MEP-803a Auto/Remote start module

I am currently laying the foundation for the concrete pad for my generator. Next I'm going to run 2 conduits from the pad to the service entrances (one for power and one for control cables.

If if I had to guess, I'm running about 150' of conduit/cable. Was going to ask an electrician friend what gage wire to use for the power. But I doubt he would know what to use for the remote start/stop. Any suggestions? I was planning on 12/2.

Purchasing a Kohler ATS with the remote switching control installed in the house. At a later time I might add the load shedding and go fully automatic. But for now, I'll have to manually shed the breakers and manually start the generator.

a question:
One inch or bigger conduit and wire at five bucks a foot?

Not sure what you're question is?

I'm a fan of doing a 4 pair, 18 GA shielded cable and a CAT6 in the control conduit. That will give you a number of control and monitoring options.

Howdy,
Any battery tender?

Daybreak said:

Howdy,
Any battery tender?

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Solar one even? That is a great application for solar assuming its not full time shaded. If it is shaded you can go with an oversized panel and still get plenty of energy to keep a battery topped up.

someone juse used a vehicle alarm system to do a remote start. With 150ft of conduit your prob really only 120ft from the generator. Vehicle remote should work.

That's a fairly long run. I would use 100 amp service entrance cable with 2/0 AL conductors. It is cheaper per foot than copper cable. Cat 5/6 for low voltage control cable.

Electrician says it's a 120ft run. Says I can use #6 copper and #8 for ground. I should be good up to 75amps. The 803a rated at 52 amps.

But since i ran 1-1/2" conduit, i have the option of #4 for my legs and neutral and #6 for ground. Says it will cost more and be more difficult to pull through conduits. But if I ever want to go larger on a generator, I'd be fine for 21kw.

I still have to run a conduit for the CAT6 control cable ...even though I have outdoor/UV rated cable. I was considering zip-tieing the CAT6 cable under the 1-1/2" PVC conduit.

TheAlfredo said:

Electrician says it's a 120ft run. Says I can use #6 copper and #8 for ground. I should be good up to 75amps. The 803a rated at 52 amps.

But since i ran 1-1/2" conduit, i have the option of #4 for my legs and neutral and #6 for ground. Says it will cost more and be more difficult to pull through conduits. But if I ever want to go larger on a generator, I'd be fine for 21kw.

I still have to run a conduit for the CAT6 control cable ...even though I have outdoor/UV rated cable. I was considering zip-tieing the CAT6 cable under the 1-1/2" PVC conduit. View attachment 709102

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52 Amps assuming you have each leg perfectly balanced. These sets are known to be able to handle 135% or more load, so the cable could see more than 52 amps per leg. De-rate your cable to 80% to meet NEC code for bundled conductors over 24" in length. This puts #6 CU at 60A. Also remember that over 120ft, the resistance in the cable builds up more than a short run.

#6 CU cable only supports up to 75 amps if it is 90C rated. Not sure what you have as far as brand, type, rating, etc.

You can de-rate the neutral conductor size to be no less than 40% of the size of the current-carrying conductor. You see service entrance cable sold in 4/0, 4/0, 2/0; the 2/0 conductor being the neutral.

At 6 AWG, you can expect a 3% voltage drop at 120ft. 240V would be 232.8V by the time it gets to the panel. It is up to you how much drop is acceptable.

Check this out.

http://wiresizecalculator.net/

http://www.barr-thorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/digest-176-nec-tables.pdf

#6 for a 120 ft run will be a 2.5% voltage drop which is fine for a MEP803. No problem going bigger for future proofing.

I know that electrical conduit is prety $$ stuff..why not use DB wire? The low voltage cat 5/6 could be ran in black poly. I dont believe thats DB.

It is safe to set your voltage higher. The voltage at my panel measures 248 from the utility company so I set my gen at that.