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The rise of the "Accessory Dwelling Unit" (ADU) is transforming New Jersey backyards. Homeowners are converting detached garages into guest suites, building pool houses with full kitchens, and installing sophisticated home offices in garden sheds. These are not just storage sheds anymore; they are fully habitable living spaces that require heating, cooling, cooking, and entertainment.

Bringing power to a detached structure is more complex than running an extension cord. It involves creating a sub-service that mimics the functionality of a main house. It requires trenching, load calculations, and often a dedicated sub-panel. Partnering with a skilled Electrician New Jersey builders recommend is essential to ensure that your new backyard retreat has the power to be comfortable and code-compliant.

The Feeder Calculation: How Much Power?

The first step is determining the load. Is this a simple office with a laptop and a light? Or is it a pool house with an electric tankless water heater, a mini-split AC, and a kitchenette? If it's the latter, you might need a 60-amp or even a 100-amp feeder cable. We calculate the demand to ensure we run a heavy enough wire underground. Undersizing this feeder results in voltage drop—meaning lights will dim in the guest house every time the AC kicks on, which is bad for electronics and motors.

Direct Burial vs. Conduit Systems

Getting the wire from the main house to the ADU requires trenching. We almost always recommend running wires inside PVC conduit rather than using direct-burial cable. Conduit offers superior protection against rocks, garden tools, and rodents. It also allows for future upgrades; if you decide to add a hot tub to the pool house later, we can pull new wires through the existing pipe without digging up the yard again. The depth is strictly regulated—usually 18 inches for conduit—to ensure safety.

The Sub-Panel and Grounding Requirements

A detached structure typically requires its own electrical panel (sub-panel). This gives the occupant access to reset breakers without having to enter the main house. A critical safety difference for detached structures is the grounding system. You cannot just rely on the ground wire coming from the main house. The ADU requires its own grounding electrode system—typically two ground rods driven into the earth near the structure. This creates a local ground reference that protects against lightning and surges. We ensure the neutral and ground bars are separated in this sub-panel (floating neutral) to prevent dangerous current loops.

Internet and Low Voltage Connectivity

A guest house is useless without Wi-Fi. While digging the trench for the power, it is the perfect time to run a conduit for data. We run direct-burial Cat6 or fiber optic cable to the ADU. Fiber is often preferred for longer distances (over 300 feet) as it is immune to electrical interference and lightning surges that can travel down copper data lines. This hardwired connection ensures that the TV streams 4K video perfectly and the guest can work remotely without relying on a weak Wi-Fi signal from the main house.

Conclusion

An ADU is a major asset that adds versatility and value to your property. But it must be safe and functional. By treating the electrical installation with the same rigor as the main house—sizing the service correctly and grounding it properly—you create a space that is truly independent and comfortable.

Call to Action

Make your backyard guest suite fully functional by contacting us for a detached structure power consultation.

Visit: https://www.sperryelectricnj.com/