Garage Hookup

[ADKGarage]

I just bought this property and it has a 65'x70' trailer on it with 60 amp service feeding it. I'm just about done with the garage and was wondering what I need to drop underground 100 amp service to it. I just called the power co. and requested a 200 amp upgrade feeder to the property. Here are some pics of what I have. I've not done something this big so the more detail you give, the better. Thanks.

 

[ADKGarage]

Anybody?

 

[pattenp]

You need to replace what's on the pole with something like this.

P.S. What's the yellow NM cable for? NM is not rated for outdoors in wet locations.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...ads-_-pla-_-100142031&ci_gpa=pla#.UCaT2aFlRpA

 

[ADKGarage]

That was there when I bought this place. it was a hillbilly rigged deal for the light on top of that pole which I've disconnected.

That box you showed would be mounted on the pole with the meter of course. From there, do I run 2 separate 100 amp feeder wires, one going to the trailer breaker panel and the second 100 amp wire to the garage panel? Do I have to run the feed to the garage from the trailer panel? Also, that pole with the yellow wire, that has a plug literally to unplug the trailer, should I still use that or not? That is kind of what is confusing me.

 

[pattenp]

You can run one feed to the trailer and one feed to the garage from the new meter/panel. The panels in the trailer and garage need to be wired as sub-panels. I'd get rid of the plug type setup to the trailer.

 

[ADKGarage]

Okay so I'll have 2 separate 100 amp underground cables coming from the meter panel, each going to a breaker panel in each building.

1)Are breaker panels commonly referred to as sub panels? What is the difference if any?

Also, I'll be going underground 75' and 125', quite a distance.

2) What type feeds would you recommend considering cost? Aluminum/Copper, are
there any benefits to copper that aluminum won't provide?

 

[pattenp]

Sub-panel is kinda of a non-technical name for the lack of a better explanation. You won't find the panel to purchase by that name. You will buy what is called a main breaker panel or a main lug panel to use as sub-panels in the garage and trailer. In your case you need to use a main breaker panel because it provides a main disconnect at the panel. I'd use aluminum and get a cable such as Mobile Home Feeder (MHF) or URD. Both of these can be direct buried, but I suggest running them in conduit under ground. Where exposed above ground MHF and URD need to be in conduit. Aluminum if properly installed will serve you just as well as copper and is a lot cheaper.

Edit: BTW - You need to run 4 conductors to the new sub-panels. 2 hots, neutral and ground.

 

[ADKGarage]

What is the proper nomenclature be for that wire if I search for it? I've been using URD etc and I'm not getting anywhere. What supply houses have this stuff. I've checked HD and Lowes and they seem to carry the smaller stuff for in home wiring. Sorry to drag this out but I've been dumping a lot of time into this with minimal results.

 

[pattenp]

Here's some at HD. You need it larger than 2-2-2-4 for the full 100A.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...gId=-1&keyword=urd&storeId=10051#.UChT5KFlRpA

and also...

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...roductId=202527726&storeId=10051#.UChU2qFlRpA

 

[pattenp]

Do you have any electrical supply houses near you? You'd have better luck getting what you need from an electrical supply.

Edit: Also look for Quadruplex.

http://www.southwire.com/products/Quadruplex600V.htm

 

[cyamaha2007]

In my area they will give you a 320a meter and feed if you ask for it. heres a pic of before and after. Im not done yet i need to clean up my install

Now with the meter double tapped 1 200a feed to the house and 1 200a feed to the shop.