Garage sub-panel install. Need some expert eyes and thoughts.

[bjcouche]

Generally not a bad install, but could use some cleanup before you add your garage circuits.

#1, you have a huge bundle of 14/2 and 12/2 romex going through a single cable clamp. That's a code violation because most cable clamps are rated for a max of 2 (TWO) cables. That means you need to get a bag of 1/2" clamps and seperating the cables. You could use the bug one possibly for the large cable (electric heat?) that is missing a cable clamp entirely.

#1 Although not required, generally it's good practice to place your higher current (often double pole breakers) closer to your main breaker. This would mean moving a couple of your 120V breakers higher up, and making some open spaces down below for your air compressor, welder, etc.

Where did you buy your breakers from, an electrical distributor? The big box stores would have charged you under $150 for that breaker assortment! The box cost with main breaker isn't too bad of a deal though.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Great job! Looks good. I bet it was easier to use the lower knockout than the penciled one...

The only thing i would have done differently is cut the jacket on the NM closer to the top and group the conductors together by type...

Yes and fix the cable clamps...

 

[Norcal]

Copper bus Siemens, I like it. Good job on the installation even if it did come out a little tall.

Legally, you cannot bunch all of those wires in a single connector. I know it was done that way before, but the UL listing and the manufacturers instructions for each of those large clamps will define what can be put in them, and it isn't a bundle of 12/2 Romex.

However, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, and given how many thousands of panels are done that way in the country, I cannot fault you too much for doing it.

With semi-flush all-in-one panels, there is no other way but to stuff multiple cables in the connectors,.

 

[t25torx]

Where did you buy your breakers from, an electrical distributor? The big box stores would have charged you under $150 for that breaker assortment! The box cost with main breaker isn't too bad of a deal though.

Thanks for the tips, I was going over my receipts and it was actually $288 for everything, panel included. I misread what was on the order. I got it all through Amazon.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Hard to tell from here, but is the 3rd set of cables from the left missing a locknut on its clamp? Definitely need a clamp for the cables second from the left.
Looks good otherwise!

 

[t25torx]

#1, you have a huge bundle of 14/2 and 12/2 romex going through a single cable clamp. That's a code violation because most cable clamps are rated for a max of 2 (TWO) cables. That means you need to get a bag of 1/2" clamps and seperating the cables. You could use the bug one possibly for the large cable (electric heat?) that is missing a cable clamp entirely.

Where would I find out haw many wires I can shove through those 1" clamps? Or is it a hard rule of only 2 cables per clamp no matter the size of the clamp to wire size ratio.

I also need to open up that hole a little as the clamp is just a little too big for the hole on the second set of cables from the left

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Hard to tell from here, but is the 3rd set of cables from the left missing a locknut on its clamp? Definitely need a clamp for the cables second from the left.
Looks good otherwise!

Good eye. I could hardly see that on my phone...

 

[t25torx]

Time for round 2 here.

I took y'all's advise and redid the wiring through the NM connectors at the top, I want this to be as close to code as possible.

I took the wires back out and bought some 3/8th's connectors and ran 2 wires per connector. Also put the bigger wires in the 1-1/4" connector and then the other 2 larger wires through the 1" connector.

I took this time to install the extra garage circuits I was doing this whole renovation for in the first place. Two 220v and 1-110

So here's the finished product.

Wires tucked a little tighter and ran a little cleaner. Some of the wires wire still just too short to get a nice 45* bend in them but I can live with it.

Lots of holes now.

All have clamps, I went back and tightened them after this picture.

Here's the 20A 110 for the bench and the 30A 220 for the welder.

And here's the other 220 for the compressor.

 

[kingchevy]

Looks good. How is that welder outlet cover staying on with no screws?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Looks better. I would have stripped the jacket on the NM closer to the clamps and combine the conductors in grouped pathways...

What size in HP is your compressor?

 

[pattenp]

t25torx, is the cord for the compressor just 2 wires, no ground? Hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like 2 wire flat cord.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

t25torx, is the cord for the compressor just 2 wires, no ground? Hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like 2 wire flat cord.

Good eye...maybe its 6-2 NM-b, which IS flat...

 

[t25torx]

Good eye...maybe its 6-2 NM-b, which IS flat...

Bingo! And the cover for 220v outlets are screwed in the middle to the frame of the plug and not the casing.

 

[dw1]

Put a piece of black tape on the white wires that are terminated on the circuit breakers, it needs to be identified either with tape, black permanent marker ect, anywhere a white wire is a current carrying conductor, it must be identified (I.E. Circuit breakers, Air cond. Disc ect) Looks Good, good job!!

 

[pattenp]

NM-b building wire is not to be used for cordage.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

NM-b building wire is not to be used for cordage.

Exactly! And if the compressor is over 3HP, it needs to be hardwired!