Finished Sub-Panel Installation

[overland04]

Thanks to some good advice from this forum, I gave my sub-panel a shot myself. I work primarily in automotive DC wiring but applied any knowledge I have to this project. This is for my new detached 20x24 garage.

*UPDATED IMAGE*

*OLD IMAGE OF NON-CODE CONFORMING QUADRUPLEX UD CABLE*
*DO NOT USE INDOORS*

 

[pattenp]

In your other post you said you got MHF for the feed but in the picture the wire looks like URD with an added wire for the ground. The reason I say this is because one wire looks like it has yellow stripes on it and the ground looks black. Of course I can be seeing it wrong.

EDIT: Looking harder at your picture it appears the wire with the yellow stripes is used for the ground. I hope I'm wrong but it looks like you were sold Quadruplex (****) UD cable which is not rated to be run inside of the structure. It just carries a USE-2 rating.

 

[Norcal]

If the feeder conductors are 4 AWG or larger the PVC MA needs a bushing.

 

[overland04]

In your other post you said you got MHF for the feed but in the picture the wire looks like URD with an added wire for the ground. The reason I say this is because one wire looks like it has yellow stripes on it and the ground looks black. Of course I can be seeing it wrong.

EDIT: Looking harder at your picture it appears the wire with the yellow stripes is used for the ground. I hope I'm wrong but it looks like you were sold Quadruplex (****) UD cable which is not rated to be run inside of the structure. It just carries a USE-2 rating.

Well, after a nice argument in the HD isle this morning, I now have a new run of MHF cable in exchange for the URD **** I was sold without me realizing it.

Off to pull wire again

At least I can put the bushing on now

I'll re post once I get it ran again, thanks!

 

[pattenp]

I'm sorry to have caused any problems for you. The URD would have worked but just not to the letter of the NEC. This is not the first time people have been sold URD cable from HD or Lowes where it will be run inside. I think most of the sales people in HD and Lowes just don't know the details of where URD can be used.

 

[overland04]

I'm sorry to have caused any problems for you. The URD would have worked but just not to the letter of the NEC. This is not the first time people have been sold URD cable from HD or Lowes where it will be run inside. I think most of the sales people in HD and Lowes just don't know the details of where URD can be used.

No worries, it's part of the learning curve for myself and It'll be a little work to get it done right but I'd feel much better at the end. Even if an inspector passed it, it still makes me uncomfortable to have that cable in my basement. If it was just in my garage, I could live with it as it's detached and only park my car in there, but with a new born on the way, you start to think about safety a little differently in the house.

But just to confirm, the 2-2-2-4 MHF with the White Stripe on Neutral and Green Stripe on Ground is the proper AL wire to run the entire way?

Here is the link to the cable I got: Home Depot

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'm guessing this is an attached garage ?

If is not attached, you need a disconnect before the sub-panel.

P.S.
Growing up, most people, guys especially, don't think "neatness counts". When you look at this text book example, the OP should have a lot of "pride in workmenship" !

 

[pattenp]

The MHF is the correct wire to also be used inside the structure. If you look at the insulation it should have a rating RHH RHW-2 USE-2 where as the URD only carries the USE-2.

 

[pattenp]

It's detached and since the panel only has 6 breakers it doesn't need a main disconnect.

Edit: If that panel takes tandem breakers and you increase the number of breakers above 6 then you need to add a main disconnect or replace the panel with a main breaker style panel.

I'm guessing this is an attached garage ?

If is not attached, you need a disconnect before the sub-panel.

P.S.
Growing up, most people, guys especially, don't think "neatness counts". When you look at this text book example, the OP should have a lot of "pride in workmenship" !

 

[Kevin C]

It's detached and since the panel only has 6 breakers it doesn't need a main disconnect.

Edit: If that panel takes tandem breakers and you increase the number of breakers above 6 then you need to add a main disconnect or replace the panel with a main breaker style panel.

That was my understanding as well. I had a similar installation with five circuits that passed. The inspector still gave me a hard time since in his eyes, it was too easy to add a duplex breakers and have more than six moves to disconnect the power.

After some discussion, he agreed it was to code and that I could not be failed for possible future changes.

Still, I did end up swapping the box before final once I realized how easy it was going to be to run out of breaker slots if I added any 240 volt circuits.

I ended up using this panel:

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=374128-1318-P1224B1100CU&catalogId=10051&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=3532944

 

[Norcal]

That was my understanding as well. I had a similar installation with five circuits that passed. The inspector still gave me a hard time since in his eyes, it was too easy to add a duplex breakers and have more than six moves to disconnect the power.

After some discussion, he agreed it was to code and that I could not be failed for possible future changes. Still, I did end up swapping the box before final once I realized how easy it was going to be to run out of breaker slots if I added any 240 volt circuits.

I ended up using this panel:

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=374128-1318-P1224B1100CU&catalogId=10051&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=3532944

Inspectors cannot inspect for "What If's", only what is there.

 

[overland04]

So, after a little longer than expected I received the new cable to correct the problem. The local box stores didn't stock and wouldn't buy MHF cable unless I purchased a 500' roll so I went online and ordered it from Elliot Electric Supply The price was slightly cheaper than the box store would have been if the carried it, but the shipping made up for the distance. I went with MHF 2-2-4-6 and it was much easier to work with than the UD **** cable I had improperly installed before. I've updated the OP image to reflect the revised cable and thank you again for the advice. Oh, and I also added the bushing while I was in there.

Cheers!

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The local box stores didn't stock and wouldn't buy MHF cable unless I purchased a 500' roll

Doesn't surprise me...The **** is pretty much all you'll find in the state of Maine.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Following the thread and don't see the OLD picture. I wanted to see the WRONG stuff being used so I could compare wrong vs. correct.

Can Ya' repost the wrong pic?

 

[overland04]

Following the thread and don't see the OLD picture. I wanted to see the WRONG stuff being used so I could compare wrong vs. correct.

Can Ya' repost the wrong pic?

Great idea, added it to the opening post.
Thanks!

 

[pattenp]

To run inside of structure...

Wrong... **** Quadruplex URD USE-2

Right.... Mobile Home Feeder RHH RHW-2 USE-2

Edit: Also notice that the MHF has compacted conductors where as **** does not which means the MHF for the same size can use smaller conduit.




*

 

[overland04]

Notice that the MHF has compacted conductors where as **** does not which means the MHF for the same size can use smaller conduit.

Yeah, what a pleasure it was to run this through 1-1/2" conduit. I was bummed when I had to pull the old cable out because it was so difficult to get in, but the MHF went in like butter!

Thank you for catching that mistake and I feel much better knowing I have the correct cable now.

 

[pattenp]

The main thing that helped you out on the pull was going from 2-2-2-4 to 2-2-4-6. The compacted conductors in the MHF did help some.

Yeah, what a pleasure it was to run this through 1-1/2" conduit. I was bummed when I had to pull the old cable out because it was so difficult to get in, but the MHF went in like butter!

Thank you for catching that mistake and I feel much better knowing I have the correct cable now.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Great idea, added it to the opening post.
Thanks!

Thanks. I see the difference.