Shed Electricity

[Ed DeRousse]

What are the rules on electricity in the backyard shed? I know that having a panel in the shed is not always a requirement, but it seems to me that there should be atleast a gfci in the shed. And when would a panel/ sub-panel be required in the shed?

[Rick Cantrell]

Think of a storage building as a garage.
Yes, GFCI is required.
A panel is not required, but if there are several circuits having a panel is preferred.

[Jim Port]

Like RC said, GFI protection is required for the receptacles.

If the building is served by a single circuit a switch can serve as the disconnect. If more than 2 circuits are in the shed a panel would be used to disconnect.

[Ed DeRousse]

Thank you for the info! Appreciated!

[John Sims]

I had electricity run to my shed by a state licensed electrician.He insisted the wires be buried in conduit 18 inches underground.

[Jerry Peck]

I had electricity run to my shed by a state licensed electrician.He insisted the wires be buried in conduit 18 inches underground.

He probably ran PVC, right?

The burial depths depends on what is being buried:
minimum depth - what is being buried
24" - direct burial cables
6" - rigid or intermediate metal conduit
18" - non-metallic listed for direct burial without being under concrete
12" - residential branch circuits 15 amp or 20 amp / 120 volts with GFCI protection

Now, if those items are buried under 2" of concrete for protection from above:
18" - direct burial cables
6" - rigid or intermediate metal conduit
12" - non-metallic listed for direct burial without being under concrete
6" - residential branch circuits 15 amp or 20 amp / 120 volts with GFCI protection

[John Steinke]

Running power to a shed always brings up a variety of issues. First and foremost, the presence of power often results in a requirement for a permit.

As to the 'electrician insisting' on something: you pay the man for his training, experience, and judgement. This may not be the same as 'code minimum.' Listen to the man- you might learn something.

One reason is that sheds, just like enclosed proches, have a habit of 'growing.' Whether simple circumstance, or deliberate deceit, those are exactly the types of situations where future use is likely to be very different from the project as originally proposed.