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It looks like they ran a proper 4 conductor cable to the barn but the AC circuit is only a 3 wire without a neutral. This is fine for the AC unit as it runs on 240 volts (L1, L2, G) and a neutral isn't needed.

The barn circuit however should be 4 wires with the ground & neutral isolated in the barn panel and run back to the main.

Can you run a new circuit (4 wire) from the main and make the splice in a weatherproof junction box nearby?

Notice how in the illustration below the ground & neutral are bonded together at the main (left) and isolated from each other in the sub-panel (right).

 

Yup, also kill power pull line out put grey pvc in box, to just to under ground line. Run line into the pvc.

Id be kinda worried about that line going underground, since it doesnt look like direct bury line

 

Goodnight everyone, sleep well

 

Well, not sure about that, there is no other junction box in the barn or nearby. Just an outlet and a couple dysfunctional lights in the barn.

 

The lines been underground for 15+ years. There's no telling what it was originally rated for.

 

Good morning everyone, have a great, safe and blessed day.

 

Good morning everyone

Start of a three day workweek for me. Something tells me it’s gonna drag on..

 

I just saw that we're supposed to hit 50 degrees today. It is still February, right?

 

It’s crazy, we are supposed to be 68 degrees today.

 

It was 65 here yesterday. Supposed to be the same again today.

 

Good morning friends! Have an awesome day


55* here today.

 

What @RustyGreen said BUT you need to get a clamp, something like this to keep the wire from rubbing. The heat/cool cycle makes it move a little bit. This will stop it at the contact point against the box.

 

10 degrees currently with 34 guessed for the high today

 

without going into detail with all of the things that are wrong here, the easy solution would be to buy a UF splice kit, and fix the piece of UF (tan wire) you're having an issue with. A future issue will be avoided if you get an outdoor rated UF connector to put into that box. I'd also take that copper ground that's just wrapped around the aluminum ground and find a better way to attach it to the box or ground lug, the way its done there is asking for trouble.

 

Right idea Shane, those are for indoor use, this is an outdoor rated one. either one would fix the chafing problem from happening again.

 

Thanks Cory for setting us straight. I learned something today

 

I don't know much, but I know some 'lectrical! yesterday I couldn't spell electrician, today I are one!

 

The plot thickens...

The cable to the barn looks like #12 (20 amp) or #10 (30 amp) wire, the size should be embossed in the jacket. The supply and AC wires are heavier - I'm betting the fuses in that pull out and the breaker feeding the mess are larger than the capacity if the cable to the barn.

Over fusing a wire is bad in general, however with the poor ground included it really isn't a safe situation out in the barn for you and whatever you have plugged in either.

 

Help me to understand something about electrical. Why does a plug have a neutral (white) and ground (bare) and both are connected to ground at the panel? I know some panels have a bar connecting the 2 from each side of the box.

What is the purpose of having the 3 wires (hot, neutral, & ground) when 2 of them (neutral & ground) are connected together?

I know that is how it is but I don't understand why that is how it is.