30A Safety Switch or DPDT Switch?

[diggler306]

I started a thread a year ago (almost to the date) about moving my panel. I still haven't done it. (gah) (Moving panel within the garage)

Anyway, I'm getting to rewiring the garage finally, so I'll be moving my panel. My subpanel is only 4 slots (30A, 10-3 240v NMWU feeder), and my proposed circuit layout will fill the panel with three 15A tandem breakers and a single 20A breaker. Because of this, I believe I now need a main shutoff, which my panel does not have.

Since I don't have enough feeder wire from the house (detached garage) to extend to the new panel location behind the door, I will need to junction it anyway. So my question is, what kind of switch do I need/should I use to accomplish this? Do I use one of those box type safety disconnect switches, or can I use something cleaner/smaller like a 30A double pole switch?

Oh, I am in Canada. Thanks in advance.

 

[diggler306]

Anybody? Also, does not need to be double throw (DT) as stated in subject incorrectly.

 

[pattenp]

I didn't reply because I'm in the US and figured someone in Canada would. Any how, I would replace the panel with a panel that has a main disconnect. Being that it's only a 30A feed you can just add a simple disconnect prior to your existing panel. You can use something like this..... http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D...t-Protection-QO200TRCP/202353314#.UjH7BtJONY4

 

[djb2]

No chance of keeping the count to six breakers or under by using 20 amp circuits? Especially with only a 30 amp feed, that would avoid needing a main disconnect.

 

[diggler306]

I only plan to use 6 of the 7 circuits available so I COULD change one of the tandem 15A breakers to a single instead. That'd make 6 switches (4 breakers) in the panel. It would still be full, and if I ever needed to expand, I'd basically have to buy a new panel at that point with a main disconnect. But this way would allow me to use a junction box to extend the feed instead of a safety disconnect.

I'm basically trying to do this as cheap as possible. Spending $ on a bigger panel for only 30A makes me angry that I didn't get a bigger feed...

 

[sands35]

Pay now or pay later. The only difference is that paying later also means you are going to pay twice. Either in real money or in labor.

If you are re-wiring the garage, why not do a bigger panel? Smaller ones can be had for less than $100.

#10 awg wire isn't big enough that it would bother me throwing it away to install a 60 or 90 amp panel. (well, THAT will be more than $100 though)