Call 844-335-0814 and our service desk will connect you with an independent local electrician who wires barns and outbuildings.
Barn and outbuilding power needs
- Interior and exterior lighting, including motion lights
- Outlets for tools, clippers and chargers
- Circuits for fans, heaters and stock tank heaters
- Workshop circuits for welders and compressors
- A subpanel fed from the house or a separate service
Wiring built for dust, moisture and animals
Wiring in barns should be protected from physical damage and chewing, which usually means conduit or cable rated for the conditions. Fixtures and boxes should be sealed against dust and moisture, outlets need ground fault protection and everything should be mounted out of reach of animals where possible.
Dust and stored hay make barns a fire risk, so loose extension cords and temporary wiring are worth replacing with permanent circuits.
Running power to a barn
- Call 844-335-0814 and describe the building, the distance from the house and what you need powered.
- We connect you with an independent electrician who wires outbuildings.
- The electrician plans the feeder route, trenching and subpanel location.
- Permits are pulled, the feeder is trenched or run overhead and the subpanel is installed.
- Circuits, lights and outlets are installed, inspected and tested.
Underground feeders and trenching
Most barns are fed by an underground line from the house panel or a separate meter. The trench depth, conduit type and routing depend on the wire type and what crosses the trench line, such as driveways. Before any digging, utility lines must be located by calling 811.
If the barn is far from the house, ask whether a separate service from the utility is more practical than a long feeder.
Lighting for chores and animal care
Good barn lighting makes early morning and evening chores safer. Sealed LED fixtures stay cool, handle dust and moisture better than older fixtures and use far less energy. Switches by each entrance avoid walking a dark aisle to reach the lights.
Motion lights at doors and around the paddock help with arrivals after dark, while a separate circuit for stall lights lets you leave a low light on without lighting the whole building.
Keep fixtures and cords well out of reach of curious animals, and protect any wiring along stalls with conduit.
Questions about Barn Electrical Wiring
Can I run power to a barn with an extension cord?
Not as a permanent solution. Extension cords overheat, get damaged and are a common cause of barn fires.
Do barn outlets need GFCI protection?
Outlets in barns and other damp locations generally need ground fault protection to reduce shock risk.