new construction, where to put fuse panel

[jeepjunky]

My current home has its fuse panel in the basement. When I trip a breaker in the garage, I have to wander through the house down stairs and to the breaker...or just yell to the kids and they trip it for me...they have gotten very good at this!
Im building a new home and have the option of putting the panel in the garage...any thoughts?

 

[matt151617]

Just put a subpanel in the garage for the garage circuits.

 

[RCman]

My current home has its fuse panel in the basement. When I trip a breaker in the garage, I have to wander through the house down stairs and to the breaker...or just yell to the kids and they trip it for me...they have gotten very good at this!
Im building a new home and have the option of putting the panel in the garage...any thoughts?

If it is anything like my new house you're probably going to end up with more than one panel as it is due to codes these days. A least in my area a ~2100 sq ft house won't get by with a 42 circuit panel anymore. My rough was just finished and we're looking at about 52 circuits for the house and 18 for the garage. Keep in mind that every 220V eats two spaces.

If we didn't add any extras, like dedicated AC circuits, welders, compressor, 2 circuits for the living room, etc we might have been able to just full a 42 if we watched the count. But that wouldn't leave any room for growth later.

My advice? At the minimum put one panel in the basement and one in the garage (if you plan on anything other than parking in it).

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I used to be a proponent of "single panel" but the more time goes on, the more multiple panels looks better.
PERSONALLY, having more circuits is nice...keep things segmented easy, etc.. heck looks like i'll be putting in a 2nd panel in my garage off the sub-panel I hooked up last Thursday! hasnt even been a week!

If I had to do the house again, I'd go with 2 panels from the get-go...all the "essentials" in the main...all the "optionals" in the 2nd. SO if you ever want to hook up generator backup, power just the first one and voila, everything you NEED is on.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

My current home has its fuse panel in the basement. When I trip a breaker in the garage, I have to wander through the house down stairs and to the breaker...or just yell to the kids and they trip it for me...they have gotten very good at this!
Im building a new home and have the option of putting the panel in the garage...any thoughts?

Where is your meter main going? House or garage? Either way I would put a subpanel in the garage for the garage circuits!

 

[MrMark]

If your power comes in near the garage I think the ideal setup is to have one panel in the garage for the garage and chase a feeder forward to a centrally located subpanel for the house - if you can find an appropriate spot.

This way you save having long runs on all your branch circuits by having the central panel with just one fat feeder to that panel. Same idea as one of those tankless water heaters, the big idea being that you can locate them closer to the point of use and save water line.

 

[jeepjunky]

hmmm Ill look into 2 panels. but back to the original question. with a single panel where would be a better place to put the panel... garage or basement

 

[Speedy Petey]

In a newly wired home you'll likely never trip a breaker.

Given the choice there is NO WAY I'd put a panel in a garage as opposed to an unfinished basement.

 

[Stuart in MN]

hmmm Ill look into 2 panels. but back to the original question. with a single panel where would be a better place to put the panel... garage or basement

It will depend on where the electric service comes into the house, and to some extent standard building practices in your area - some parts of the country put the panel on the outside of the house, some parts don't often have basements, and so on. The main disconnect inside the house needs to be as close as possible to where the meter is located on the outside of the house, so look at where the service from the electric utility will be coming in to your property. If you're in an area that gets cold in the winter I'd rather see the main panel inside, so you don't have to worry about condensation when the temperatures change.

Can we assume you're talking about an attached garage? I agree that having a separate subpanel for the garage is a good idea, particularly if you have a lot of circuits out there. It makes installation easier (just one cable from the main panel instead of several) and as pointed out you can easily reset a breaker without having to run down to the basement.

 

[bczygan]

Lot of questions.
Where does the service originate? Transformer on a pole or transformer on the ground? Or can it be an overhead drop from the middle of a main line?
Is the service overhead or underground.
What is the yard layout?
Will there be any future pools, ponds, spas or sheds?
Is the house 1 or 2 story?
Any decks on the back?
Were is the garage in relation to the service drop and possible basement location?
Where are there going to be sub feeds that are big?
What is a convenient location for access inside.
In other words, there are lots of factors to consider and balance out and compromise.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

hmmm Ill look into 2 panels. but back to the original question. with a single panel where would be a better place to put the panel... garage or basement

Another thing to consider- if you're gonna have some high amperage machines(welder, compressor, plasma cutter, etc.) in the garage and you go with 1 panel in the basement, you will have issues with Vd and running the wire for the individual circuits through conduit. I would rather go with 2 panels! And if your garage is detached, it will be even more challenging!

 

[Stuart in MN]

Another thing to consider- if you're gonna have some high amperage machines(welder, compressor, plasma cutter, etc.) in the garage and you go with 1 panel in the basement, you will have issues with Vd and running the wire for the individual circuits through conduit. I would rather go with 2 panels! And if your garage is detached, it will be even more challenging!

I agree that it should be considered when designing the system but voltage drop won't necessarily be a problem, it will depend on the distance from the panel. In an average sized house it usually isn't an issue.

From the original description it sounds like this is an attached garage so multiple circuits from a main panel are okay - if it is not, he'll have to run a subpanel if he wants to have more than one circuit out there.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I agree that it should be considered when designing the system but voltage drop won't necessarily be a problem, it will depend on the distance from the panel. In an average sized house it usually isn't an issue.

From the original description it sounds like this is an attached garage so multiple circuits from a main panel are okay - if it is not, he'll have to run a subpanel if he wants to have more than one circuit out there.

Yes, voltage drop all depends on the distance and what he plans on using. We obviously need more info from the OP, to give him a good answer, which we haven't gotten yet.

 

[jeepjunky]

Wow I didn't realize that there was this much to it. It is an acre lot in the country, the service is underground. The garage is attached. no plan for a pool, but someday a detached shop. my old house had the panel in the basement. We looked at buing a house and the panel was in the garage. thanks

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

In a newly wired home you'll likely never trip a breaker.

Given the choice there is NO WAY I'd put a panel in a garage as opposed to an unfinished basement.

Mr. Speedey makes a good point. Sounds like you're going to probably wire the house/garage with MORE outlets than necessary, MORE circuits than minimum, and probably all your outlets will be 20amp vs 15amp. The likelihood of blowing a breaker will be greatly reduced. I would be inclined to put a large panel or two panels in the basement; or if the garage will have enough circuits a sub panel in the garage.

What about the rest of the utilities? Furnace, water heater, A/C, water softener? Have you thought about them? If I ever build a house, I'm going to locate all of those mechanical "things" together in one area that will be one step lower than the rest of the basement. There will be separate standpipes for waste water from the A/C, furnace condensation, and the water softener. The one step lower concrete will have a floor drain of course. The reason for all of this is if anything over flows, the one step down should contain the water and allow it to go into the floor drain. With the stand pipes I will not have to worry about water no getting to the drain right. With all these mechanical "things" in this special area, I could put up stud walls around the edge, insulate, sheet rock it, put a door on it and I think the house would be quieter. (sorry if I kinda hi-jacked your thread)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Wow I didn't realize that there was this much to it. It is an acre lot in the country, the service is underground. The garage is attached. no plan for a pool, but someday a detached shop. my old house had the panel in the basement. We looked at buing a house and the panel was in the garage. thanks

Yeah, electrical is more complicated than say framing or concrete.....Just let us know if u have more questions.

 

[Engineer61]

In my suburb code now requires an electrical cut-off outside the house that the fire dept can use to cut power to the house in case of any emergency (fire, flood, gas leak etc), but the meter boxes being used by the utility no longer have this capability. The builders are just always putting the main panel on the outside of the house next to the meter and say its required by code, even though a simple cut-off switch in an outside box is all that is required, not the entire panel. So you will need to check with your local building dept on what they are requiring to meet code for your electrical service.

 

[jeepjunky]

Ok I got the skinny on my panel, The builder said that it will be far less expensive to put a panel the the garage than it would be to run the wires to the middle of the basement (utility room). So for a couple of hundred more he will put a sub panel in the basement in the utility room. Thanks for all the help.

 

[yost69]

So for a couple of hundred more he will put a sub panel in the basement in the utility room. Thanks for all the help.

I don't want to sound stupid. If your panel is going in the garage, what will the sub panel be used for?

Personaly I would do the exact opposite. My main would be in the basement and my sub would be in the garage.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I don't want to sound stupid. If your panel is going in the garage, what will the sub panel be used for?

Personaly I would do the exact opposite. My main would be in the basement and my sub would be in the garage.

I believe his service comes in @ the garage and it would be very expensive to run wire from the meter socket to the house and then run MORE wire back to the garage. That would be redundant, too!

 

[jvitez]

So main wire to service panel in attached garage which will feel all your garage circuits, and then a big feeder wire to a subpanel in the basement which will feed the rest of the house?

If I have it correctly, sounds like a good plan.

We have two 40/80 200-amp panels side by side (400 amp service) and a huge mess of 14/2 running hither and yon. I would have preferred leaving these two panels and running at least one or two subpanels from them.

 

[pop pop]

Just put it all on a wall where you can add circuits later.

 

[yost69]

I believe his service comes in @ the garage and it would be very expensive to run wire from the meter socket to the house and then run MORE wire back to the garage. That would be redundant, too!

That makes sense now.

 

[jeepjunky]

close, main service for the house and garage in the garage, a sub panel in the basement...for the basement. Im not sure where the major things will be (furnace, well...)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

close, main service for the house and garage in the garage, a sub panel in the basement...for the basement. Im not sure where the major things will be (furnace, well...)

Ok wait a minute. How big is your house? If its not too big, why bother putting in a subpanel in the basement? Home run it to the main!

 

[jwillis]

Just don't put it outside the house. I see houses all the time with the breaker box outdoors on the side of the garage. I can't see that.......

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Just don't put it outside the house. I see houses all the time with the breaker box outdoors on the side of the garage. I can't see that.......

What's wrong with an exterior breaker panel?

 

[jeepjunky]

Im putting a sub panel in the basement because Im not finishing the basement now. If I put a single panel in the garage, then I will have to run wires through finished walls to the panel. If I put a sub panel in from the start when I finish the basement later it will be easier. Also it will be cheaper to put a panel in the garage than to run it to the basement.

 

[ddawg16]

Lots of interesting opinions here.......

I personally hate having a panel inside the house....all to often it's hard to find....you have to leave access to it.....it takes up wall space....etc.....but that is just my opinion...

Exception is the garage.....I like having the panel in the garage because you have all your tools there....and it's a place for 'technical' stuff...so it's a good place.

If I'm understanding the OP's setup....a main panel in the garage sounds good with a sub in the basement to power the furnace and other high power utilities....

I'm one of those that falls back on the "I like seeing the cb/disconnect of the line I'm working on".

One other note....if there is a chance that the OP is going to do a detached garage/shop later....I would run the conduit it for it now...at least run a stug from from load center to a box in the ground outside the house.....then just cap it off. It's easy to dig a trench later and run conduit....not so easy to open up the wall at the load cente to get wire to it and then outside.

 

[SPDMETL]

What's wrong with an exterior breaker panel?

People really do that? Anybody who wanted to mess with you/break in/harm you could shut it off for their own convenience...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Im putting a sub panel in the basement because Im not finishing the basement now. If I put a single panel in the garage, then I will have to run wires through finished walls to the panel. If I put a sub panel in from the start when I finish the basement later it will be easier. Also it will be cheaper to put a panel in the garage than to run it to the basement.

O ok. I thought u were gonna have a main in the garage, a sub in the house AND a sub in the basement!

People really do that? Anybody who wanted to mess with you/break in/harm you could shut it off for their own convenience...

Yes! Every house I've ever worked on at least had a main disconnect @ the meter. And most of those houses also had breakers for branch circuits. I have never heard of someone having a problem with someone messing with them by turning off breakers in an outside panel! I've lived in 5 houses that just had a main disconnect @ the meter and 4 houses which had a main disconnect and branch circuit breakers on the outside of the house. That's a very common way of doing electrical here in the states. I see up in Canada a lot of the time the meter is the only thing on the exterior and the main disconnect and branch circuit breakers are all inside!

 

[Speedy Petey]

That's a very common way of doing electrical here in the states.

NO, that is a very common way of doing it in California, and parts of the southeast.

I see up in Canada a lot of the time the meter is the only thing on the exterior and the main disconnect and branch circuit breakers are all inside!

THIS is how it is done in the majority of the US as well.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

O ok. I've only done electrical in California, so I didn't know. I wonder why its different here in Cali?