60A Subpanel

[Vegaman_Dan]

It's an exciting time for me currently. The house I purchased was lacking in power for the garage- two outlets shared by a bedroom circuit, and the lighting was controlled by a light switch at the main house entry- weird!

But before I move in, I wanted to have proper power, so this is being corrected as I type this. The original builder grade 125A service panel is being replaced with a 200A one, and a new 240 VAC 60A circuit is being pulled, run in heavy conduit to a new sub panel in the garage.

Woo!

Now I can start planning the circuit layout and needs for the garage. 220 drop for the air compressor or welder, perimeter outlets on the outside walls, center section between the stalls, and ideally a pair of lighting circuits, one for each side. I like lots of light, and would like to break it up per side.

Total bill so far to swap out main service panels and install the sub panel is about $1200 for parts and labor. It's expensive, but I know I will always wish I had done it if I don't do it now. Since I'm not occupying the house, having the power off for a day while this is done means no spoiled food either.

Always more to do! Got to get the Cushman in there soon.

-Vegaman Dan

 

[Speedy Petey]

..........The original builder grade 125A service panel is being replaced with a 200A one, and a new 240 VAC 60A circuit is being pulled, run in heavy conduit to a new sub panel in the garage.
...................

Total bill so far to swap out main service panels and install the sub panel is about $1200 for parts and labor.

$1200 for a 200A upgrade and sub-panel sounds extremely low.
Was this a true upgrade to 200A, or did they just replace the 100A with a 200A (I hope NOT)?

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

The service to the house itself was already 200A, but the builder only put in a 125A panel as the house had gas heat and water heater. The difference is only around $100, but spread that out across X number of homes being built at the same time and it is one more cost savings for that builder.

Overall, this is going to run about $2K total.

 

[Stee6043]

$1200 for a 200A upgrade and sub-panel sounds extremely low.
Was this a true upgrade to 200A, or did they just replace the 100A with a 200A (I hope NOT)?

Too low? Shoot...I was thinking that sounded high. Assuming the service was already 200A I assume parts were less than $200 for both new panels including a few new breakers and maybe another $100 for new copper to the new subpanel. What did I miss???

I'm honestly asking, not disagreeing. I was just at Lowes on my lunch hour today looking at 100A sub panels so that's why your comment struck me. Parts are cheap...wire, on the other hand, certainly is not (depending on distance).

 

[Speedy Petey]

The service to the house itself was already 200A, but the builder only put in a 125A panel as the house had gas heat and water heater. The difference is only around $100, but spread that out across X number of homes being built at the same time and it is one more cost savings for that builder.

Overall, this is going to run about $2K total.

Then that makes total sense. I thought you got an upgrade and sub for that price.

 

[theoldwizard1]

60A is fine for most folks in the garage. A welder would easily eat up 2 - 20A breaker and not leave much left over. Check to see how much more 100A service to the garage and a 100A subpanel would cost.

I know that probably sounds like overkill, but NOW is the time to do it, if you can afford it !

 

[antinym]

yeah, 60A will probably do ya, but I'd suggest 100A if it's not too much more..(actually, I'd do 150A, but I have a lot going on in my garage)
I just maxed out my house panel, and am hoping not to add anything more to the house for a while..

 

[EOC_Jason]

Why not use that 125A panel you are replacing to put in the garage?

 

[Falcon67]

Why not use that 125A panel you are replacing to put in the garage?

This. Breaker at 60A in the main, then put that panel or at least a 20 slot unit in your garage. Makes for a nicer layout with more control. I used a 100A panel and have 5 plug runs, 5 240V runs and two light circuits. It fused upstream at 70A off a 200A all electric house panel

 

[Stuart in MN]

Too low? Shoot...I was thinking that sounded high. Assuming the service was already 200A I assume parts were less than $200 for both new panels including a few new breakers and maybe another $100 for new copper to the new subpanel. What did I miss???

The price sounded reasonable to me.

Your material costs sound pretty low plus the electrician marks up their cost over what you would pay if you bought them directly, and depending on the conditions they will probably have a day or more's worth of labor on the job.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Total price ended up being $1485 for materials and labor. Had to tear out some drywall where the old panel was to run cabling properly and that cost a bit to replace, retexture, etc.

60A is all that could be pulled from the existing panel without sacrificing existing house circuits. I'd have to get a new service drop from the utility to go higher.

As I don't expect to be running a welder and air compressor at the same time, this does not pose any real issue for my needs.

Now I'm in the fun part- planning where I want stuff. I'm running out of cash quick though, so I may have to wait on some projects. I have to keep reminding myself that it doesn't all have to be done by next weekend. I have a 30 year mortgage to pay off, so I have time.

 

[Falcon67]

> I'm running out of cash quick though
The "finance manger" said that on my deal before I bought a single board.

If it makes you worry less, my old shop was 20x24. I had lotsa lights, drill press, mill, lathe, 120V welder, 5kW heater, 12K AC unit, 60 gallon 240V compressor, lots of plugs and all misc electric tools and such. It was on a 60A breaker and I never tripped it. I did a test once and most I could get - by running several things at once that I would or could not run together under normal circumstances - was around 50A.