Need electrical advice.

[62stepside]

I put up a carolina carport enclosed 24x30x10 carport shop and I need electrical done now..

I have a 100 amp panel in my attached garage and want to take 50 amps to the detached shop. (Won't be running but lights and maybe a power tool at the same time).

What wire do I need? I want it to uphold 100 amps just in case I want to run a 210 welder in the shop later on.

Will I be able to use my 220v 60 gallon compressor on a 50amp breaker from the attached garages panel? I plan on having 2 4 foot led lights wired in on a switch and about 6 outlets.

Sorry this is all over the place but it's been on my mind for awhile and want to get the right stuff before pulling the trigger.

So my questions are. Should I get 100amp wire for later on even though I'm running a 50 amp breaker? What wire do I need from lowes or somewhere else? Will I be able to run my 220v 60 gal compressor on 50amp circuit?

Thanks

Sorry I'm new at the electrical side of this stuff.






Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Tool_Master]

62stepside, how far apart will the two panels be?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[62stepside]

It's about 80 feet.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Moto]

You could bury 100 amp cable now, or bury conduit with 50 amp wire and pull 100 amp wire if and when needed.

 

[62stepside]

I was wanting to run conduit either way, just incase. I'm just stuck on what wire. Is two #3awg and a #4awg, then a #8awg for the ground OK? All THHN?

Thanks

 

[sberry]

Use 2 2 2 4 aluminum and a 60 breaker, you can use 90 but a 60 is cheap and will do the work.

 

[62stepside]

Ok, so this work?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/2-2-2-4-Aluminum-SER-Service-Entrance-Cable-By-the-Foot/4294349

That will be ok to put in conduit and use a 60amp breaker?

Thanks

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Ok, so this work?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/2-2-2-4-Aluminum-SER-Service-Entrance-Cable-By-the-Foot/4294349

That will be ok to put in conduit and use a 60amp breaker?

Thanks

NO! That will not work because SER is not permitted for use underground.

You need to use either THWN in pipe or al MHF.

https://www.wireandcableyourway.com/2-2-2-4-aluminum-mobile-home-feeder-cable.html

Yes you can use a 60a breaker. Down the road if you want more power, you can upgrade it to 90a max for #2 al.

 

[62stepside]

NO! That will not work because SER is not permitted for use underground.

You need to use either THWN in pipe or al MHF.

https://www.wireandcableyourway.com/2-2-2-4-aluminum-mobile-home-feeder-cable.html

Yes you can use a 60a breaker. Down the road if you want more power, you can upgrade it to 90a max for #2 al.

Thank you!

 

[AP514]

I never did like Alu...wire. I had a bad experience at an old house we had long ago that had Alu wiring. keep blowing the C/B to the oven. I am a Cu man..I know more money but worth it IMO..Just Saying

 

[Norcal]

I never did like Alu...wire. I had a bad experience at an old house we had long ago that had Alu wiring. keep blowing the C/B to the oven. I am a Cu man..I know more money but worth it IMO..Just Saying

The aluminum alloy conductor used today is not the same as the aluminum used in the past, a sloppy job terminating a copper conductor is just as bad as a sloppy job w/ aluminum, do the job right and it does not matter what type of conductor is chosen.

 

[62stepside]

What would the gauges need to be for Copper wire?

 

[mrramsey]

What would the gauges need to be for Copper wire?

6 gauge at a minimum but at that distance i'd up it to #4 for copper.

http://www.cerrowire.com/ampacity-charts

 

[62stepside]

Thanks for the chart!

So a 4444 copper would do?

 

[mrramsey]

Thanks for the chart!

So a 4444 copper would do?

According the the chart using THWN @ 70c #6 is rated at 65 amps but for a longer distance it is good to upsize to cope with voltage drop (there is a formula for it). Upsize to #4 which is rated at 85 amps.

I am Not an electrician so it would be a worth while phone call to someone local in your area for confirmation, code compliance etc.

 

[62stepside]

Here's what I'm working with..

First is the main box in the house. The blank is the garage box then the shops box. I want to run 50 amps from the garage box to the shops box.. is it possible?

And putting the wire in between the posts in the shop.. is that ok? What should I use to mount it?

Thanks

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[mrramsey]

Here's what I'm working with..

First is the main box in the house. The blank is the garage box then the shops box. I want to run 50 amps from the garage box to the shops box.. is it possible?

And putting the wire in between the posts in the shop.. is that ok? What should I use to mount it?

Thanks

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Again not an electrician but the 3rd pic of your sub-panel doesn't appear to be wired correctly. It looks like you have a 50amp breaker in the main panel back feeding a 50 amp breaker in the sub panel??

Also there is not a ground lug on the sub panel either. The neutrals and grounds should be separated on a sub panel. I am sure others will chime in here.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Moto]

Again not an electrician but the 3rd pic of your sub-panel doesn't appear to be wired correctly. It looks like you have a 50amp breaker in the main panel back feeding a 50 amp breaker in the sub panel??

Also there is not a ground lug on the sub panel either. The neutrals and grounds should be separated on a sub panel. I am sure others will chime in here.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

I believe you are right. A ground bar should be installed and the grounds all moved onto it.

 

[terabitdan]

I don’t see room in your attached garage panel to add another 240v breaker for the garage.

Also, you only have 50 amps to that panel, while you can run another 50 to the detached shop you might want to upgrade the feeder to that panel to 90 amps and upgrade that box. If you don’t there will only be 50 amps to share between the two.

You could also just run feeder from the main box to the detached garage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[62stepside]

Ok so I need to run a ground rod for the 'B panel' (2nd panel in picture - attached garage) and for the 'C panel' (detached shop) correct?

Also I only have 50 amps running to the B panel? Wow that *****. Could my main panel support another 100amp breaker? Would it be easier just to get a new 100 amp breaker in the main and run 100 amps to the C panel?

I'm sure I would need to upgrade my main box if that was the case.. right?

I bought the house with the attached garage already wired, so I did not do the wiring. I want to get this done right.

Thanks

I appreciate the replies and help on this. I'm a total noob when it comes to this stuff.


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Ok so I need to run a ground rod for the 'B panel' (2nd panel in picture - attached garage) and for the 'C panel' (detached shop) correct?

Also I only have 50 amps running to the B panel? Wow that *****. Could my main panel support another 100amp breaker? Would it be easier just to get a new 100 amp breaker in the main and run 100 amps to the C panel?

I'm sure I would need to upgrade my main box if that was the case.. right?

I bought the house with the attached garage already wired, so I did not do the wiring. I want to get this done right.

Thanks

I appreciate the replies and help on this. I'm a total noob when it comes to this stuff.


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

You should checkout my post on the electrical FAQ thread regarding 4-wire subpanels.

The attached garage panel does NOT need grounding electrodes. It needs a ground bar.

It also needs to have a 4-wire feeder and i cant tell if the bare cu wire next to the neutral is the EGC for the feeder.

Need to make sure the neutral bar is isolated- check for a bonding strap or green screw.

About the panel ampacity- you have a back fed main. Back fed mains need to be retained in the panel with a screw or retainer clip.

However, you dont need a main disconnect for a panel in an attached building though they are nice to have.

You could remove the 50a back fed main and move the 2 hot conductors over to the bus bar lugs. This will free up 2 breaker spaces for the shop feeder.

Also, if you want 100a in the attached garage panel, you would need to replace its feeder and feeding breaker. The panel is rated for 100a.

 

[62stepside]

Ok, would it be easier to just bump up the 50amp breaker in the main panel to 100 amp breaker and feed wire to the new shop? So skip the attached garage all together?

How would I go about doing that?