The Aiken area is home to horse farms, hobby farms, workshops, and rural properties where outbuildings are essential to daily life. Whether you need power in a barn for livestock lighting and water heaters, electricity in a detached garage for a workshop, or circuits in a storage building for security and climate control, the electrical work must be done right. Running power to a detached structure involves underground feeder cables, separate subpanels, and specific code requirements that differ from standard house wiring.
Unity Power & Light provides complete outbuilding wiring services throughout Aiken, SC and the surrounding rural areas. We handle every step from trenching the underground feeder to wiring the last outlet in the building. We work with barns, detached garages, workshops, pool houses, storage buildings, and any other structure on your property that needs reliable electrical power.
What We Do
Outbuilding electrical work covers everything from getting power to the building to wiring the interior for its intended use.
Underground Feeder Runs
We trench and install underground feeder cable (UF-B) or conduit from your main panel or meter to the outbuilding. Burial depth depends on the method: direct-burial cable requires 24 inches of cover, PVC conduit requires 18 inches, and rigid metal conduit requires 6 inches. We select the best method for your property and soil conditions.
Subpanel Installation
Every outbuilding with more than one or two circuits needs its own subpanel. We install a properly sized subpanel with a main disconnect, ground rod system, and enough breaker positions for current and future needs. The subpanel gives you independent circuit protection without running individual circuits back to the house.
Barn and Agricultural Lighting
Barns need durable, high-output lighting that can withstand dust, moisture, and temperature extremes. We install LED barn lights, aisle lighting, stall lights, and exterior security lighting. All fixtures are rated for the environment and wired with moisture-resistant connections.
Well Pump Circuits
Well pumps require dedicated circuits with specific wire sizing, disconnect switches, and overcurrent protection. We install well pump circuits from the subpanel to the pressure switch, including the required disconnect within sight of the pump. We size the circuit for your pump's horsepower and startup current draw.
Workshop Power
Workshops need 240-volt outlets for welders, air compressors, table saws, and other heavy equipment. We install 240V receptacles on dedicated circuits, 120V general-use circuits for lighting and hand tools, and adequate amperage to run multiple machines without tripping breakers.
Detached Garage Wiring
Detached garages serve as workshops, storage, and vehicle shelters. We wire them with overhead lighting, exterior motion lights, GFCI-protected receptacles, garage door opener circuits, and EV charger pre-wiring. A properly wired detached garage adds real value to your property.
Our Installation Process
Site Survey and Load Calculation
We visit your property, measure the distance from the main panel to the outbuilding, assess the terrain and any obstacles (driveways, trees, existing utilities), and calculate the electrical load for the outbuilding. We determine the feeder size, subpanel capacity, and circuit layout based on how you plan to use the building.
Trenching and Feeder Installation
We trench the underground route, install the feeder cable or conduit at the correct depth, and backfill. For longer runs or higher loads, we may use aluminum feeder cable in conduit to reduce cost while maintaining capacity. We call 811 before digging to locate existing underground utilities on your property.
Subpanel and Interior Wiring
We mount and wire the subpanel, install the grounding electrode system (ground rods), and run all interior circuits. Outlets, switches, lighting, and any 240V equipment connections are installed according to the building's purpose. We use outdoor-rated or agricultural-rated materials where conditions demand it.
Inspection and Commissioning
We schedule the electrical inspection, test every circuit for proper voltage, polarity, and ground fault protection, verify the grounding system resistance, and confirm all equipment is operating correctly. We label the subpanel and walk you through the circuit layout.
Why Professional Installation Matters
Outbuilding wiring involves underground utilities, separate grounding systems, and environmental challenges that require licensed expertise.
Separate Grounding Requirements
Detached buildings must have their own grounding electrode system -- you cannot rely on the house ground alone. The NEC requires ground rods at the outbuilding, and the neutral and ground buses must be separated in the subpanel (unlike the main panel where they are bonded). Incorrect grounding in an outbuilding creates shock hazards and can cause equipment damage.
Voltage Drop Over Distance
The longer the feeder run, the more voltage drops across the wire. A barn 200 feet from the house needs significantly larger wire than one 50 feet away. If the wire is undersized, equipment runs inefficiently, motors overheat, and lights dim. We calculate voltage drop for every installation and size the feeder accordingly.
Underground Cable Protection
Buried electrical cable must be protected from physical damage, moisture intrusion, and ground movement. Burial depth requirements exist for a reason -- shallow burial leads to cable damage from landscaping, vehicles, and frost heave. We bury cable at or below the required depth and use conduit risers at both ends where the cable transitions above ground.
Agricultural and Wet Environments
Barns, horse facilities, and agricultural buildings present unique hazards: moisture, dust, animal contact, and corrosive conditions from manure and feed. Standard residential wiring methods are not appropriate. We use weatherproof boxes, GFCI protection, dust-tight fixtures, and corrosion-resistant materials rated for agricultural environments.
Barn & Outbuilding Wiring Pricing
Unity Power & Light provides flat-rate pricing for outbuilding wiring. Your quote covers the underground feeder, subpanel, interior wiring, and all materials.
The primary cost factors are the distance of the underground run, the amperage of the feeder, the number of interior circuits, and whether any 240V equipment connections are needed. Longer runs require larger (more expensive) feeder cable. We provide an exact quote after the site survey.
For more information about wiring outbuildings on your property, read our blog post: Barn & Workshop Electrical Guide for Aiken, SC Properties
Why Choose Unity Power & Light
Need other electrical work done at the same time? We offer a full range of residential electrical services including panel upgrades, outdoor lighting, generator installation, and more. Combining projects in a single visit saves you time and money.
Need Power in Your Barn or Outbuilding?
Serving Aiken, SC and surrounding communities including North Augusta, Graniteville, New Ellenton, Jackson, and Clearwater. Get your flat-rate quote today.