Garage Breaker

[Lionheart36969]

We have only a 100 amp breaker for the house, which suits the house fine. We were wondering if it would be possible to get a separate line for a garage, rather than a sub-panel, maybe something like 50 amps.

 

[sberry]

What do you mean separate line,,, a new service with another meter? There would be absolutely no reason to limit it to 50. But depending on whats going on from the house it could work from there.

 

[alfredeneuman]

We have only a 100 amp breaker for the house, which suits the house fine. We were wondering if it would be possible to get a separate line for a garage, rather than a sub-panel, maybe something like 50 amps.

The minimum service size for residential is 100A, and the PoCos rarely install 2 separate meters to one address.
Call your utility and ask them.
Where is "Home"?

 

[mike93lx]

Have you done a load Calc? Do you need to increase the service size? My house is 100a and I have no concerns about adding a 60a sub for a shop.

A second meter will sometimes kick onto more expensive commercial rates and will have monthly minimums. Do you want to spend $40+/month for the garage, regardless of how much you use it?

Please *** a real location in your profile as it helps others offer real suggestions based on code, climate, etc. The cheeky "home" helps no one. Even just a state/province is plenty

 

[sberry]

Ya, I know a couple 3 guys got 100 and feed a garage. I got a bud or 2 had 60, all gas major apps but they work in the garage for years.

 

[glend123]

I have a separate 200 amp meter in my detached garage, put in by the previous owner.
Seems like overkill to me and they charge me $15 a month on top of any juice i use.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

We have only a 100 amp breaker for the house, which suits the house fine. We were wondering if it would be possible to get a separate line for a garage, rather than a sub-panel, maybe something like 50 amps.

As others have asked, what do you mean by second line?

Need more info here.

What are your loads in the house?

What will your loads be in the garage?

Have you done a load calc?

Is the garage attached or detached?

The minimum service size for residential is 100A, and the PoCos rarely install 2 separate meters to one address.
Call your utility and ask them.
Where is "Home"?

Location says North Bay, ON- I’m assuming ontario canada.

 

[sberry]

When I started doing this one of my early mentors was a paranoid loss guy, worried about every volt loss every time we turned around, he missed a lot of other important stuff due to this focus but,,, I had a hard time with running a line to a garden shed and getting past wanting to upgrade from 100 to 200 and not getting the grasp that they were not opening a powder coat and pottery shop and it was for a light and occasional battery charger.
I still have a problem with that as it was ingrained so early,,, its one of the reasons I tend to focus where I often do on forums,,, all the early stuff I got either wrong or grossly misjudged.

 

[DaveInHouston]

It depends upon how much equipment (load) you’re going to put in your shop, and local code. I had a similar issue when I built my shop, basically in my back yard. I’ve got a 200 amp service on the house but virtually everything that matters in the house is natural gas so not a huge amperage draw. I ran a 100 amp sub panel in the garage off the main house panel and it works fine. I’ve got all kinds of equipment in the shop but never run more than one at a time (I’m the only one ever in the shop) so I never get anywhere close to pulling 100 amps. The highest single piece of equipment draws 30 amps max plus 20 amps for the compressor. I ran the feed from the main panel underground about 40 feet to the sub panel. I debated about having a separate meter but didn’t go that route. My shop is detached from the house.

 

[mike93lx]

Location says North Bay, ON- I’m assuming ontario canada.

He updated after we both posted asking

 

[nadogail]

When we decided to add 3 tons of central air conditioning and an Induction Cooktop we changed our 100 Amp service to a 200 Amp service.