What kind of underground wire do I use to run from my house out to my pole barn, about 150 feet away?

I want to run electrical out to my pole barn, about 150 feet from my house, so I can get power out there. I will then wire the pole barn with lighting and plugs. I'll want to operate a compressor out there also. What kind of underground wire do I use?

You can use direct burial wire - but it would be best to run it in conduit (schedule 40 PVC) 18" deep. The size of your compressor will dictate the size of your wire. You would be better off running the wire in conduit - setting a sub panel in the barn and then running your compressor circuit off that.
For a 220v 40 amp compressor you would need #6 wire run to the barn. The outlets need only #12 for 20amps. Lights need #14 wire to them and the switches (once you get the #6 run to the sub panel you can then use the smaller wire to the internal stuff)

a 40 amp wire requires a #8 wire according to the nec,if you are running UHF wire you don't need any piping as long as its buried 18 inches in ground. Report Abuse

you should have a box brought out there and supply barn from breaker box inside polebarn. you say outlets, lights, compressor? think about a 100 amp service. it will be enough for now and space for some future deal.

ask the suppliers when you go to purchase the wire they will sell you what you need

Contact your city or county code department and ask what the code for your specific area is.

You may have to run a water-proof conduit below freeze line and then have wire chased through the conduit. If you are going to do this much work, you will want to run 220 V service and have a sub-panel installed. Call three electricians and ask them if they charge to bid a job, then get three bids. Have them specify what they will do, who will pull the permits, and who will schedule the inspection. If you can dig the trench, do the permit and wait for the inspector, you might save a little money, mention this to the electrician and see if they work with homeowners. Some will, many will not.
Good luck.

If you don't want any problems in the future, run direct burial cable or DB. You can run romex cable, but I have found tthis to be nothing but trouble down the line.
Also, use good PVC conduit with sweeps for the 90 degree turns, not elbows.
Good luck to you.