Barn Electrical

[mountainhorse]

Anything you guys have or wish you had electrical wise, do share! Little advantages, changes you’ve made, etc.

Off the top of my head,…

Outlets at every stall, within my reach (5’ tall). Nothing worse than trying to reach outlets above stalls that I cannot reach, especially if it’s a daily or regular occurrence.

Fans above each stall, with a switch at every stall instead of an outlet to plug it in or out.

Lights will also be the same-individually switched at each stall.

Aisle lights switched at the entrances into the barn.

I had a barn once where the aisle switches were located 1/2 way down the aisle-at night, walking 1/2 way down a long center aisle, closed 12 stall barn to turn on lights was no fun, atall. We changed that quickly where light switches were at the door at soon as you walked in,…not a super safe area and to walk down a pitch black barn at night to turn on lights was not very safe.

Outlets at wash rack and aisle, in places convenient for clippers, blowers, etc.

All outlets are waterproof covered ones, for safety.

How is your heated water bucket (stall hanging ones) set up for electrical?

Oh! Running electrical to water tanks in the fields, with waterproof outlets for that water heater in the stock tanks.

Anything that can be a convenience with wiring for now or future…

Thanks!

[horsepoor]

The best electrical thing I did when we built our barn was putting all wiring in conduit. No worries about rodents chewing and it really doesn’t add that much to the cost. I want to say that it was another $1K for our barn to do the conduit, which was about a 40x40 structure when originally built (we have since added on as well).

That’s my big suggestion. I don’t have to deal with heated waterers here like in other areas of the country, so not part of our design. I did make sure to put outlets at both ends of grooming areas so I had tail and head access for clippers and such. And lots of lights – I hated going in some barns that were like caves, so made sure ours is well lit. All lights are covered (no open bulbs). And everything, whether outlets, switches, or lights, are out of reach of horses at all times. Amazing how many barns I’ve been in where horses could grab the outlet covers and rip them off as they had easy access from stalls, or could be switching lights on and off. I don’t want my horses near anything that might shock them or create a fire hazard!

[ChocoMare]

Ditto on conduit.

Ditto the main aisle light switch being right inside the entrance. But even better, a remote control flood light.

My dad put one in for me and it’s soooo nice to drive up and click the light on for where I park

[Gloria]

At my barn, all the wires are in conduit, all fixtures are rated for wet and dusty location and fully sealed. In addition to these safety considerations, I have two florescent lights, one ceiling fan, and one heat lamp for each stall. The barn aisle lights are two way switch - I can turn them on/off from the house, as well as at the entrance of the barn. I have outlets at rafter, as well as five feet above the ground at several locations. At the wash bay/grooming stall, I have three outlets, one at each wall, three florescent lights (one at each side of the horse in the ceiling, as well as one at the front of wash stall. The placements of the lights completely eliminate shadows. Also have ceiling fan and heat lamp at the wash bay. Heat lamp is adjustable and is placed above, aligning the spine of the horse. The ceiling fan is placed in front of the heat lamp. All the outlets and lights make body clipping a breeze, and my farrier loves working there. Of course I paid a fortune for all these electrical stuff, but convenience is at the very top of my priority, and I hate dim environment.

[horsepoor]

The others reminded me of a couple of things – yes, all fixtures are the type rated for damp and dusty environments so they are sealed. Because what are barns? Damp and dusty, no matter how well built!

And we have a remote control for our outside lights on the barn so I can turn them on from the house and see my way down, and turn them off from the house when I get back in here. The remote is a true remote – a little handheld switch like a tiny garage door opener and I could carry it in the car/truck if that was more convenient. If I ever start doing more hauling of horses out or anything, I’ll get an extra remote that can live in the truck as that would be nice to have – turn on the lights as I pull in to unload.

Since I have pea gravel paddocks attached to the stalls for all weather runs, I need to be able to clean those and in the winter, that means AM/PM cleaning is in the dark. We put in some little floods that light the runs up great for exactly that purpose, which sure beats the headlamp and/or flashlight method I used before adding those. On a separate switch so only on when needed.

[clanter]

Conduct or BX cabling, BX is armored … might want to add internet as all the lights can be controlled using smart controls or smart LED bulbs

[airhorse]

[QUOTE=clanter;8041981]
Conduct or BX cabling, BX is armored … might want to add internet as all the lights can be controlled using smart controls or smart LED bulbs[/QUOTE]

Be careful as most of the internet switches have very low amp ratings.

Conduit, lots of junction boxes, pull some extra wires so you can add things without hassle in the future. #12 wire and 20 amp circuits. I also leave a loop of wire in each junction box so I can splice in if needed. I also stay way below the rating on any one circuit, wire and circuit breakers are cheap. (Wire has gotten more expensive)

[sid]

I did all my my electric in conduit as well.

Additionally, I made sure all the outlets that were for the wash stall, or for the farrier (who often use extension cords) are on GFI breakers, to prevent possible electrocution if someone wasn’t attentive and horse might be able to step on a cord.

My stall overhead fans are industrial, enclosed motor, waterproof. My overhead stall and aisle lights are in enclosed plastic tubing, so if one was to break, glass stays contained.

Those are the top things that come to mind. But conduit and GFI breakers on outlets are #1 for me.

[Tom_King]

If the barn is at your house, three way switch the barn lights and path lights so they can be turned on and off from the house.

If you are breeding, separate lighting circuit so you can use 25 watt blue bulbs over the mare’s stalls for the CCTV monitor in the house.

[sid]

[QUOTE=Tom King;8042352]
If the barn is at your house, three way switch the barn lights and path lights so they can be turned on and off from the house.

If you are breeding, separate lighting circuit so you can use 25 watt blue bulbs over the mare’s stalls for the CCTV monitor in the house.[/QUOTE]

Yep, this too.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=Tom King;8042352]
If you are breeding, separate lighting circuit so you can use 25 watt blue bulbs over the mare’s stalls for the CCTV monitor in the house.[/QUOTE]

Not needed. The cost of wireless cams and transmitter are well within the average person’s budget these days. The cameras come with infrared. Even stalls that are pitch black it is easy to see what is going on in the entire stall. But it is only black and white. Vivid color with a light on and or during the day.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=clanter;8041981]
Conduct or BX cabling, BX is armored … might want to add internet as all the lights can be controlled using smart controls or smart LED bulbs[/QUOTE]

BX is a lot more expensive then running wire through conduit. At least in my neck of the woods.

[Simkie]

This is table stakes, but I LOVE having a single light source I can leave on in the barn between bringing in and night check. I really dislike walking into a dark barn, and the aisle lights we started with were bright enough to limit coat growth.

If you live somewhere cold, consider setting up the outlets at the stalls to handle the load of an overhead infrared heater.

My set up (we just had the electrician out a few months ago):

Started with four jar light in the aisle in the 48’ center aisle barn. Barn has four stalls, two on each long side of the north end. Large sliding doors on the north and south ends and people doors on the east and west sides in the middle.

Added:

Jar light over every stall. Stall lights are on a single switch.
Single light over grooming area to be. Separate switch. I use this one as my nightlight.
Two lights over hay area. Separate switch.
Added switch for aisle lights by north door (where we enter the barn when it’s warm.)
Outlet at every stall beefy enough to handle infrared heater (required separate circuit for each one–minimal additional expense) Outlets are at about eyeball height for me and on end corners of stalls.
Outlet in grooming area to be by west people door.
Outlet in hay area by east people door.
Outlet just outside each people door for runs-to-be.

We used 100w LED bulbs in all of our fixtures. Love them.

All wiring was run in conduit from the eves down. Would have preferred it all in conduit, but this is how existing was set up. Surprisingly, metal conduit is no longer code here, so it’s all plastic.

I love the extra light and all of the outlets.

We have two bucket heaters (auto waterer already installed on other side of barn) and one stall is set so bucket plugs right into outlet. The other requires a 10’ extension cord because of where the stall door is. If we would flip the stall front–doable with the Prieferts–we could hang the bucket in that corner and plug it right into the outlet. Hasn’t been a problem the way it is, so avoiding that work. This spring, Nelsons will go into those two stalls, so self limiting issue.

We also have exterior light on east side of barn, and the one on the south is being replaced. I wish we had exterior lights on the north and west, but the yard light does a good job of illuminating, when it’s working.

I LOVE the idea of wiring the barn for internet (webcams!) and having a switch in the house is a novel one.

[PeanutButterPony]

BX cabling is an old school 2 wire system. it’s modern equivalent is MC cable.that is really not suitable for barn construction unless it is in the walls. it’s going to be filthy and nasty, if surface mounted, and sloppy looking -all those ribs to catch dust. yuck. Run your wires it in conduit unless you are putting it IN the walls.

[msj]

All wiring in conduits.

Cameras in each stall and facing toward any area of the farm you can’t see from the house easily. Also so you can view from a separate monitor and/or computer as well or anywhere on your smart phone.

Excellent lighting on BOTH sides of where you plan to do grooming, clipping etc. I can’t say this enough. I’ve been in too many barns that, if you were lucky, you could see the top of the horse but not the sides and down toward the leg/hoof area.

Some sort of intercom system from house to barn and barn to house.

Flood lights at your sacrifice paddocks. I had a flea-bitten grey and a dark bay and come winter evenings with snow on the ground, the grey was hard to find and summer evenings the dark bay was so flood lights as needed. Granted, I only needed them maybe 10 times in the 25 yrs I’ve been on the farm but they were invaluable then. :yes: A hand held spot light will work also but they are heavy.

[airhorse]

THESE are pretty effective as residual lighting, we have several in our aisle.

[Jeannette_formerly_ponygyrl]

I put some of my lights on dimmers, so I can do night check w low light, or have just a little light in a stall if I’m keeping an eye on a horse.

Also did four floodlights in my grooming area so there can be light from every angle.

[TBROCKS]

Hubby removed the one fluorescent light that was way the heck up on the ceiling in our 3,000SF barn. All it did was cast a shadowy light and when it was cold/damp wouldn’t come on at all plus you had to have a man lift or The World’s Tallest Ladder to change the bulb/balliste. He installed lower overhead fluorescent lighting above all the stalls (4 stall barn) and also in the storage areas. He also installed a two socket plug next to each stall for fans/clippers/heated water buckets, as well as a jelly jar light for low level lighting. He took his time and all the wiring is encased in metal tubes and looks so professional. He’s not an electrician but he’s super handy and had input from one. Just awesome.

[mountainhorse]

Awesome ideas, love it!
Summing up so far, everyone’s ideas:

• Wiring in conduit
• Everything out of reach of horses, of course
• Remote controlled flood lights
• Lower level (at a safe level) lighting for easier light bulb changing
• Plan for lights, fans, heaters at each stall (i.e.: outlets can handle loads of such)
• Flood every side of wash stall or grooming area, along aisle and storage areas with lots of light.
• "Light available" is the theme with large main lighting as well as individual (jelly jar or the such) lighting for lower level lights
• Lights on dimmers to allow for adjustable lighting with night checks
• WiFi Cameras for stalls and hidden barn areas adaptable for phones, monitors, etc. (easily done with wifi camera programs)
• Intercom system from barn to house
• Flood lighting outside to paddocks/sacrifice areas
• Dim single light source to leave on if needed for night checks, no dark aisles or barn
• Consider all stall lights on a single switch instead of individual switches per stall (thoughts on this comparison?)
• Separate switches for aisle, grooming, wash, storage/hay, areas.
• 100w LED bulbs
• Outlets at stalls specific to water bucket heater cords-plan for placement
• Light path from house to barn, or driveway/parking area, depending on your barn and house locations
• Outlets on GFI breakers to avoid accidents
• Fans,lights, equipment on industrial, enclosed (sealed), waterproof levels to avoid shorts and broken glass accidents (rated for damp, dusty environments)
• Switch main barn and path lights from house, or remote controlled
• Lots of junction boxes
• Extra pulled wires for future additions
• #12 wire, 20 amp circuits
• Looped wire in each box for splicing if needed
• Staying below ratings on circuits to avoid accidents
• Outlets at every stall and throughout barn within reach
• A switch at every stall to control heaters, fans instead of an outlet to plug it in or out.
• Aisle lights switched at the entrances into the barn.
• Outlets at wash rack and aisle, in places convenient for clippers, blowers, etc.
• Running electrical to water tanks in the fields, with waterproof outlets for that water heater in the stock tanks.

Anything else?

[TBROCKS]

For the low level individual light be sure to invest in the more expensive but way more efficient long life fluorescent bulbs. Worth every penny, IMO.