Need some wiring advice for power.

[78fordf150ranager]

I need power to my shed (15f) away from my house,I am planing on making it a small workshop (shed is 7x9) I would like 4 20 amp 110v plugs 1 15amp for lighting and a 35 amp 220v plug for a 211 amp mig welder,

What size wire should I run and what size sub panel am I going to need. I WILL NOT BE DOING THE INSTALL. If its to much ill get my electric buddy to do it when he is back in town. I tossed the idea of just running extension cords for the 110 and 220 but I think that's a hillbilly idea and electrical fire waiting to happen.

 

[pattenp]

Run #6 Cu for 60A. Use a 4 circuit / 2 space 70A main lug panel.

Such as this: http://www.lowes.com/pd_8992-296-HOM24L70SCP_0__?productId=3135851&Ntt=main+lug+load+center

 

[78fordf150ranager]

Okay so using this panel will allow me to run my circits so 220 in and will branch out for my 110v,and a single 220?

 

[e-tek]

Yep - you put 110's for your tools and lights and a 220 breaker for your Mig plug. Tho I'd put in a bigger panel so you have a couple spares....

 

[pattenp]

The main lug panel I listed would be the bare minimum, but I figured for a 7X9 shed you weren't going to be adding anything more that you stated. The 4 circuit panel will allow you to have one single 120V 15A breaker and one single 120V 20A breaker and one double pole 240V 35A breaker. The panel will be full with the three breakers.

 

[78fordf150ranager]

So on my main panel box(inside the house) if I have a spare 100amp breaker I could tap into it too run power to the new sub panel on the wall of the shed correct? I have 100' feet of 6/3 cable left over from hardwiring my Lincoln ideal arc 250 in.would this wire be adequate for the main line?

 

[Gary S]

No, you will need to pull that 100a breaker in the main and replace it with a breaker suitable for #6 wire. You want a 60a or 50a breaker.

 

[78fordf150ranager]

Okay so for a 100 amp service to the shed what size feeder.wire.is good? I figure having to much power is better then not enough.

 

[Oldbear]

Like e-tek said, have room to grow. In the last place we had the eight stop panel filled just from fixing the previous owner's work...

 

[Stuart in MN]

Like e-tek said, have room to grow. In the last place we had the eight stop panel filled just from fixing the previous owner's work...

It's just a 7 x 9 shed.

Unless you plan on using a welder in there on a regular basis, I think you really only need a single 20 amp 120vac circuit - that will be plenty for a light fixture or two plus whatever power tool you may be using at a given time (in shed that size there won't be room to run more than one thing at a time, anyway.)

 

[78fordf150ranager]

I will be using it as my work shop for welding fabing small stuff for my 4x4,

 

[pattenp]

60A service is plenty for what you plan on doing. But, If you want 100A you'll need a 100A main breaker panel in the shed and feed it with #3 copper. Use three #3's (2 hots, 1 neutral) and one #8 for the equipment ground. Be sure to use the correct type of wire for wet locations and put it in conduit. And don't forget the ground rods at the shed.

 

[78fordf150ranager]

60A service is plenty for what you plan on doing. But, If you want 100A you'll need a 100A main breaker panel in the shed and feed it with #3 copper. Use three #3's (2 hots, 1 neutral) and one #8 for the equipment ground. Be sure to use the correct type of wire for wet locations and put it in conduit. And don't forget the ground rods at the shed.

When you say "use three #3's you mean 3gauge with 3 wires for feeder correct? And the #8 wire is used as the equipment ground for the plugs correct? and tie into the ground rod

 

[pattenp]

The feeder from the house to the shed needs to be 4 conductors, 2 hots, 1 neutral and 1 ground. For a 100A the hots and neutral will be 3 gauge and the equipment ground can be 8 gauge. The electrode ground wire to the rods can be 6 gauge. The ground and neutral need to be isolated from each other in the shed sub-panel. In other words the neutral is not bonded to the panel in the shed.

Here's a diagram that may help.
View media item 16967

 

[78fordf150ranager]

Well time for me to go down to homedepot get some advice and start wiring, hopefully my buddy will be back on the 1st to check it over.. any other things I should know I assume it like wiring a 110 outlet in only with dual hots?

 

[78fordf150ranager]

Well time for me to go down to homedepot get some advice and start wiring, hopefully my buddy will be back on the 1st to check it over.. any other things I should know I assume it like wiring a 110 outlet in only with dual hots?

 

[Norcal]

Home Depot, or Lowes is not the place to get electrical advice.

 

[cj7365]

Home Depot, or Lowes is not the place to get electrical advice.

what he said ^^^^^^

please dont get advice about electrical from them

 

[pattenp]

what he said ^^^^^^

please dont get advice about electrical from them

Yeah... like getting electrical advice over the internet from people like us who you don't know is the best.

 

[78fordf150ranager]

Okay,ill listen to you guys

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Run #6 Cu for 60A. Use a 4 circuit/2 space 70A main lug panel.

Such as this: http://www.lowes.com/pd_8992-296-HOM24L70SCP_0__?productId=3135851&Ntt=main+lug+load+center

Am I missing something? A 2 space panel will support one 2 pole breaker which he needs for a 240v outlet for his welder! I guess he could use 2 tandems and tie 2 of the handles together! But if I were him, I would go with a 4/8 main lug that way there's room for expansion and the future!

...And the #8 wire is used as the equipment ground for the plugs correct? and tie into the ground rod

Not exactly. The #8 is used for the egc between the main panel and shed subpanel. The Romex/NM u run to the plugs will have a bare copper wire which is the egc for the plugs!

The #8 in your feeder will terminate on an egc bar in the subpanel. Then u need to run a continuous wire from the egc bar in the sub to 2 buried 6' ground rods. This wire is called the GEC(grounding electrode conductor). The minimum size u need for the GEC is a #8 bare cu but it will need to be run in conduit for protection. A bare #6 cu wire can be run to the ground rods without protection as long as it follows the building contour and its not subject to damage!

Most small subs do not come with an egc bar which can be purchased separately. And you need to make sure the neutral bar is insulated from the panel enclosure. Some panels have a bonding tab that is screwed into the enclosure and goes into one of the neutral lugs! Make sure to disconnect this if it exists in the panel u buy!

 

[pattenp]

Am I missing something? A 2 space panel will support one 2 pole breaker which he needs for a 240v outlet for his welder! I guess he could use 2 tandems and tie 2 of the handles together! But if I were him, I would go with a 4/8 main lug that way there's room for expansion and the future!.....

The only reason I suggested the 4 circuit/2 space main lug was to prevent running into the issue of needing a main disconnect if more than 6 breaker/switches are installed. The 4 circuit/2 space panel uses 1/2 size breakers so he could have two singles and one double. Since it's a 7X9 shed and what the OP was wanting it seemed enough.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yeah probably is enough but obviously depends on what he will be doing.