I have 2 vacant 30 Amp breakers in my exising main panel that were previously used for a 220 volt dryer, and are no longer needed. The wire have been removed. I would like to reuse them and route them to a 4 position 60 Amp sub panel which is 5 feet away to use foe a new ceiling fan and some lights. Can this be done and how? What gauge wire should I use?
Adding a sub panel
- Thread starter lvioral9
- Start date
Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
This is the time you need to get estimates from an electrician. Doing this type of work can cause legal issues later if not done to code with a permit.
That said, getting a sub panel added seems to average $1000-1200 based on previous GarageJournal threads.
BTW, there are a lot of threads on this subject in the electrical section. Use the Search function and you'll find a lot of threads that cover this and more aspects to consider.
That said, getting a sub panel added seems to average $1000-1200 based on previous GarageJournal threads.
BTW, there are a lot of threads on this subject in the electrical section. Use the Search function and you'll find a lot of threads that cover this and more aspects to consider.
DRP6833
Well-known member
I had one put in our basement about 3 years ago for $600.
pmiranda
Well-known member
YMMV but had a licensed electrician replace a small main panel for around $1000 within the last 10 years so the subpanel shouldn't be that much... of course if you have the wall opened to the studs so he doesn't have to fish any wires then it probably helps. If not, I bet he can do it way faster than I could anyway.
In alot of jurisdictions it's illegal for someone other than a licensed electrician to work on 240V. If you have to ask on here what gauge wire to use you probably shouldn't be doing the work. (I'm not trying to be rude... I don't know either, but I do know that you usually need a permit for this and you usually can't get one if you're not licensed. You wouldn't want to nullify your insurance to save a couple hundred bucks.)
In alot of jurisdictions it's illegal for someone other than a licensed electrician to work on 240V. If you have to ask on here what gauge wire to use you probably shouldn't be doing the work. (I'm not trying to be rude... I don't know either, but I do know that you usually need a permit for this and you usually can't get one if you're not licensed. You wouldn't want to nullify your insurance to save a couple hundred bucks.)
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
If your goal is to add 4 15A 120V circuits, the quickest, cheapest solution is to remove the 240V dryer breaker and install 2 tandem 120V 15A breakers.
This is pretty easy for the average DIY person as long as you get get the proper tandem breakers.
Who is the manufacturer on what is the model number of the panel ?
This is pretty easy for the average DIY person as long as you get get the proper tandem breakers.
Who is the manufacturer on what is the model number of the panel ?
bigcountry
Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2009
- Messages
- 10
Why do you want/need a sub panel for the lights and fan? Just take the 220 breakers out and replace them with single poles for each circuit you need. Run the new wire to the the existing panel. But like the other posts you problebly need someone with more electrical knowlegde.
Yet another day that I am thankful that I can walk into my local building department and pull an owner/builder permit to replace an entire panel, upgrade a service entrance, convert from overhead to underground feeder, add a sub-panel (combiner panel), and add an entire 4400W PV array to the roof without the need of a "licensed electrician". The diagrams I drew for the main panel upgrade permit years ago were hand-drawn on notebook paper. The three line diagrams I drew myself (in autocad) for the PV array already passed the state of FL PE review for NEC 2011 compliance ($250 review fee, not a permit).
Minimum permit fee is $50 where I live, so I like to get my money's worth and pool the simple little projects like the one proposed by the OP.
Don't expect to be able to re-use two 30A double pole breakers to feed one 60A sub-panel. Whether you can actually feed a 60A sub-panel from your existing panel is the first question to answer. That is why other responses include requests for photos, and requests for manufacturer and model number of your existing panel.
Minimum permit fee is $50 where I live, so I like to get my money's worth and pool the simple little projects like the one proposed by the OP.
Don't expect to be able to re-use two 30A double pole breakers to feed one 60A sub-panel. Whether you can actually feed a 60A sub-panel from your existing panel is the first question to answer. That is why other responses include requests for photos, and requests for manufacturer and model number of your existing panel.