Garage wiring

[Jeremy910]

So I just got this garage for basically nothing. It’s a 24x24 and not in terrible condition at all. But the electrical does need to be updated. I know how to do the work but I do not know what all I need. So the house has a 200amp main and i only see a 20 amp breaker going to the garage. But in the garage there is a old breaker box with a 25 an 30 amp screw in fuses. Everything in the garage works just fine. But there are only 2 lights and a couple outlets. I wanted to put more power out there. Add some LED lights and more outlets. I have an air compressor,small welder,and I plan on putting one of those max jax lifts in. Here are a few pics. Any input on what you guys think what would be best would be appreciated.

 

[Shiftless]

To be sure that the labeled 20 amp breaker is the only feed to the garage, you could flip that breaker to the off position and see if the lights AND all the receptacles went dead.
I assume the UF cable you showed is 12 ga.

 

[Jeremy910]

To be sure that the labeled 20 amp breaker is the only feed to the garage, you could flip that breaker to the off position and see if the lights AND all the receptacles went dead.
I assume the UF cable you showed is 12 ga.

It shuts everything off I just tried plug ins and lights.

 

[Shiftless]

Is that garage detached?

 

[Jeremy910]

Is that garage detached?

Yes.

 

[nadogail]

How difficult will it be to upgrade the feed to the garage? Then after the feed is upgraded a new sub panel should be the next step.

 

[Jeremy910]

How difficult will it be to upgrade the feed to the garage? Then after the feed is upgraded a new sub panel should be the next step.

The garage is about 7–8 feet away from the house. It shouldn’t be to hard to dig up.

 

[BillK]

The garage is about 7–8 feet away from the house. It shouldn’t be to hard to dig up.

I would upgrade it to a 240 volt feed from the main panel and a new subpanel. Should be very easy at that distance and not too expensive. That way you will have whatever you need for the future. When I built my 24x24 detached I put in a 100 amp sub.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

#2 al MHF and a new subpanel. Dont forget to isolate the neutral bar and install 2 ground rods.

 

[pattenp]

What's the total run distance from main panel to subpanel?

 

[u2slow]

USA or Canada? NEC requires the extra ground rods but CEC does not. Regulatory discrepancy.

The existing circuit(s) can easily support a bunch of LED lighting, if you'd rather work on that first. Easy to swing the feed over to the updated sub-panel later.

 

[Mike1903]

So I just got this garage for basically nothing. It’s a 24x24 and not in terrible condition at all. But the electrical does need to be updated. I know how to do the work but I do not know what all I need. So the house has a 200amp main and i only see a 20 amp breaker going to the garage. But in the garage there is a old breaker box with a 25 an 30 amp screw in fuses. Everything in the garage works just fine. But there are only 2 lights and a couple outlets. I wanted to put more power out there. Add some LED lights and more outlets. I have an air compressor,small welder,and I plan on putting one of those max jax lifts in. Here are a few pics. Any input on what you guys think what would be best would be appreciated.

Curious about your first sentence…. Did you buy neighbor’s garage for minimal price or the whole place is just a garage with some living quarters…. Just wondering