Electrical – 20amp circuit with 130 feet 10awg main line and 12awg from junction box to outlets

electrical

I'm new here, so I'll apologize in advance! But I successfully wired up my garage with the helpful information from electricians on job sites and LOTS of research on forums! I had to remove the 20amp breaker that fed 1 outside receptacle at the house from the main service box in order to fit the 100amp breaker feeding the sub panel in the shop. I had enough extra 10-2 direct burial to run from the new sub panel at the shop back to the receptacle at the house so I threw it in the ditch and backfilled it! It is about 150 feet one way.

My main questions/ concerns-
1- Given the distance, could I run the 10awg the first 130 or so feet and then use 12awg in a junction box closer to the receptacle to feed the receptacle for fitment issues?

2- I have an LED flood light on a switch with 12-2 direct burial that I'd like to run on the same circuit. Yay or nay?

3- I won't be using much from the receptacle at the house and the LED flood light won't use much current, so I feel like I'm good with the 20 amp circuit, or should I put it on a 15 amp breaker to be safe?

4- What is the best way to splice at a junction box, wire nuts or the screw down type connectors?

Thank you in advance for your help and sorry if I was unclear about anything (A.D.D. is working overtime today! Hahah!)

Best Answer

You'll be fine here

With your pressure-washer load on a 130' run of 10AWG copper, you're a bit over 3% voltage drop, and the LEDs will draw next to nothing atop that. So, I wouldn't worry too hard about your plans. What you make the splices in your "junction box" with depends on if you're dealing with an aboveground box or an underground handhole, though. For the former, you can use standard wirenuts or lever-lock type connectors; however, for the latter, you'll want to use connectors rated for direct burial, as handholes get quite wet inside.