Thickness of new underground cable?

[LandcruiserLad]

I'm planning to run an electricity cable underground to some farm buildings approx 500 metres away.
Electrician is recommending I use a 3 phase 60 amp cable about the width of my arm.
I plan to use electricity for lights, pressure washer and general farm equipment.
If I were to invest in solar, small wind or possibly battery power in the future would the cable be big enough or should I run something else while the trench is dug?
Just wanted to safeguard my future options.
Cheers in advance

 

[bobk]

It'll be a big un .

 

[kill]

I have an 50kw Endurance Wind Turbine and the cable for it at 150 metres cost 7k so don't get carried away as it will sting you where it hurts.

 

[bobk]

I have an 50kw Endurance Wind Turbine and the cable for it at 150 metres cost 7k so don't get carried away as it will sting you where it hurts.

How big was the cable ? seems a lot to me .

 

[LandcruiserLad]

Planned to dig the trench myself, and hoping to get a little grant aid.
Seemingly I have to go larger to allow for the distance of travel. It's 450 metres to be precise.
Thought I should possibly run an Ethernet cable or something?
I'm hoping wind companies have been overcharging poor farmers.. anyway, just trying to get a few quotes or some advice. Cheers, already looks expensive!

 

[Sharpy]

While installing the cable could you not also install a duct for possible future use?

 

[Sharpy]

Ps. If a 60 amp cable is the thickness of your arm you must have incredibly small arms..............

 

[tomg]

When my house was built the plan was to take a feed from the farm buildings which was about 100 or so meters, the electrician said the size of cable needed to use was to big for his tools and the quote for the cable was over £1k. He suggested ringing northern power grid for a quote, electric underground main was 70m away. We dug the trench and supplied the ducting and the cable they put in didn't look that big. It cost £1k.

 

[jcb360]

Planned to dig the trench myself, and hoping to get a little grant aid.
Seemingly I have to go larger to allow for the distance of travel. It's 450 metres to be precise.
Thought I should possibly run an Ethernet cable or something?
I'm hoping wind companies have been overcharging poor farmers.. anyway, just trying to get a few quotes or some advice. Cheers, already looks expensive!

What sort of grant aid is available for this?

 

[LandcruiserLad]

I'm going for an under 40yrs capital grant in Scotland.
3 phase so cable would be 3 x 60 amps

 

[upnortheast]

Our main incoming cable is 160 amp x 3 ph. It is about 30mm diameter. 100 m run Cost about £10 / metre 3 years ago

 

[jcb360]

The size of the cable increases as cable length increases - for the same current.

http://www.doncastercables.com/technical-help/

 

[Still Farming]

Voltage drop further you go ?
Get Turbine closer -Cheaper ?

 

[phillipe]

Voltage drop further you go ?
Get Turbine closer -Cheaper ?

Not reliable,would have to have back up ,put cable in ,plus ducting for ethernt ,,(cat5),put extra duct in aswell to be sure.or have one of those super silent genny.15 to 20 kva

 

[Exfarmer]

Are you sure you want 60 amps per phase for that lot?
That would require a 240mm cable
If you mean 60 amp total that would require 70mm.
I cannot see a. Situation in the future where export is going to pay with renewables although storage " may" have a place. In this case I think it is very unwise to go for a big grossly underused cable

 

[Exfarmer]

Our main incoming cable is 160 amp x 3 ph. It is about 30mm diameter. 100 m run Cost about £10 / metre 3 years ago

The main incoming cable is only 3 core, the op would presumably need 4 ( three phases plus neutral)

 

[Still Farming]

Not reliable,would have to have back up ,put cable in ,plus ducting for ethernt ,,(cat5),put extra duct in aswell to be sure.or have one of those super silent genny.15 to 20 kva

Dont know what this is about ?

 

[LandcruiserLad]

Ok, thanks all, obviously I'm not an electrician so advice is needed.
Still scratching my head a little,
The cable would supply my cattle yards primarily, I can also foresee some kind of electrical scheme coming back as diesel is replaced with electric vehicles, perhaps electric tractors will come in the future?
I'm told the national grid network will soon be updated to allow more farming businesses to add to it but who knows.
Just seemed a good idea to future proof myself for the cost of a few extra grand.
It was just my local sparky who thought I'd need 60 amp x 3 phase. (I've no idea)
Don't think the duct idea would work as can't see anybody threading anything through 450 metres? (Straight across a field)
Cheers for your help,
I'll let you know what my quote is when I get one!

 

[Still Farming]

Dont take electricians advice also maybe as some of them havent a clue too ???

 

[chickens and wheat]

plus £1200 for the earth cable to pair with the 3 phase cable
I recently installed 205m of 120mm 4 core with 95mm earth also . about £8000