Minimum clearance between subpanel and receptacles?

[lucky1]

Hello,

I just wired a 40 amp sub panel (rated for 125 amp) in my attached garage using 8-3 romex I had left over in my basement ceiling. The romex enters my garage to a box with cover plate where I connect to #8 thhn wires (using those huge blue wire nuts). The thhn wires run through 3/4" pvc conduit which runs straight up about 40" to the subpanel. At the moment I have nothing connected to the sub. I have two questions:

1. How close to the subpanel can I wire receptacles? The reason that I ask is that I would like to wire a 40 amp receptacle (50amp style) about 7 inches to the left. This will be used for a mig welder that require max 27amps, but has a 50amp plug. I would like to wire a 20-amp 120v GFCI receptacle to the right (also about 7 inches). Anything in the code that prohibits this distance?

2. The box with a cover plate I put in to connect romex to thhn is only about 12" from the floor. I've just read that receptacles need to be at least 18" from the floor in an attached garage. Does this height requirement also apply to a box with a cover plate?

Thank you very much for your responses and/or feedback!

 

[tfi racing]

1-As close as your choice of cable,conduit or fittings will allow.

2-Any height would be fine,why not make it higher so you don't have to lay on the floor to make your connections?

 

[pattenp]

Hello,

2. The box with a cover plate I put in to connect romex to thhn is only about 12" from the floor. I've just read that receptacles need to be at least 18" from the floor in an attached garage. Does this height requirement also apply to a box with a cover plate?

There is no such requirement in the NEC for residential garages.

Here's some guidelines

 

[lucky1]

1-As close as your choice of cable,conduit or fittings will allow.

2-Any height would be fine,why not make it higher so you don't have to lay on the floor to make your connections?

TFI,

Thank you for your reply! That's what I was hoping. Regarding the height of the connection box. The reason I positioned it only 12" from the garage floor is that I was able to avoid having to drill a hole through the the band joist. Plus there's a lot of plumbing and other electrical work that I wanted to avoid (kitchen area). To visualize what I talking about - My garage is 1 step lower than my main floor. Since that box is now already wired, I don't think I'll ever need to go back into it unless I need to increase the wire gauge to accommodate a larger breaker. The subpanel itself is about 60" from the garage floor.

Now I just need to apply for a permit and get it inspected! I sort of worked backwards on this one! Thanks again!

 

[dw1]

As stated above, no minimum height, the 18" distance is for commercial garages, if you had gasoline fumes or flammable fumes that would/could settle to the floor (Heavier than air), thats why recepts need to be minimum height there

 

[lucky1]

Thank you Pattenp! The chart you uploaded is very helpful. I'm going to eventually be putting in switches for additional lighting, as well as more receptacles - so I will definitely follow those guidelines.

One more quick question for the group:

I have about 8-10 extra feet of the 8/3 romex coiled above the drop ceiling in my basement. This is the line feeding my subpanel. I know I'm not allowed to leave it just laying to on the drop ceiling. There's about 3" clearing between the bottom of the floor trusses. I'm planning to neatly zip tie it in a coil and staple it up to the bottom of those floor trusses so that no part of it touches the drop ceiling of wires suspending it. Any problem doing this?

Thanks again!!

 

[lucky1]

As stated above, no minimum height, the 18" distance is for commercial garages, if you had gasoline fumes or flammable fumes that would/could settle to the floor (Heavier than air), thats why recepts need to be minimum height there

DW1, That makes sense about the fumes and why it would be especially important for commercial garages. I was only thinking about water issues. Thanks!

 

[6768rogues]

The 18" and 48" recommendations are also for handicap accessibility. If you were building a commercial building and required to follow ADA requirements, all parts of the systems intended for use by building occupants would fall between 18" above the finished floor to 48" AFF for frontal wheelchair approach. That said, I put my garage outlets at about 48" above the floor so I could use them without bending over or moving stuff that is stored along the wall. I designed a woodworking shop once, where 4x8 panels were used frequently., I put the outlets higher so panels leaning on the wall would not block the plugs.