220v to garage from house

[GSX]

I am doing a project to wire my garage with 220v to power my 60 gallon compressor i just got a great deal on. I have did the wiring for 110v but I now need 220v. I know I have to use a bigger gauge wire like 6/3. But from my house panel to the garage it is 130 feet. The house panel is 100A main.But i need to know what kind of wire i need to use and what kind of double pole breaker i need? And what ways is best to run the wire? thanks

Dustin

 

[805gregg]

Get an electrician, upgrade your panel to 200 amps then run maybe 4 gauge wires to a 100 amp subpanel in the garage, then later you can get a good welder

 

[pattenp]

It will help to know where you are. Wire types and installation is different in different places.

 

[GSX]

I am in Colorado and why would i need to upgrade?

 

[pattenp]

You don't have to necessarily upgrade your house panel. It depends on current space in the panel and existing loads. If you have the space to add a double pole breaker in the main panel the odds are you can add a 50A or 60A feeder to your garage. #6 copper or #4 aluminum THHN/THWN wire will be good for 60A. The aluminum will save you some $$. I feel it's best to bury the feed and use PVC conduit. Just get a 20 or so space 100A main breaker panel for the sub-panel.

 

[GSX]

Ok thanks. There is room in my house panel. And the existing loads are dryer, porch, 1st bed room, 2nd bed room, well, bathroom, living room lights. And i can take the old garage beaker out and it will give me room and put a new double pole breaker. And i got a whole panel at a garage sale for cheep with breakers so i bought it. And the 6 gauge or 4 gauge is that a single wire or no?

 

[pattenp]

The feeder wire needs to be 4 conductors. For 60A - Copper 6-6-6-10 Aluminum 4-4-4-8. The small conductor will be the equipment ground.

Edit: When say single wire do you mean a cable with 4 conductors?

 

[GSX]

Ok i see how you are talking bout the wire. And i seen single 6 gauge wire a homedepot? Or are you talking about 6/3 wire? I am just confused on wire.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwir...HHN-Conductor-20502101/202316586#.UYCDfUrsNnI

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Is this a detached garage? or attached? makes a difference.

Charles

 

[GSX]

Detached. I have to run 220v 130 feet. I am confused on the wire though.

 

[pattenp]

You could use 6/3 UF but it's copper and $$$. Or use individual single conductors to make up the feeder. I was going down the individual conductors road. The aluminum will need to be purchased as individual conductors. So as an example you'd buy 390' of #4 Al XHHW and 130' of #8 Al XHHW to make up the 130' 4 conductor feeder.

 

[GSX]

Ok i see now. Where would be a place to get the wire at?

 

[pattenp]

To get individual wire you will most likely need to go to an electrical supply house. Big box stores like Lowes and HD will be very limited to having AL XHHW or similar. There are other options such as aluminum Mobile Home Feeder but the smallest that comes in is 2-2-4-6 which is good to 90 amps.

 

[GSX]

Ok what is a aluminum Mobile Home Feeder? If I cant find wirer.

 

[pattenp]

MHF also comes as 2-2-2-4 Look at this post...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194760

 

[GSX]

I read. Thanks. so these wire will work as will if i cant find the 6-6-6-8 wire right?

 

[pattenp]

Yes. The thing to understand is the MHF comes as an assembled cable, 4 conductors twisted together as seen in the picture. If you go with the #4 aluminum and #8 for the ground you will be buying the individual wires and making your own cable so to speak. I assume you meant #4 aluminum, not #6.

I read. Thanks. so these wire will work as will if i cant find the 6-6-6-8 wire right?

 

[matt151617]

There is also triplex, and if you can find it, quadplex, that's good for in-conduit use. I found triplex it at my local supply house, 6-6-6. Then I bought a #8 AL THWN for the ground, and protected at 50 amps since it was all open run. Transitioned to #6 SEC once inside the house. 1.5" conduit in case I ever want to go bigger.

This was about half the price of #2 MHF.

 

[zcar751]

pattenp is giving you good technical advice, how ever you need to check the electrical code requirements for your area before you start buying material. Most locations require UF-B cable for outdoor installation. Some places will also require you to put the UF-B in pvc. Again depends on the local codes. If you use MHF it needs to be from box to box, never splice aluminum and copper wire together.

 

[pattenp]

Yes, do check with your local code enforcers before buying your wire. Do you have to run MHF from box to box? No. You can transition to aluminum SER by using a J-box if you don’t want to run conduit inside the structure. Also be aware that some cable cannot be run inside. The Triplex and Quadruplex are UD cable and only carry a USE-2 rating which means they cannot enter the structure because they don't also have a fire resistant rated insulation. They are to be terminated on the outside in a J-box.

 

[GSX]

Ok thanks for all the info. And i do have to run PVC in the ground when i run the wire. From box to box. I am going under the crawl space of the house to run most of the wire. then on the corner of the house im going to run it threw conduit.

 

[pattenp]

To make sure I understand your statement of under the crawl space then at the corner of the house through conduit. You do mean you are having conduit in the crawl space also. Right? If using MHF it has to be in conduit inside and where exposed outside. Technically MHF is direct bury so it doesn't need to be in conduit under ground but it's best to put it in conduit. And when you say from box to box you do mean from main service panel to sub-panel?

Ok thanks for all the info. And i do have to run PVC in the ground when i run the wire. From box to box. I am going under the crawl space of the house to run most of the wire. then on the corner of the house im going to run it threw conduit.

 

[GSX]

ok thanks for all the help i will post a picture of my compressor tomorrow when i get the chance thanks.