Farm work
Grain bin, dryer and feed mill wiring
A bin is a motor, a fan and a ladder away from the panel. We wire the whole path so the dryer, leg and augers start in order and stop together.
We wire bins, dryers, grain legs, augers, aeration fans, bin sweeps, moisture and temperature cables, feed mills and bulk feed bins.
What we do
A disconnect within sight of each motor
Starters and controls labeled and drawn on one page
Dust-tight boxes and fittings in the bin area
When to call
Signs the bins need a look
Call in summer if you see any of these. Bin jobs fill up before September.
A new bin or dryer is coming
The wire, the starter and the disconnect should be planned before the equipment is on the truck.
Motors that trip on startup
A leg or fan that kicks a breaker as it starts usually has a feed or a starter that is too small.
Extension cords on the bin fans
Fans run for days. They belong on a fixed circuit with a disconnect.
An auger or sweep with no working disconnect
If you can't shut it off at the machine, it isn't ready for harvest.
A burnt smell at a starter or disconnect
Turn it off if it is safe to, keep people away, and call us.
Three-phase equipment on single-phase power
There are a few ways to solve that. We lay out each one and what it costs to run.
The visit
What a grain job includes
We start from the bin plan, so the electrical goes in the order the equipment does.
- 01
Step 1: Walk the site with the plan
We look at the pad, the path of the legs and augers, and the distance from the service.
- 02
Step 2: Size the service and the run
We add up the motors that run at once and size the feeder to them.
- 03
Step 3: Write the estimate and the order
It lists each bin, the dryer and the controls, with the days we need on site.
- 04
Step 4: Wire it up
Conduit and boxes go in first, so the equipment crew can set machines without waiting.
- 05
Step 5: Start up with the installer
We coordinate with the equipment installer, so the dryer starts once and starts right.
- 06
Step 6: Label and draw
Every starter and disconnect is labeled, and you keep a one-page drawing.
Pricing
What changes the price on a grain job
Three things move it most.
The number of bins and the distance between them
Each bin needs its own feed and disconnect, and distance adds wire and trench.
Three-phase power or a converter
Whether the utility can bring three-phase, or a converter makes more sense, changes the plan and the monthly cost.
Dryer and leg motor size
Larger motors mean larger starters and a larger feed.
Questions about grain work
Can you do it before harvest?
Book in summer. Bin and dryer jobs fill the schedule before September, and we'd rather tell you the dates early.
Can you work with the dryer installer?
Yes. We coordinate with the installer for the hookup, and we want the dryer's controls on a clean feed.
What about the dust?
We use sealed, dust-tight boxes and fittings in the bin area, and we keep fixtures out of the dustiest spots.
Put your bins on our schedule
Tell us how many bins and what dryer. We'll find a day before the first load.