sufficient.  

I'd recommend a ground rod at your tower, but it should be bonded to your service ground rod too (NEC recommends #6 AWG). 

tarheelmatt

I am with NOLA, I would recommend talking to an electrician as well.  

I don't think GF would be needed with this type circuit though.  

tarheelmatt

I'm by far not an licenced electrician or know the NEC code for towers, etc.  

Ozzie_Isaac

Backfeed from lightning seems probable on both powerline and network line.  I wonder how they protect circuits from these?

saluki2007

Ha you said erectic. 

johnkitchens

I am sorry you are having to do this just to get internet. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Have you considered just getting a fax machine?

nolaegghead

I would intuitively want an isolated ground if that keeps lightening from back feeding into my load panel.

milesvdustin

I will have a ground for the tower separately. Satellite internet sucks and I live out in the boonies. I am hoping to put this wire in tomorrow, dug the trench today

johnkitchens

What kind of internet are you getting?

tarheelmatt

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Backfeed from lightning seems probable on both powerline and network line.  I wonder how they protect circuits from these?

I would most certainly use surge arrestors with this set up. 

Eoin

We have our internet connection via a directional antenna and tranceiver on the church in the village - approx 1 mile away. It works well. Our land line connection was so poor that our broadband speed was actually dial up speed, when it worked at all. The main network provider in the UK, BT, has taken billions of pounds from the Govt to provide rural broadband and has failed to deliver. At least there are innovative small companies able to plug the gap with alternative solutions.

stlcharcoal

Same thing here......but we just have a 7ft tripod on our roof that points to a water tower a few miles away.  I used the drone to survey which trees to top in between (otherwise it would have been a 20ft tower).

Eoin

stlcharcoal said:

Same thing here......but we just have a 7ft tripod on our roof that points to a water tower a few miles away.  I used the drone to survey which trees to top in between (otherwise it would have been a 20ft tower).

I had to trim some trees as well.

milesvdustin

Its directional internet like others mentioned 

Jupiter Jim

I agree with the #12 wire GFCI is required for all outside receptacles but I would not use one for this as it will trip when it gets wet from rain and be a pain in the $ss....... You need to run 3 #12 conductors from panel in the home, a hot wire, neutral and a ground, I recommend #12 UF cable, romex approved for direct buried in earth, you should be able to get a 1000' reel from an Electrical supply house, I'm not sure if the big box stores have 100' reels if they do they might cut the length you need.

I would drive a 10' ground rod at tower if its metal connected with #6 solid wire to tower, if a wood pole I would run a #6 solid copper wire to top of pole connected to ground rod and leave 6"-10" of the #6 solid wire extended above the pole, it antenna has any metal parts connect all to #6 ground wire.

What is the type of cable used for the low voltage?

Private message me if you have any more questions and I will give you my phone number and email.

Jim

tarheelmatt

I was about to tag you on this @Jupiter Jim .  

TN_Egger

220...221.  Whatever it takes.

milesvdustin

Just following up on this, ended up running the 12/3 direct burial. Internet works like a champ.