Electrical to Garage - Detached - Iowa

[tedo2007]

Not looking to do much in the garage, but want to throw in a 220 in case id ever want to weld.

I am about 85 feet from the house by the way I would run the wire. House has 100 amp service. thinking to run 60 amps out to the garage, what would you guys suggest for wire to run?


Underground of course! (was thinking in conduit, running a second for network wire as well as speaker wire from receiver for audio.

 

[75gmck25]

2-2-2-4 aluminum MHF is a common solution for anything up to about 90 amps, and its easy to find at most supply houses. It can be direct buried, but its better to protect it with conduit. Just make sure the conduit is large enough to allowing pulling cable this big.

Your other alternative for conduit is to pull individual wires that are rated for wet areas (THWN-2?).

Bruce

 

[tedo2007]

2-2-2-4 aluminum MHF is a common solution for anything up to about 90 amps, and its easy to find at most supply houses. It can be direct buried, but its better to protect it with conduit. Just make sure the conduit is large enough to allowing pulling cable this big.



Your other alternative for conduit is to pull individual wires that are rated for wet areas (THWN-2?).



Bruce

Do I need the ground attached going from the house?

I found some at wire and cable your way for 1.17 a foot, may go that way


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[pattenp]

If you just want 60A and no more, another option is to use 1.25" PVC conduit and run three #4's and one #8 aluminum XHHW-2. This is probably the cheapest wire option with using conduit for just 60A.

 

[pattenp]

Do I need the ground attached going from the house?

I found some at wire and cable your way for 1.17 a foot, may go that way


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Yes you need the equipment ground panel to panel.

You can also use the 2-2-4-6 MHF.

If you use #2 MHF, don't use conduit smaller than 1.5".


*

 

[tedo2007]

If you just want 60A and no more, another option is to use 1.25" PVC conduit and run three #4's and one #8 aluminum XHHW-2. This is probably the cheapest wire option with using conduit for just 60A.

Looking for best way rather than cheapest, house only has 100 amp service so not sure how all this works just going off what the electrician told me


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[pattenp]

Looking for best way rather than cheapest, house only has 100 amp service so not sure how all this works just going off what the electrician told me


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MHF is a direct bury cable and if using conduit that feature is not needed. That being said the MHF is more convenient because it's already assembled as one twisted cable. The 2-2-4-6 MHF gives you up to 90A and you can use 1.5" conduit. The 2-2-2-4 MHF I suggest 2" conduit. You need to check conduit prices because you may find the 2" is just slightly more than the 1.5" and is easier to pull the wire through.

 

[tedo2007]

MHF is a direct bury cable and if using conduit that feature is not needed. That being said the MHF is more convenient because it's already assembled as one twisted cable. The 2-2-4-6 MHF gives you up to 90A and you can use 1.5" conduit. The 2-2-2-4 MHF I suggest 2" conduit. You need to check conduit prices because you may find the 2" is just slightly more than the 1.5" and is easier to pull the wire through.

Sounds like mhf is the way to go, my next worry is room in my main panel in the basement with the 100 amp service


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[pattenp]

You have no room.

If you identify the circuits and the loads on them you may find 2 circuits that can be combined with another 2 circuits to free up 2 spaces. Check the 15A circuits for possible combination.

 

[tedo2007]

You have no room.

If you identify the circuits and the loads on them you may find 2 circuits that can be combined with another 2 circuits to free up 2 spaces. Check the 15A circuits for possible combination.

I believe I can combine a few!

I'll have to do some figuring


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[pattenp]

If you find 2 circuits that can be combined on one breaker you are not to put 2 wires under one breaker connection, You need to wirenut the circuit wires together and add a pigtail that will go to the breaker. You can check your breakers to see if they allow 2 wires under one connection, most likely they aren't approved for 2 wires.

 

[pima67]

It's a GE panel and may be rated for GE's 1/2" breakers which could be used to replace 1" breakers freeing up space.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It's a GE panel and may be rated for GE's 1/2" breakers which could be used to replace 1" breakers freeing up space.

The 1/2" GE breakers are THQP and the panel label does NOT list that type for the panel so thats a no go.