Feeder cable routing

[dmm42]

I just upgraded my service from 150A to 200A. My garage currently has only one circuit that is shared with part of the basement. Im planning on installing a minimum of a 60A subpanel in the garage; I plan on having a few circuits for lights, receptacles for tools, and possibly a heater/AC for projects when the weather is at its extremes. I’m possibly leaning towards 100A in order to future proof a bit.

What would be the most efficient method to route feeder cable from the panel, across an unfinished basement, and into the garage. There is concrete blocking around the bottom perimeter of the garage. I’d like to
have the panel above the black tool chest in the attached photos.

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149474-BA-471-B-4625-9-F91-0-B003368-EB0-F hosted at ImgBB

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[sparky 1971]

With #2 SER cable, I would use 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 PVC on the bottom of the joists to get to the pocket you need. Then run between the joist to get to where you need to be. Go through the wall with a piece of PVC into an LB and run it into the panel. And use a 90 amp breaker in the main panel, that way, you will be code compliant. We don't like 100 amp breakers connected to 100 amp feeders.

 

[Norcal]

With #2 SER cable, I would use 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 PVC on the bottom of the joists to get to the pocket you need. Then run between the joist to get to where you need to be. Go through the wall with a piece of PVC into an LB and run it into the panel. And use a 90 amp breaker in the main panel, that way, you will be code compliant. We don't like 100 amp breakers connected to 100 amp feeders.

You mean we don't like 100 amp breakers connected to 90 amp feeders?

 

[billconner]

Is run across basement parallel or perpendicular to joists? I think if mostly parallel and there was no ceiling, I'd look at SER all the way.

 

[mm08822]

I agree with #2 AL SER......easiest, quickest.

 

[u2slow]

Typical economical route for doing that around here is armoured cable with aluminum conductors. #2 on a 90A breaker is appropriate, unless the distance is especially long.

 

[billconner]

If run across basement ceiling was perpendicular to joists, I would probably do what Sparky said. My inspector would not approve SER fastened to bottom of joists and I think he's correct by code. And I'm not going to drill holes and pull no. 2 aluminum SER through them. If looks and headroom don't matter, you could protect it with a 1x3 or similar nailed across joists and fasten to that.

 

[sparky 1971]

You mean we don't like 100 amp breakers connected to 90 amp feeders?

Whoops. You got me there. I also should have said "they" don't like instead of we. I plead the 5th on why that is.