Running romex to panel

[bluedog225]

I’m putting in some circuits in my cabin/workshop. Particularly in a storeroom I’d like to finish up and lock for secure storage. I know the location of the panel but it has not been set yet.

Is there a rule of thumb for how much wire to leave at the anticipated panel entry point? I’ve noodled around on the internet and am getting 2’. But I’m going to kick myself around the place if I screw this up.

Thanks

 

[whateg01]

I’m putting in some circuits in my cabin/workshop. Particularly in a storeroom I’d like to finish up and lock for secure storage. I know the location of the panel but it has not been set yet.

Is there a rule of thumb for how much wire to leave at the anticipated panel entry point? I’ve noodled around on the internet and am getting 2’. But I’m going to kick myself around the place if I screw this up.

Thanks

Dunno if this is the standard, but for me it's "more than I think"

 

[sparky 1971]

Put the top of the panel at 6' AFF and leave enough wire to reach the bottom of it or 3-4' if you don't know what panel you're going to install. If it's a 20 space 100 amp, 2' will be enough. If it's a 200 amp 42 space, you're going to want about 4'. I have a 200 amp 30 space panel right next to the desk I'm sitting at and it's 34" tall.

If you screw up and cut something too short, contrary to popular opinion, you can splice it in the panel.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Wire is cheap, time & materials to re-pull a run is not. Leave 4ft.

 

[Axel207]

I’d rather throw away a foot of copper wire than have it be 6” too short. Make your best guess then add a foot or two.

(And no, I don’t actually throw it away, I’m too cheap for that! It goes in the scrap bucket)

 

[bluedog225]

4’ makes sense. Thanks all.

 

[75gmck25]

Post #3 has a good method for estimating.

They usually run the Romex down the wall where the panel will be, mark which wire is which circuit, and bundle it all off to the side. When the panel is installed they can easily remove the knockouts and run each wire down to the breakers.

 

[BreeStephany]

Wire is cheap compared to shorting yourself and having to re-run and wire management, making it look good and functional and avoiding wirenuts at all costs within the panel is important. When roughing in with NM, I set my panel enclosure at 6' to top of enclosure and run the wires atleast 2~3' past the bottom of the panel when coming in the top. Most of the time I just run NM to the floor and label, label, label each circuit. Mark the outer sheath with a sharpy at multiple points, not just at the end!

Always come in either the top or bottom, avoid side entry whenever possible. An electrician at some point in the distant future will thank you!

Just my two cents.

 

[sparky 1971]

Post #3 has a good method for estimating.

They usually run the Romex down the wall where the panel will be, mark which wire is which circuit, and bundle it all off to the side. When the panel is installed they can easily remove the knockouts and run each wire down to the breakers.

Not this cowboy. I drill the holes above the panel first, then knockout all of the 1/2 and 3/4 holes in the top while it's still sitting on the floor. After the panel is installed I put the cables in two at a time as I pull them. When all of that is finished I will put plastic blunder plugs in the unused knockouts. I feel that pulling all of the homeruns then trying to get everything in the panel takes too much time, especially the getting the holes punched out after it's hanging on the wall part.

 

[Dagny]

They all touch the floor with the exception being 6-3. I'm not against nuts in a panel just don't want any on a new house.

 

[wazzabie]

Wire is cheap compared to shorting yourself and having to re-run and wire management, making it look good and functional and avoiding wirenuts at all costs within the panel is important. When roughing in with NM, I set my panel enclosure at 6' to top of enclosure and run the wires atleast 2~3' past the bottom of the panel when coming in the top. Most of the time I just run NM to the floor and label, label, label each circuit. Mark the outer sheath with a sharpy at multiple points, not just at the end!

Always come in either the top or bottom, avoid side entry whenever possible. An electrician at some point in the distant future will thank you!

Just my two cents.

Why not tru the side of the panel?

 

[Norcal]

Why not tru the side of the panel?

It looks like ****.

 

[Codyboy]

It looks like ****.

Why not tru the side of the panel?

I would add too that on a flush panel , that means going through a stud first and then once inside you come right out by the neutral or ground bus.