Need help for running power to garage.

[swampthang]

In the middle of having a detached 40x56 workshop built now and wanting to get everything lined out so i can start power as soon as its done. Im no electrician but i can do basic wiring. This is rural illinois i havent called anyone yet to see about rules and regs but prolly will this week to see for sure what im in for.

Heres what i have to work with. The meter on the pole in my yard has a 200amp disco, wires are buried to my house that also has a 200amp disco and breaker panel that only has about 12 slots all full aready. The shop is 150ft from the pole and 75ft from the house.

From what i have read it is possible to find dual lugs to run extra wires from the 200amp disco on the pole to the shop. I would want them buried in conduit. then a 200amp panel in the shop. From what I hear you will still only have 200amp but its split from the house and garage so if the house is only using 40 amp then the shop gets the remaining 160amp to use and vise versa.
This might not be legal or cheap to run.

Back to the house. I have a electric dryer that has a dedicated 30amp breaker. I could switch it to a gas one and that would free up the 30amp breaker so i could replace it with a 100amp and run wires from house to 100amp sub panel in shop.

Any imput guys? I will try to call some people this week to get some facts. Id liek to do as much on my own as i can with out hiring a electrician. Im confident i can wire the panel and garage. But I dont fell confident when it come to hooking anything up to the pole where some lugs would be hot during install unless killed by electric comp.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... my house that also has a 200amp disco and breaker panel that only has about 12 slots all full aready.

So the disconnect is separate from the panel ? There is no "main" breaker in the panel ? 12 slots is pretty small, even for a 100A panel.

From what i have read it is possible to find dual lugs to run extra wires from the 200amp disco on the pole to the shop.

Maybe. Likely the power company/local building inspector will make you change that disconnect.

Back to the house. I have a electric dryer that has a dedicated 30amp breaker. I could switch it to a gas one and that would free up the 30amp breaker so i could replace it with a 100amp and run wires from house to 100amp sub panel in shop.

This is the simplest thing to do.

Most manufacturers make tandem breakers; 2 separate breakers that only take one slot. Take out 4 breakers, install 2 tandems and you have 2 empty slots.

Before you do either, make sure the breaker panel in the house can handle that much extra load.



P.S. A gas dryer will save you money and pay for itself over time !

 

[swampthang]

I guess what I was calling a disco is really just a breaker. Its the 200amp switch inside the breaker box.

I counted and the box has 16 single slots but 3 are doubled up for 220 outlets.

I will look into the tandem breakers and how can i find out if my existing panel in the house will handle the extra load?

The wife was all for the gas dryer when i ran the idea past her today anyways!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What brand of panel do u have?

 

[swampthang]

Crouse-Hinds? ever hear of it?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Crouse-Hinds? ever hear of it?

Yes!

Crouse-hinds is garbage and can have overheating issues at the stabs.

They got bought by siemens who then reverted them to the original murray name.

Theyre discontinued so u either need to find NOS(new old stock) or use murray.

If it were mine, i would replace it.

 

[swampthang]

Yes!

Crouse-hinds is garbage and can have overheating issues at the stabs.

They got bought by siemens who then reverted them to the original murray name.

Theyre discontinued so u either need to find NOS(new old stock) or use murray.

If it were mine, i would replace it.

Yeah I looked it up and seems to be the majority answer. Seems like I always get the junk. I called my electric comp and they said they just service the meter on the pole and anything else is for me to figure out. I tryed to contact a electrician to see if i can just tie into the 200amp breaker on the pole and bury the line to the garage. i havent heard back from him yet he seems to be a busy guy. Its just confusing.