2 car detached garage rewire

[dave89iroc]

I'm familiar with some basic wiring, however, I plan on rewiring the garage

2 car detached, it has a single 110v circuit now, a couple switches to lights and 2 outlets, all on 1 swithch in the house


I want to run 220v out there to a small sub panel
220v outlet for future use(60/80 gallon air compressor and maybe a welder, these seem to be rated at ~20A and 30A respectively)
a couple 20A circuits with a couple outlets(probably about 4-5 duplex outlets on each circuit)
2 switched 15A circuits for lights

I plan to dig a trench, and run the plastic conduit, and will be running the individual conductors

the total run is probably right around 50', so, I'm thinking 8 gauge THHN wire?
for that run it looks like it provides for a 50A load ?
so I am looking at a 50A breaker in the house?

or do you recommend a larger wire and corresponding larger breaker?

also, do I run a hot, hot, neutral and a ground, or is a ground rod at the garage called for?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I'm familiar with some basic wiring, however, I plan on rewiring the garage

2 car detached, it has a single 110v circuit now, a couple switches to lights and 2 outlets, all on 1 swithch in the house


I want to run 220v out there to a small sub panel
220v outlet for future use(60/80 gallon air compressor and maybe a welder, these seem to be rated at ~20A and 30A respectively)
a couple 20A circuits with a couple outlets(probably about 4-5 duplex outlets on each circuit)
2 switched 15A circuits for lights

I plan to dig a trench, and run the plastic conduit, and will be running the individual conductors

the total run is probably right around 50', so, I'm thinking 8 gauge THHN wire?
for that run it looks like it provides for a 50A load ?
so I am looking at a 50A breaker in the house?

or do you recommend a larger wire and corresponding larger breaker?

also, do I run a hot, hot, neutral and a ground, or is a ground rod at the garage called for?

If u go with #2 AL MHF, u can have 90a, which would be plenty and the wire is probably cheaper than running the #8. #2 MHF is usually around $1.5/ft.

MHF can be direct butied but must be in conduit indoors...

U WILL need 2 ground rods in addition to the 4 conductors(hot, hot, neutral and ground).

The current 120v feed will have to be abandoned.

In the subpanel, make sure to isolate the neutral bar.

 

[dave89iroc]

I see 2-2-4-6 MHF AL , is that what I want?

 

[sberry]

The number 2 is great, the 8 too light. If they are close they are often done 6-60 as there is a common cable for it. I agree, if you are piping no reason not to go with a larger wire

 

[pattenp]

I see 2-2-4-6 MHF AL , is that what I want?

The 2-2-4-6 will work okay if you can't find the 2-2-2-4. I don't know where you live, but here the 2-2-2-4 MHF at Lowes (#1.47 a ft) is cheaper than the 2-2-4-6 at Home Depot ($1.69 a ft).

 

[dave89iroc]

The 2-2-4-6 will work okay if you can't find the 2-2-2-4. I don't know where you live, but here the 2-2-2-4 MHF at Lowes (#1.47 a ft) is cheaper than the 2-2-4-6 at Home Depot ($1.69 a ft).

Local Lowes doesnt stock any MHF , home depot does



only 2-2-2-4 at my local lowes is SER, both aluminum and copper


I will look around for the 2-2-2-4 AL MHF though, I like the extra bit of safety

 

[dave89iroc]

another question, what brand or breaker box/type of breakers do you recommend?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Gold bus bar is the best. just kidding. If u want a good panel, get a copper bus bar panel.