Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Running power back to my pond

Somebody please check this logic and math. It's been a long day.

On my wire chart (if anyone wants it, E-Mail me and I'll send a copy) of various gauges, capacities, and line loss, 6 Gauge is listed as having 0.4 Ohm per 1000 ft. Given you'd have 1450 ft both coming and going, that's close enough to 3000 ft total and 1.2 Ohms in the transmission line.

If 60A was supplied, the voltage loss would be V = IxR or 60A x 1.2 Ohm = 72 volts; not much left over to run anything.

The same chart lists a maximum 37A capacity for 6 Gauge if used for "power transmission" (101 amps for "chassis wiring", which I interpret to be MUCH shorter lengths - inches instead of hundreds of feet). If you figure on getting 30 Amps out, that's still a 36 V line loss.

If you doubled up on the 6-3, that would cut the line resistance in half, down to 0.6 Ohms. Delivering 20 Amps, Line voltage drop would be 12 volts; delivered voltage would IMHO be marginal for running motors (I have a temporary service line to a barn that only delivers 95 Volts; running an air compressor on this is problematic - the motor will start only if it's empty).

I suggest you size your air compressor so you know the current demand, then add on your other uses and see what your total delivery needs really are.

Personally, I'm gonna have to do the math for running power to my own pond and see what voltage the wire I have will deliver.