New garage needs power

[carcruse]

Did you ever find out if the inspector has a problem with your plan to locate the panel to the left of the stud and not closer to the door as he proposed?

If not, you should find out before going any further as, it appears to me, your garage door track will encroach into the 3' clear area out from the panel. That is probably why he told you to move it closer to the door.

 

[Maxtork]

Actually I went ahead and moved the stud over so the panel is where the inspector wanted it. Wasn't too bad to move so I went with the safe route.

 

[Maxtork]

Well, I finally got some work done running the power out to the new shop. After having to stop mid morning to fix a water leak in the front yard and two trips to the store for parts etc at about an hour round trip I figured I would post some pictures and let you guys tell me how bad I screwed it up. I'm sure it isn't perfect but I hope it will work well enough. Here goes:

Here is the trench for the MHF


Here is the conduit running up the wall of the house


Here is the junction box up in the soffit with the MHF to SER splice inside


Here is the panel inside the new shop. I haven't terminated any of the wiring yet but the inspector said I didn't have to for the first rough in inspection


Here is the panel inside the house. I had to run the feeder SER down the wall in the next bay over and cross one stud to come up into the panel from the bottom. Not enough room in the top to feed that big cable in there. I can patch the drywall later.


And lastly here is a shot of the shop with just two over head lights running on an extension cord.


So there it is...Thanks for everyone's help. I would have been screwed without it!

Max

 

[Mustang51js]

Looks good, the only thing I would have an issue with is the location of the j-box. Doesn't look like there's much access to it if needed and suppose to have 6 inches clearance in front of it. That and here I would have to use a oversized romex connector for the wire. It's unlikely you would have to get back into it though

 

[Maxtork]

Yeah it isn't ideal for sure but if I need to get in there I can access it from the outside by pulling the soffit down. You can get to it from the attic but it is a long stretch to get that far out while laying on your stomach. My friend had his inspected recently and the inspector didn't even go in the attic to look at it. We will see soon enough if it passes. If not...a gallon of gas and a match and leave it all behind lol

Max

 

[Maxtork]

Well good news. The inspector came today and was very happy with my work. I passed inspection with no discrepancies noted. He didn't go in the attic but he said everything was good to go.

Thanks again for all the advice from folks on here. Pattenp and Charles in GA especially. I really appreciate the help!

Max

 

[Maxtork]

Well here is the finished product...all the wiring is done and all the lights are up.



Max

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Here is the junction box up in the soffit with the MHF to SER splice inside


Max

This is a junction box and splice that is in-accessible. That is a "code violation". I guess the inspector did not look at that. Never put a junction box or splice in a place that it cannot be opened and inspected.

Charles

 

[Maxtork]

Yeah I figured that out after I did it. It isn't totally inaccessible as you can still get to it from the attic. It just isn't comfortable. I know you are supposed to have 6 inches of clearance and I probably have that on the inside edge of the lid but I am a bit short o the outside edge. The inspector didn't go into the attic at all so he didn't say a word. He had to know there was a splice as he saw the MHF in the trench and the SER at the panel. Oh well live and learn. I have a bunch of slack in the SER cable so I can fix it in the future when I get time. For now it will have to live like that but at least I have juice in the new shop to help get the rest of the stuff built.

Max

 

[Disney]

Max,

What cable did you end up running underground? 2224 MHF? Is is in conduit the entire length or just where it is exposed?

 

[Maxtork]

Max,

What cable did you end up running underground? 2224 MHF? Is is in conduit the entire length or just where it is exposed?

I used 2224 mhf and it is direct bury rated so I only used conduit at either end where it comes out of the ground.

Max

 

[pattenp]

Here's my nit-picking questions.

Did you put the MHF in conduit from the garage floor up to the panel before getting it inspected? In your picture the MHF is not in conduit.

Did you strap/fasten the SER within 12 inches of where it enters the jbox?

Edit: To pile on about the jbox, you are not to place a box where any part of the structure is to be removed to gain access. The box should be in a visible easy to access place. Your inspector was a forgiving soul.

 

[Maxtork]

Here's my nit-picking questions.

Did you put the MHF in conduit from the garage floor up to the panel before getting it inspected? In your picture the MHF is not in conduit.

Did you strap/fasten the SER within 12 inches of where it enters the jbox?

Actually I did try to run conduit up to the panel but getting it through two tight bends and up the short length of conduit proved difficult. I ended up cracking one of the fittings so I gave up and left it exposed. It will be covered by drywall later but not in conduit.

I didn't secure the ser either but that I actually can fix easy enough. The inspector didn't seem to care about either issue but I would like to make it as legal as I can.

Max

 

[pattenp]

The MHF is required to be in conduit inside the structure and the SER cable is to be fastened within 12 inches where it enters conduit. As I said in my edit, your inspector was forgiving.