Garage Panel Questions

[richas]

I have purused the forum for info and it has been helpful.

I am replacing my driveway and am going to take the opportunity to bury new conduit to my detached garage and install a sub-panel to supply 240V to the garage.

At this point I will just concern myself with the conduit. The current plan is to run 1-1/2" conduit which will contain 3 6 gauge conductors and a ground wire.

The conduit will come up next to my foundation which rises ~18" from the driveway and then there is ship-lap siding which protrudes ~1-2" out farther out than the concrete foundation. I hope that makes sense. (1920's house)

I would rather not have to have the conduit do a "jog" around the foundation/siding junction. Is it kosher to drill a hole through the foundation? If so, how high off the ground?

How low can I have the conduit enter the garage?

Thanks

Rich

 

[pattenp]

As low as you want. You could dig down below grade and bring the conduit up on the inside of the foundation. That will take a lot of work though.

 

[richas]

As low as you want. You could dig down below grade and bring the conduit up on the inside of the foundation. That will take a lot of work though.

Yeah, especially since I have a basement!

I am reluctant to drill holes through the foundation wall, perhaps i need to bring it up above the sill plate.........

Rich

 

[Aceman]

Bring it up plumb so it lays flat against the siding, if it spaces it off the foundation an inch or two, that's no big deal. Take it up high enough that you can LB right into the back of the panel.

The next thing to take care of is driving some rods before you finish the driveway. That way you can get them in below finished grade, run your ground wire from the rods ziptied up the backside of the 1 1/2" pvc where you can't see it. Then drill a 1/4" hole through the siding preferably under the LB as much as possible, into the back of the panel.

Nothing to it.

EDIT: My mistake, you're talking about the house side of the conduit run, not the garage. I'd probably shoot for right above the sill plate, so your in the floor joist cavity.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Run bigger conduit. Next week you will be wanting to install a 200 amp panel and asking how you can jam those huge wires in that small conduit. Just go ahead and install at least a 2" conduit and make life easy on yourself.

Charles

 

[matt151617]

Also run a seperate 1" conduit line parallel for cable, internet, etc. It's no extra work since the trench is already there, and it'll allow for more expansion.

 

[pattenp]

What amps are you looking for at the garage? You said you want to run 6/3 which I assume is copper. That would be good for up to 60A. I suggest 2" PVC and run 2-2-2-4 Aluminum Mobile Home Feeder which will give you up to 90A. This may cost the same or less than using 6/3 copper and you get higher amps.

 

[PRH44]

I agree with pattenp and charles. I would not install anything less that an two inch.
I would also install a low voltage raceway may want remote security also

Also run a separate 1" conduit line parallel for cable, internet, etc. It's no extra work since the trench is already there, and it'll allow for more expansion.

If you need to cross your drive to get out of your house or get to the garage. I would install at least one future sleeve under the drive. Make them about two or three feet wider on each side of your drive. I installed two large sleeves under mine for future. I had some 6" and 4" PVC laying around. You do not need to go to that extreme. I would however place something under the drive for future so you will never need to cut or dig it up again.