Farmstead Electrical Distribution System
Wiring of Agricultural Buildings
Demand Load for Farm Buildings
Central Metering and Distribution
Capacity of Main Service for Farmstead
Selecting Service Conductors
ABE 22 - AB Electrification and Control Systems
Farmstead Electrical Distribution System
Characteristics of a
well-planned
electrical system:
(1) Safe
(2) Adequate to meet
demands
(3) Efficient
(4) Expandable
Electrical Load Design Values
• The electric load of a particular building refers to the number of watts required
by the electrical equipment in use in the building.
Electrical Load Design Values
Building Minimum Design values
value, watts
1. Farm shop 4,600 3 watts/ft2 floor area + 3,000 watts if no welder
3 watts/ft2 floor area + 7,000 watts if having a welder
2. Poultry brooding 1,150 4 watts/chick, small flock; 3 watts/chick, large flock (1,000 or
more); 4 watts/chick for any size with infrared brooder
3. Poultry laying 2,300 5 watts/bird + 1,320 watts/hp of automatic feeder
4. Dairy barn 3,450 200 watts/cow for 1st 20 cows; 60 watts/cow for those in
excess of 20 + 1,320 watts/hp of gutter cleaner
5. Milking room (parlor) 2,300 900 watts/stall
6. Milk house 4,600 250 watts/cow for 1st 20 cows; 100 watts/cow for those in
excess of 20
7. General purpose 3,450 3 watts/ft2 + 1,320 watts/hp motor
barn
8. Pig farrowing 2,300 500 watts/pen
Electrical Load Design Values
Example:
A proposed brooder house is planned for 1,200 baby chicks.
Electric underheat brooders will be used. What will be the value of the
electrical load of this building?
Solution:
electrical load = 3 watts/chick × 1,200 = 3,600 watts
Planning the Farmstead Electrical
Distribution System
(1) determine the demand load for
each building or service area
(2) use the building demands to
locate the facility’s main service
(3) use the building demands to
size the facility’s main service
(4) selection of size and type of
conductors needed from the
distribution point to the
buildings.
Planning the Farmstead Electrical
Distribution System
(single phase 120/240V system)
METHOD FOR COMPUTING FARM LOADS
(Source: PEC 2000 Part 1 Article 2.20.4)
DEMAND LOAD FOR FARM BUILDINGS OR SERVICE AREA
(1)Large or permanently connected appliances. The full load ratings of all
equipment of 1500 W, or 1 hp, or greater are generally included in this
category. The full-load current of the largest motor should be multiplied
by 125% to allow for a 25% overload of the motor. List the VA or
wattage required for each item.
(2)Convenience outlets (receptacles). A load of 180 VA should be allotted
for each convenience outlet. This accounts for portable tools and
appliances not listed in (1) above.
(3)Lighting outlets. A load of 180 VA should also be allotted for each
lighting outlet. Under certain circumstances, such as in poultry laying
houses, this figure may be modified to reflect known values either
larger or smaller.
DEMAND LOAD FOR FARM BUILDINGS OR SERVICE AREA
The completed list should include the volt-amperes (VA) required to service
each load. Then the VA are summed and divided by the “system voltage” (the
line-to-line voltage supplied by the utility) to determine a total ampere load.
The service equipment selected will be rated in amperage at the system
voltage, which is normally 240 V.
Load without diversity (lwd)
• the largest combination of loads that are
likely to operate at the same time
• requires both a knowledge of the farm
operation and judgment
DEMAND LOAD FOR FARM BUILDINGS OR SERVICE AREA
Ampere Demand Load = Total of:
(a) 100% of largest of
(1) Load without diversity (amperes at 240 V)
(2) 125% of largest motor (amperes at 240 V)
(3) Not less than 60 A at 240 V
(b) 50% of up to next 60 A of load not accounted for in (a)
(c) 25% of remainder, that is, the load not accounted for in (a) and (b)
DEMAND LOAD FOR FARM BUILDINGS OR SERVICE AREA
Determine the demand load for a milkhouse with the following listing of
loads.
VA Included in l.w.d
Hot water heater 5000 W, 240 V 5000 5000
Electric furnace 40 A, 240 V 9600 9600
Summer only vent fan 1.5 hp, 240 V 2400
Vacuum Pump 5 hp, 240 V
(28 A (See Table) × 1.25) 8400 8400
Refrigerator 3500 W, 120 V 3500 3500
Milk transfer pump 1 hp, 240 V 1920 1920
Milk tank compressor 4 hp, 240 V 5400 5400
Feed storage auger 1 hp, 240 V 1920
20 lighting convenience
outlets, each 120 V
180 W × 20 __3600__ _1800__
Totals 41,740 VA 35,620 VA
174 A 148 A
Full-Load Currents (Amperes) for Single-Phase Motors
Standard Ampere ratings of
Fuses and Fixed-Trip Circuit breaker
The standard ampere ratings for fuses and inverse-time
circuit breakers shall be considered
15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100,
110, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, 350, 400,
450, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1 000, 1 200, 1 600, 2 000,
2 500, 3 000, 4 000, 5 000 and 6 000 amperes
(Source: PEC 2000, Part 1 Article 2.40.1.6)
The most common sizes are 30, 60, 100, 150, 200, 300,
400, 500, and 600 A.
(Source: Gustafson and Morgan, 2004)
Standard Ampere ratings of
Fuses and Fixed-Trip Circuit breaker
60 A service system - the smallest to be used for a building
(PEC 2000, Part 1 Article 2.3.6.10 and NEC as stated in
Gustafson and Morgan, 2004)
30 A service may be used for small or single load items
such as a well (NEC)
30 A service may be used for installation of not more than
two 2-wire branch circuits (PEC 2000, Article 2.3.6.10)
Each building should have only one service entrance panel.
DEMAND LOAD FOR FARM BUILDINGS OR SERVICE AREA
DEMAND LOAD FOR FARM BUILDINGS OR SERVICE AREA
DEMAND LOAD FOR FARM BUILDINGS OR SERVICE AREA
Central Metering and
Distribution
• If two or more buildings are to receive energy, each will have an entrance switch,
and it then becomes necessary to select a main distribution center, or main point
of supply.
• Types of distribution centers:
(a)Indoors
(b)Outdoor
(c)Pole
• The best location for indoor type distribution center is the position closest to the
equipment having the largest wattage rating. The outdoor type should be nearest
to the electrical load center. The pole type should be located at the electrical
load center of the farmstead.
Criteria for location of the service panel
within the building
(1) When possible, locate the service equipment near the largest
concentration of electrical loads to reduce amount of branch
circuit wiring needed.
(2) Service equipment should be placed in a dry, dust free location
outside of the livestock or poultry confinement area whenever
possible. The entryway, office, utility room, or other separate
room may be used. The most important point is this area be dry
and dust free. When the service equipment must be placed inside
the confinement area, it should be within a weatherproof or
preferably a weatherproof and corrosion resistant enclosure.
Criteria for location of the service panel
within the building
(3) All service conductors are to enter the cabinet from or near the
bottom. All branch circuits are also to exit from or near the
bottom. This minimizes the possibility of moisture entrance and
damage to components in the service. Conduits that carry the
service wires into the building are to have both ends packed
with sealing compound to thoroughly fill all of the air voids
between the wires and the sides. This is done to minimize the
movement of air and condensation of moisture within the
conduit.
CENTRAL METERING AND DISTRIBUTION
The most common type of distribution system on a
farmstead has a centrally located distribution center
wherein the power supplier’s meter will be located at
this central or main service entrance location.
Service drop or feeder will run from this central point
to each building or service area
Central metering and distribution for a farmstead
Advantages of central distribution center approach
(1) Safety.
Loss of one building will not destroy the system.
Service can be maintained to the other buildings.
In addition, a separate service drop connected
ahead of the main disconnect can be run to the
well to ensure a water supply in spite of a fire
requiring service interruption on the farm.
(2) Expandability
When the loads within a building change or a new
building is added, feeders to the other buildings
are unaffected.
Advantages of central distribution center approach
(3) Minimizes main service size
Diversity of load between buildings can be
accounted for, thereby minimizing the capacity
of the main service needed.
(4) Least investment in wire
Because wires are used very efficiently, this
technique minimizes the cost of wire for the
system.
Advantages of central distribution center approach
(5) Convenience
The meter can be located so that entrance to a
building is not required to read the meter.
Components of the system are easily accessed
and serviced.
Determining the Load Center
Load center is the geographic center of the loads.
Steps:
1) draw a scaled map of the farmstead.
2) the location and demand load for each building should
be noted
3) two perpendicular baselines, designated X and Y, should
be located along two sides of the farmstead.
4) determine the X and Y position for the load center by
finding the weighted mean X and Y distances for all of
the loads and by using the demand loads as weighting
factors for the distances.
Determining the Load Center
Determining the Load Center
Determining the Load Center
Determining the Load Center
When this method is used to locate the load center, the result
must be tempered with other considerations. Topography of
the farmstead, location of driveways, trees, buildings, and
other obstacles may require the distribution center to be
located at a point other than the load center.
Total Farm Demand Load and Capacity of the Main
Farmstead Service
(based on NEC and PEC 2000 Part 1 Article 2.20.4.2)
Total Farm Demand Load can be computed as follows:
Size of Main Service should be greater than that of
computed demand load.
Size of farmstead main service
Size of farmstead main service
Size of Main Service should be greater than 367 A.
Choose 400 A.
Size of farmstead main service
Size of farmstead main service
SELECTING SERVICE CONDUCTORS
Three major factors that must be considered when selecting
conductors
1) Type of wire and insulation needed to meet requirements of its
surroundings.
2) Size of wire and insulation type necessary to safely carry the
current.
3) Size of wire necessary to prevent excessive voltage drop in the
lines.
Properties of annealed copper wire
AWG number Diameter Resistance, Ω/1000ft Resistance, Ω /1000m
(Area, cir. mils) at 25oC (77oF) at 25oC (77oF)
mils cm
16(2,580) 50.8 0.129 4.020 13.18
14(4,109) 64.1 0.163 2.525 8.28
12(6,530) 80.8 0.205 1.588 5.21
10(10,380) 101.9 0.259 1.000 3.28
8(16,510) 128.5 0.326 0.628 2.06
Selection of wires for feeder lines
• Example:
A conductor carries 4.8 A at 240 V. If the allowable voltage drop is 2%
and the load is 80 m from the source, what size copper wire will be needed?
Resistance = (0.02 × 240 V)/4.8 A = 1.0 Ω
Resistance1000 m = [1.0 ohm / (2 × 80 m)] × 1000 m= 6.25 Ω /1000m
Select no. 12 wire with 5.21 ohms/1000 m to maintain less than 2%
voltage drop.
The types of service-entrance conductor insulation used
most often for farm applications are THW, THWN, and
XHHW.
If underground service laterals are used without conduit
for protection, the wire must be acceptable for direct
burial, such as types USE and UF.
Table 3.10.1.15(b) (6)
-For Service Entrance and Feeder Conductor
Table 3.10.1.16
- For Conductors in Raceways, Cable, or Earth
- for Service laterals and can be used also on service
entrance and feeder conductor
Table 3.10.1.17
- for Service drops
From Table 3.10.1.15 (b) (6)
Conductor Types and Sizes for 115/230-V, 3-wire,
Single-phase Dwelling Services and Feeders.
(22 mm2 )
(30 mm2 )
(38 mm2 )
(50 mm2 )
(60 mm2 )
(80 mm2 )
(125 mm2 )
(150 mm2 )
(200 mm2 )
From Table 3.10.1.15 (b) (6)
The table applies for conductor Types RH, RHHH, RHW,
RHW-2, THHN, THHW, THW, THW-2, THWN, THWN-2,
XHHW, XHHW-2, SE, USE, USE-2
(Table 3.10.1.1.15(b)(6) of PEC 2000)
Table 3.10.1.16
Allowable ampacities of Insulated Conductors rated 0 – 2000 V, 60°C through 90°C not more than
Three current-carrying conductors in Raceway, Cable, or Earth (directly buried), based on ambient
temperature of 30°C
AWG or mm2 or AWG or mm2 or
kcmil TW, mm dia TW, kcmil TW, mm dia TW,
UF UF UF UF
14 20 2.0 (1.6) 20 4/0 195 100 185
12 25 3.5 (2.0) 25 250 215 125 210
10 30 5.5 (2.6) 30 300 240 150 240
8 40 8.0 (3.2) 40 350 260
6 55 14 55 400 280 200 280
4 70 22 70 500 320 250 315
3 85 600 355
2 95 30 90 700 385 325 370
1 110 38 100 750 400
1/0 125 50 120 800 410 400 405
2/0 145 60 135 900 435
3/0 165 80 160 500 445
Derrating or Correction Factor for Allowable Ampacities of Conductors
Derrating Factor or Correction Factor
-This is applied to conductors on ambient temperatures
other than 30°C
- The allowable ampacities for a specific conductor would
be multiplied by this factor to determine the adjusted
ampacities
Voltage Drop
• The third factor to consider when selecting conductors is voltage
drop, which is controlled by the resistance of the wires.
• Resistance of the wires is a function of the cross-sectional area
and the length of the wire.
• As the length of the wire increases, its resistance increases.
• However, as its cross-section increases its resistance decreases..
• Wire size would be adjusted if the voltage drop in wires exceed
the allowable voltage drop
Voltage Drop
• The NEC specifies that the voltage drop in a branch
circuit (within a building) shall not exceed 3% and that
the maximum total voltage drop for service and branch
circuits combined shall not exceed 5%.
• Commonly used design percentages are 3% for feeders
and 2% for branch circuits.
• Some systems, such as poultry incubators or fluorescent
lighting, may require smaller percentage voltage drops.
Voltage Drop
