Main Breaker and sub panel wiring

[structures282]

My current home has a 60 amp GE panel (inside the house garage). I'm wanting to install a 150 amp siemens panel and then from that feed my detached shop with 100 amps (about 100 feet away).

My siemens panel's 150 amp rated Main breaker is rated for 75 C. I'm wanting to wire it up from the meter with 1/0 copper THWN-2, THHN, which is rated for 150 amps at 75 C. But NEC 310.15(b)(6) allows 1 copper (150 amps 90 C) for Service Entrance. So could I use #1 copper?

This leads me to my main question, which is kind of beating a dead horse b/c this is a common question on the internet, but I'm still a little confused. The feed to my shop will be 100 amps. NEC Table 310.15(b)(6) calls out #2 aluminum for service and feeders at 100 amps. Since this is a "feeder" (at least that's what I'm calling it). Should I use 2-2-2-4 aluminum (use-2/RHH)? Is feeder defined in the NEC? Is the reason Service Entrances and Feeders get to use smaller wire is b/c the "draw" is not as demanding?

Thanks

 

[Aceman]

So you have a 60 amp panel in your attached garage that you want to replace with a 150 amp panel which will then feed a 100 amp panel in your detached second garage? What size is your main house panel?

I reread it again, is your 60 amp panel your main panel?

 

[structures282]

So you have a 60 amp panel in your attached garage that you want to replace with a 150 amp panel which will then feed a 100 amp panel in your detached second garage? What size is your main house panel?

I reread it again, is your 60 amp panel your main panel?

Yeah sorry the house is 60 amp and I was just trying to point out that it was inside. That panel I want to upgrade to 150 amp.

 

[Aceman]

Table 310.15(B)(6) is for dwelling feeders and services only. You can use this chart to size the wire to your 150 amp panel only. The feeder to the garage must use Table 310.16.

Secondly, you're #2 aluminum feeder is only good for 90 amps.

Outside feeders are in Article 225.

 

[structures282]

Okay so yesterday I got the panels swapped out. Anybody care to critique my work? The first is the original panel and the second is the finished product. The one thing I'm not for sure of is I had to put extensions on my 20 amp wiring. They wouldn't quite "cleanly" reach the breakers. Also I had a couple of wires that had slits in the insulation. I put some electrical tape around the slits. The blue tape is a 14 gauge wire I found tied into a 20 amp breaker. I'm going to hunt that down and see what it goes to. The last pic shows some hot spots from the original panel.

 

[Torque1st]

You could have installed the new Siemens panel with the main breaker down if it would have helped. They are designed to be mounter either way. Otherwise the splices are OK. That old panel was fairly well corroded. Is there a lot of humidity or moisture in the area?

 

[sberry]

Looks neater than any of mine.

 

[structures282]

Not corrosion. All that white mess is from when the walls were textured and painted.

 

[Torque1st]

Not corrosion. All that white mess is from when the walls were textured and painted.

OOOps, someone didn't cover it then or clean the mess up. What brand is the old box and what breakers were in the burnt locations?

 

[structures282]

It's a GE breaker panel. And those burnt spots each had GE slimline breakers. Since you asked I couldn't resist to tear one open. I was hoping it would come apart better.

 

[Torque1st]

It looks like it is just some Bakelite holding the contact piece tight. One part is held in a slot in the Bakelite and then a metal clip attached to the Bakelite applies pressure -through- the Bakelite.

Makes me really want to change my plans for my Siemens box and run right out and get a GE. Of course I already have one of those "horrible" FPE boxes now.

I wonder if any of that overspray contributed to the bad contact points.