No sub panel in garage

[Slycox]

So working on the wife's grandparents garage today I noticed that the electric comes in the garage via 4 cables and goes directly into a outlet and switch box. Didn't get the best pictures but it shows the wiring going in and the 2nd shows where it splits to the rest of the garage. There's no panel or anything in there. Wondering if this is an acceptable way to do it?

 

[ambenz]

Sure, why not? The power has to come from the homes fuse box then. Most older garages did this as they only wanted power for lights. The garage was a place to store stuff and park the car, not too much more. I bet there are dedicated breakers or fuses for those 4 wires.

 

[Slycox]

Sure, why not? The power has to come from the homes fuse box then. Most older garages did this as they only wanted power for lights. The garage was a place to store stuff and park the car, not too much more. I bet there are dedicated breakers or fuses for those 4 wires.

Hell if I know. The wiring in this house is a cluster. Multiple outlets on 1 curcuit then 1 on its own, over all its completely screwed.

It makes sense that it's ok to run that way I just haven't seen a place yet that didn't have a panel.

 

[CNGsaves]

Too little information . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . Attached . . . . OR . . . Detached garage ???

 

[csp]

If the main panel has enough capacity for the circuits in the garage there is no need for a sub panel. It doesn't matter if it's attached or detached.

Sub panels are used when the main panel is running out of room.

 

[Norcal]

If the main panel has enough capacity for the circuits in the garage there is no need for a sub panel. It doesn't matter if it's attached or detached.

Sub panels are used when the main panel is running out of room.

Only one circuit is permitted to a outbuilding.

 

[Slycox]

Too little information . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . Attached . . . . OR . . . Detached garage ???

Apologies, detached.

If the main panel has enough capacity for the circuits in the garage there is no need for a sub panel. It doesn't matter if it's attached or detached.

Sub panels are used when the main panel is running out of room.

Makes sense, I think they have some physical space left but alot on the panel. IF it was wired correctly I'd bet it would be maxed out.

 

[Slycox]

Only one circuit is permitted to a outbuilding.

Question, what is the definition of a circuit? Learming electrical as I go. I know just enough to kill myself.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Apologies, detached.



Makes sense, I think they have some physical space left but alot on the panel. IF it was wired correctly I'd bet it would be maxed out.

Since its detached its definitely not to code as Norcal pointed out.

Also looks like the wire is NM-b aka Romex.

Does it transition to another type of wire before going underground or overheqd to the house?

If not then thats a big no no as well. NM-b is not rated for wet locations.

Question, what is the definition of a circuit? Learming electrical as I go. I know just enough to kill myself.

A circuit can be either a single 120v feed(3 wires), a single 240v feed(3wires) or a MWBC(multi-wire branch circuit) which is 120v/240v(4-wire)...

 

[matt_i]

If I had to guess (without doing a full survey on what's all out there) in the group of 4 only 1 or 2 is actually a homerun back to the main panel. There's one dark grey wire in there that looks like it could be a UF direct bury wire.

It is a little shady using a stuffed plastic 3 gang box as as a junction box for multi circuits, there are calculations for the number of wire nuts vs the volume of the box, but its still out there and working.

 

[Slycox]

If I had to guess (without doing a full survey on what's all out there) in the group of 4 only 1 or 2 is actually a homerun back to the main panel. There's one dark grey wire in there that looks like it could be a UF direct bury wire.

It is a little shady using a stuffed plastic 3 gang box as as a junction box for multi circuits, there are calculations for the number of wire nuts vs the volume of the box, but its still out there and working.

It's all shady, when I go back on Saturday I'll do some looking and see what I can find but I believe a 4 enter the ground.

Since its detached its definitely not to code as Norcal pointed out.

Also looks like the wire is NM-b aka Romex.

Does it transition to another type of wire before going underground or overheqd to the house?

If not then thats a big no no as well. NM-b is not rated for wet locations.



A circuit can be either a single 120v feed(3 wires), a single 240v feed(3wires) or a MWBC(multi-wire branch circuit) which is 120v/240v(4-wire)...

Ran underground don't believe it transitions to diff wire.

Thanks for the info on circuits..