I’m getting there!!!

[tapout187]

Hey guys yesterday was kind of a big day for my garage build as far as this section goes, got the panel all wired up. I’ve been meaning to do a build thread in the garage gallery section just haven’t been able to get around to it. First off thank you to everyone here I have learned so much from this forum I really appreciate it. I have a good friend who is a GC who has helped me a ton getting my garage wired so far. He did the whole panel and all the connections, I mainly did the donkey work. I did a good portion of the rough in and we kind of put our heads together with what I was hoping for with the panel and layout. So I just thought I’d share some pics of what this site has helped me with (I am by no means an electrician but my friend and I tried our best for our first time doing an entire wiring job). Let me know what you guys think!! I hope it’s “garage journal” worthy, there’s some really nice projects on here, thanks again!!

 

[tapout187]

A few more pics...

 

[sberry]

Better than I do them.

 

[tapout187]

Hey sberry! You in particular helped me out a few times, thanks a lot I appreciate it! We are proud how its turning out and figured I’d put it to the garage journal test to know for sure lol

 

[pattenp]

Nice and neat but some of the Romex looks closer than 1.25" to the nailing face of the framing members in the forth picture.

 

[tapout187]

The fourth picture? There are 2x4 girts outside of the bookshelf girts I put in and ran wires on. I’ll admit I did cheat some and ran wire around outside of post. But not in that pic I don’t think

 

[Bert_]

Pretty

Only thing I would have done different is flip the panel so the main was at the bottom.

 

[tapout187]

Thanks and I agree. It didn’t occur to me until it was too late kind of thing, oh well

 

[yatg]

Looks really good, exceptionally neat and tidy. Tips for the next time ... If you have a bottom entrance, flip the panel and put the main on the bottom so you don't have to run your feed wires up the side gutter. Then you'd have room to add an extra ground bar and you won't have run the grounds over to the other side.

 

[tapout187]

Thanks I appreciate it did give it our best, I’m proud of what we accomplished and I do agree but maybe next time lol

 

[frakas]

WOW, that is one neat and tidy job.
Love the layout for the outlets.
You both should be very proud.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Looks good but white wires should be colored black or red.

Is the neutral bar isolated?

IS this in a detached structure?

If so did you put in 2 ground rods?

 

[tapout187]

Yes the neutral bar is isolated (removed green screw, added separate ground bar). Yes detached pole barn. And also ran #6 copper from ground bar to two ground rods with wire continuous. The whites that are for all the 240 circuits? Can I just wrap some black tape on them or just like black sharpie the ends? And also thank you for the compliment and tip, I’ve read a lot of your posts and you unknowingly have helped/taught me a ton I appreciate it!

 

[tapout187]

I guess I probably should have mentioned earlier this is indeed a detached pole building being fed from my house panel. House has same 200 amp QO panel. I put a 100 amp breaker in house panel and ran 1-1-1-4 copper xhhw in 2” conduit to this panel (200 amp square d qo).

 

[tapout187]

Thanks Home builder appreciate it!!

 

[teamextreme]

You clearly are not an electrician, because that is far cleaner, prettier and higher attention to detail than any pro would do! They don't have the time to make it look like that, they'd go broke. Stellar work.

 

[Raisedonadeere]

This is interesting every panel I have ever worked on had all the circuits exiting the panel through holes in the top or bottom. My son gets me a garage warming present, a 40 slot 100 amp main breaker Square D homeline panel. Threw me for a loop as I started mounting the panel to discover the circuits come out the sides like yours.

 

[tapout187]

They could have come out top/bottom like conventional 16” OC framing but I liked the idea of doing All bookshelf girts (the 2x6 on flat horizontally every 24”OC so I opted to run the wires this way, thought it’d be a clean organized look with the framing I have.

 

[tapout187]

Haha team extreme I really appreciate that. You are 100% correct lol. We did put in a lot of “love making” time trying to get things the way I hoped for and my friend that helps me is just as **** as I am and does fantastic work with everything I get him to do for me. Your compliment means a lot, thanks!!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yes the neutral bar is isolated (removed green screw, added separate ground bar). Yes detached pole barn. And also ran #6 copper from ground bar to two ground rods with wire continuous. The whites that are for all the 240 circuits? Can I just wrap some black tape on them or just like black sharpie the ends? And also thank you for the compliment and tip, I’ve read a lot of your posts and you unknowingly have helped/taught me a ton I appreciate it!

I would use black sharpie

I guess I probably should have mentioned earlier this is indeed a detached pole building being fed from my house panel. House has same 200 amp QO panel. I put a 100 amp breaker in house panel and ran 1-1-1-4 copper xhhw in 2” conduit to this panel (200 amp square d qo).

#1 copper? How long of a run was this?

IF not too long then #1 cu was way overkill. #3 with a #8 for ground is good for 100a...

You clearly are not an electrician, because that is far cleaner, prettier and higher attention to detail than any pro would do! They don't have the time to make it look like that, they'd go broke. Stellar work.

This is non-sense.

I've done numerous panels in the same fashion and every industrial panel I've seen done by electricians out here in the valley look just as good. None of us are going broke either. Its all how the job is bidded.

 

[tapout187]

The total length was 165’. I kinda felt like I was on the bubble for voltage drop/length so said screw it and stepped it up. I ordered it through wirecable your way. I also am a fan of a little over kill here and there haha.

 

[pattenp]

The fourth picture? There are 2x4 girts outside of the bookshelf girts I put in and ran wires on. I’ll admit I did cheat some and ran wire around outside of post. But not in that pic I don’t think

Excuse my spelling. The "fourth" picture in the first set of pictures showing the corner of the panel. The wire appears to run too close to the face edge of the 2X4s. The bored hole where the wire turns to the double gang outlet box also appears to be too close. Wire is to be run no closer than 1.25" to nailing surfaces and bored holes also no closer than 1.25" to nailing surfaces. Not trying to nitpick but if you are having this inspected you may get dinged on this.

 

[tapout187]

By no means was I trying to be smart *** with spelling. I thought you were talking about distance from exterior siding. I see what you’re saying about the bored holes from nailing edges (interior edge). The lumber that all the wires are attached to are 2x6s so maybe that will help me dimension wise, the only 2x4s are the boards used to attach exterior siding on to. Tough to say I can check it out when I get home, might be right about there. Will nail plates help at all you think? Thanks!

 

[pattenp]

Plates solve the problem over bored holes. The cable running parallel to the 2X4 nailing face would need to be moved back. See NEC 300.4(D)

 

[tapout187]

Ok cool I had planned on putting plates anyhow. I’ll run a tape measure around later I think I’ll be right good enough pictures can deceive a little. I appreciate the tips thank you!

 

[Kaizen]

It will be a shame to cover that up! Good work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tapout187]

Thank you kaizen!! Really appreciate it!!

 

[teamextreme]

This is non-sense.

I've done numerous panels in the same fashion and every industrial panel I've seen done by electricians out here in the valley look just as good. None of us are going broke either. Its all how the job is bidded.

Sure, most of the industrial panels we deal with, including the ones we build, are done in the same manner. But we're not talking about industrial work here are we? How many house ropers do you know that produce work like that?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Sure, most of the industrial panels we deal with, including the ones we build, are done in the same manner. But we're not talking about industrial work here are we? How many house ropers do you know that produce work like that?

quite a few actually.

Its called pride in workmanship

 

[Bert_]

When I terminate a panel I am neat but not that neat. If I was paying for it I would not want that level of neatness. Costs to much in labor with nothing gained other than a little WOW factor that nobody sees once the cover goes on. There is a happy medium between looks and speed.

Better to spend the time on stuff that makes a difference electrically or mechanically.

Don't get me wrong I like it and it looks great. Just one of those things a guy could save a little time on and still look 90% as good.

 

[sberry]

I am not fussy, not against making it look respectable especially if it's obvious. Some staples where they spozed to be is obvious.

 

[tapout187]

Thanks guys I appreciate all of your compliments. I can definitely understand where a typical electrician wouldn’t be able to spend the kind of time that I know my friend and I did, (especially him in the panel) unless he bid the job knowing that’s what the customer wanted and was willing to pay for. I would tend to agree with Bert where most people would not want to pay for certain levels of neatness. Like I kind of was trying to say in my situation it was my friends first one doing completely and on his own and was having fun with the challenge and he does put a lot of pride in everything he does but we both sort of feed off each other’s **** retentiveness at times lol. With this it’s not like i was paying contractor rate or anything, just two friends working together and challenging ourselves to do the best we could and again I am very proud of our first full building wiring job and also very thankful to you guys for all the things I’ve learned here and just wanted to show you guys what your knowledge has helped me with!!