Need 3 circuits - recommendations?

[markryan556]

So i need to add 3 circuits to my garage:
240v - 25amp for mini split AC
240V - 15amp for table saw
120V - 20 amp for more garage outlets

My main meter panel on side of house is 200 amp with main circuit breaker only - here is a picture.

My house panel in the garage is a 200 amp panel and it's full. It also already has several tandem breakers in it - here is a picture.

So couple questions:
Can i add breakers in the meter panel for the new circuits?
Can i add 1 breaker in the meter panel (60amp) and run it to a new subpanel?
Or am i stuck with somehow combining more circuits to free up slots or changing house panel to a 40 position panel instead of 30 position?

 

[alfredeneuman]

According to info on the label (and visually), you have 8 spaces in the meter panel.
You can use these spaces to mount your breakers
It's a Square D meter panel
If you want a Subpanel
If a QO (the same as your house panel), the breaker number is a QO260.

(Or you could take all 3 circuits from your meter panel}

 

[Stuff]

Before adding circuits to the main panel you might need to upsize the cable feeding the garage panel. When a cable feeds an entire dwelling the wires are allowed to be smaller than if it feeds just a part of the dwelling.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

So i need to add 3 circuits to my garage:
240v - 25amp for mini split AC
240V - 15amp for table saw
120V - 20 amp for more garage outlets

My main meter panel on side of house is 200 amp with main circuit breaker only - here is a picture.

My house panel in the garage is a 200 amp panel and it's full. It also already has several tandem breakers in it - here is a picture.

So couple questions:
Can i add breakers in the meter panel for the new circuits?
Can i add 1 breaker in the meter panel (60amp) and run it to a new subpanel?
Or am i stuck with somehow combining more circuits to free up slots or changing house panel to a 40 position panel instead of 30 position?

yes the meter panel can accommodate branch breakers.

yes you can add one 60a breaker

Before adding circuits to the main panel you might need to upsize the cable feeding the garage panel. When a cable feeds an entire dwelling the wires are allowed to be smaller than if it feeds just a part of the dwelling.

That is inconsequential. None of the loads he is adding has to do with loads that are in the dwelling. They are for the garage and a garage is not a dwelling...

 

[teamextreme]

I would look at adding a subpanel fed from the garage panel. You may have to do a load calc to make sure it's not overloading the garage panel, but that would be the simplest way. Remove a 2 pole breaker from the garage panel and re-route those conductors to the new sub. Install a new breaker in the garage panel in the newly opened spot to feed the new sub.

 

[Stuff]

That is inconsequential. None of the loads he is adding has to do with loads that are in the dwelling. They are for the garage and a garage is not a dwelling...

This is an attached garage so part of dwelling. Also the existing panel in garage is already feeding circuits in the garage.

 

[markryan556]

Well i cracked open the meter box and it looks like installing breakers is a no go. There is a plastic "guard" that is screwed into the box that covers all of the slots. Looks intentional such to prevent breakers from being installed. Perhaps i should take a picture and see if i can determine wire size as well.

 

[markryan556]

Here is a picture of the inside of the meter box:

I can't tell what size the output wires are to my panel but here is a closeup that probably doesn't help:

 

[alfredeneuman]

There is a plastic "guard" that is screwed into the box that covers all of the slots.

Unless you took the guard off to take the picture, there are 4 QO stabs clearly visible for a total of 8 spaces for full size breakers.

 

[markryan556]

Well I think i've decided that the best way is to forget the meter panel and just make room for a double pole and install a sub panel. The meter panel is problematic because of getting the new circuit wires run.