Detached garage sub panel wire type

[Brandvik91]

I would like to install a 60A sub panel in my garage. the main service is about 100ft (wire length) from the garage. the wire will be traveling underground in pvc (30ft). which type of wire should i run for the most convenient and cheapest results?

Thank you

p.s. The previous owners ran 5 circuits of romex to the garage overhead. they come out of the foundation and travel up the vinyl siding of the house and travel straight across to a hole in the side of the garage. they filled the hole in the garage with silicone to act as a point of attachment...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

NM-b is not permitted outside and 5 circuits to a detached is not code either and totally stupid.

I would use #2 al MHF or al XHHW

youll need 2 ground rods and an isolated neutral bus in the subpanel

 

[pattenp]

Since you said cheap..... for 60A I'd use four conductors of #4 Al XHHW-2. I'd keep the ground as a #4 so you don't have to use a green plus you can get one long piece and cut into four lengths and tape the ends the needed colors.

 

[sberry]

The cost of number 2 is so close it makes that rather irrelevant. The panels are 100A anyway so that is moot. The 2 is on the shelf at the stores and not special order. The word here should be economical rather than cheap. Be another matter if the difference was 200$ vs 20 and the 2 is so much better, even simply more robust, never highly loaded which helps with thermal movement etc. Fits the lugs better.

 

[yow09]

You will get tons of great information here. I just did the exact same thing you are looking to do, but my run was about 180' from main panel to the garage sub-panel. We ran three conductors of #1 AL XHHW-2 with a #3 ground, to power a 60A sub-panel. If you have a permitting authority, it might be worth contacting them for any location specific regulations.

 

[pattenp]

The wire being suggested needs to be in conduit from panel to panel so bigger wire means larger conduit and tougher wire to handle.

 

[spudley]

Keep reading these threads and you'll see a very common economical option is (as Wylie stated) #2-2-2-4 quadruplex aluminum MHF. Usually priced around $1.25 per foot, can be direct buried at 24" or in conduit (PVC) at 18".

Using 2'' PVC is easier but it can get through 1 1/2" without too much trouble. Scd 40 for underground, Scd 80 where exposed.

At your distance it can supply 90amp (or less) service.