Wiring the palm garden

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:20 am

This is a question for wxman and anyone else.

This past winter, my palm garden was a tangled mess of extension cords. Messy, and potentially dangerous if I cut into a cord with a shovel when digging snow. So, W decided to wire it underground with outlets near palm beds. We need to save money so will do 90% of the work ourselves, hiring an electrician for design consultation, inspection and final connections.
Has anyone else done this? If so, any tips?
--Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:46 am

hiring an electrician for design consultation, inspection and final connections.

Electrical code states GFIs for exterior plugs.
This'll get pretty expensive.

To save money, I might repeat last year's process--but enclose outdoor rated extension cords in lengths of PVC pipe (laid on the lawn).
You won't be shovelling snow where there was summer lawn.

Barb

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:26 pm

If its that costly and messy, and I do not doubt it is, why not just forgo all electrical components? You could just use leaf cages and be fine. I only used one light fixture for my Butia and only because it is around 2 feet from an outlet which makes for an easy connection.

Don't get me wrong. Using lights probably is better as the palm keeps functioing during winter. But putting them in leaf cages enables them to hibernate and the recovery phase is pretty quick.

Something to consider...

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:26 pm

For me, leaf cages = rot.

I just run extension cords on the ground...and like Barb said, maybe run them in PVC if you are afraid of damaging them. Easy cleanup in the spring too.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:39 am

Jack,
Leaf cages have led to rot for me, too, in the past.
I was very impressed with the benefits of electric heat this year. The difference after the dip to -22 F / -30 C is very apparent.
So, I now think "electric heat" in Dec-Jan-Feb is as important as "hose watering" in Jun-Jul-Aug.

Barb,
to save money, we'll put GFCI on lines vs. at each outlet. The downside is I could lose electricity for several palms vs. just one, but I could reset the GFCI from just outside the door vs. going out with a shovel and digging for it.

Loads for pipe heat tape and C( lights are low. The only high demand is for the ceramic heater for the temporary "greenhouse."

Wxman, have you calculated your load? Total or per palm?

--Erik

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:27 pm

I experienced rot as well, although nothing that did not recover within a month. Then I altered my protection. Rot is pretty much alleviated it you use tarps or plastic. When I unwrapped my palms last week, the leaves for dry and crisp, more or less as they were last Fall.

Like I said, lights/heat are indeed better. But if its a pita to wire everything, perhaps its best not to.

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:01 am

Erik..

I believe my palms use about 40 watts of power each. And this is when it is around 0F outside. When it is sunny, they heat for free.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:02 am

They do make direct bury romex if you want to bury in the ground and not run it through PVC. I have some that runs from the fuse box through the house(part on house is in conduit though) then just the wire itself in the ground out to a GFI outside outlet that helps power on of my ponds. Works great. I pretty much just ran it along side of the foundation of the house.

BrugsBunny · Post by **BrugsBunny** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:36 am

If anyone has any electrical questions feel free to ask. I am a licensed Electrician and Millwright.

However you only need one GFi and then tie the other reseptical to the load side of that GFI. If it is possible I would recommend direct earth burrial with PVC conduit to electrical boxes for the recepticals. When not in use for the winter for the pants this allows ease of lighting setup in the spring through to fall landscape lighting.

Cheers

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:52 pm

Yipppeeee...an electrician on board

Don't go away this winter...

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:44 pm

Thanks!
I gifted all those toys to krisk. Hoping he never needs them.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:09 am

Me too Erik. Too bad we can't bottle this heat up, and use it thru winter!