Should I consider a sub-panel?

[duneslider]

I am wondering what the experts thoughts are on my situation.

I currently have a 40amp 220v outlet in the garage. I don't currently use it but I plan to get a welder, nothing huge, just typical hobby homeowner occasional use kind of stuff, and I may use it occasionally to plug in my camp trailer for testing the A/C. I don't anticipate this current 220v to get used very often.

Since the world is moving to electric cars I have wondered if it makes sense to run a 60amp outlet to the garage before I finish the basement and lose easy access, just in case I someday want a higher amp charge station. If I am running more wires would it make more sense to just put in a small sub-panel. Or is running the 60amp to a "plug" a better/fine idea? Or should I just run the wire and leave it "unconnected" on both ends and I can decide later what to do with it?

I don't anticipate needing power for anything else in the area. Garage already has plenty of circuits and outlets, so I don't anticipate needing more 120v outlets. Am I crazy to even be thinking of a subpanel?

I have oodles of room in my main panel, so I don't have a need to add more room for breakers.

 

[mike93lx]

I am wondering what the experts thoughts are on my situation.

I currently have a 40amp 220v outlet in the garage. I don't currently use it but I plan to get a welder, nothing huge, just typical hobby homeowner occasional use kind of stuff, and I may use it occasionally to plug in my camp trailer for testing the A/C. I don't anticipate this current 220v to get used very often.

Since the world is moving to electric cars I have wondered if it makes sense to run a 60amp outlet to the garage before I finish the basement and lose easy access, just in case I someday want a higher amp charge station. If I am running more wires would it make more sense to just put in a small sub-panel. Or is running the 60amp to a "plug" a better/fine idea? Or should I just run the wire and leave it "unconnected" on both ends and I can decide later what to do with it?

I don't anticipate needing power for anything else in the area. Garage already has plenty of circuits and outlets, so I don't anticipate needing more 120v outlets. Am I crazy to even be thinking of a subpanel?

I have oodles of room in my main panel, so I don't have a need to add more room for breakers.

The plug for a welder is different for a RV and is different than a charger.

I would do a sub.

 

[mark-NJ]

I'd give anything for a small sub-panel in my garage. My vote: you bet!

For me, it's not about "current", per se. It's more about convenience of outlets & branch circuits: when I'm welding, I'm not using my table saw. When I'm using my table saw, I'm not running my jointer...etc. (All are 240V)

 

[duneslider]

Thanks for the input so far, I was leaning towards a small subpanel, only real disadvantage to that in my mind is that it would take up more space than the other options but that isn't a deal breaker.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

attached or detached garage?

 

[duneslider]

attached or detached garage?

Its an attached garage. No plans for a detached garage. Maybe a small shed but probably won't even run power to it but if I did it would just be a single 20amp circuit for lights and weed eater charger.

 

[Metal-Marc]

If you're going to upgrade, why not go 90/100 amps right away?

 

[The Cobbler]

is there a neutral with your 40 amp circuit? if yes I (think) it will be fine for an EV charger and probably sufficient for any thing else in the garage .

 

[duneslider]

is there a neutral with your 40 amp circuit? if yes I (think) it will be fine for an EV charger and probably sufficient for any thing else in the garage .

Yes there is a neutral on the 40amp circuit. It is currently wired to a standard 14-50R just like what is in the kitchen for the range.

 

[duneslider]

If you're going to upgrade, why not go 90/100 amps right away?

I can't imagine ever needing 90-100 amps in the attached garage. I question if I will ever even need 220v in the garage, if I do it would be a welder or a car charger. Not sure I could ever justify a 220v welder either, I just don't do anything heavy enough to need that.

 

[mike93lx]

I can't imagine ever needing 90-100 amps in the attached garage. I question if I will ever even need 220v in the garage, if I do it would be a welder or a car charger. Not sure I could ever justify a 220v welder either, I just don't do anything heavy enough to need that.

You could just put a small sub on the wire you already have. It will at least give to an easy way to add whatever plugs you want and have them breakered properly.

A 6 space sub is pretty small and inexpensive. Just need to isolate the neutral bar and get a ground bar kit if it doesn't come with one

 

[dcg9381]

The plug for a welder is different for a RV and is different than a charger.

Not necessarily true. I use 14-50P for both. 14-50R @ 30A breakers. Makes stuff easier.

OP, most modern EV chargers you can "set the rate" - 40A may be more than enough for an overnight charge, depends on what you're doing.

 

[mike93lx]

Not necessarily true. I use 14-50P for both. 14-50R @ 30A breakers. Makes stuff easier.

OP, most modern EV chargers you can "set the rate" - 40A may be more than enough for an overnight charge, depends on what you're doing.

You can put any plug on anything if you want. That doesn't mean that it's standard. A welder using a 14-50 is definitely non-standard and a 30a breaker will not work for some welders.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Not necessarily true. I use 14-50P for both. 14-50R @ 30A breakers. Makes stuff easier.

OP, most modern EV chargers you can "set the rate" - 40A may be more than enough for an overnight charge, depends on what you're doing.

14-50p is not standard for a welder (a 240v welder doesnt need a neutral) and many smaller RVs use TT-30 so...

 

[duneslider]

So, my trailer does have a TT-30 but I have one of those adapters that came with it that converts from the 14-50 to the 30.

I have also seen adapters that convert from the 14-50 to a 6-50 for welders. I can see how dedicated outlets would be ideal for all these items but is there anything wrong with using the adapters for occasional use?

 

[fourjeepin]

I had a sub panel in the garage of my last house and sure was handy.

 

[mike93lx]

So, my trailer does have a TT-30 but I have one of those adapters that came with it that converts from the 14-50 to the 30.

I have also seen adapters that convert from the 14-50 to a 6-50 for welders. I can see how dedicated outlets would be ideal for all these items but is there anything wrong with using the adapters for occasional use?

Guess it depends on the quality of the adapters.

 

[ddurrett896]

I don't anticipate needing power for anything else in the area. Garage already has plenty of circuits and outlets, so I don't anticipate needing more 120v outlets. Am I crazy to even be thinking of a subpanel?

Never say never.

I built an attached garage and my homes main panel is in a weird spot that makes fishing wires hard. Ended up cutting into the wall and running 100amps to a sub in the new garage with all new circuits off that subpanel.

2 years later....that subpanel is feeding another exterior subpanel for my pool equipment and the exterior subpanel is feeding a detached garage subpanel I'm currently building.

 

[duneslider]

That's been my thinking. I may just run the wires and not connect them on both ends and just have it there just in case.

 

[ez-duzit]

Put in a 100-amp panel now.

 

[Noltz]

Pull for 100A now. Cars will be the biggest draw in the future. Buddy had his house built ~5 years ago with the 200A service entering the Garage panel first for his two electric cars plus the hot tub and AC. The house is set up as a sub panel.

 

[Digital Spaceport]

I just got done rewiring to upgrade my garage subpanel from a 50amp to a 125amp. I'm glad I had that 125amp panel in the first place, but should have installed a bigger service to it from the get go. Wire is expensive but redoing wiring is even more expensive. Also welding is fun and addictive. You might really like it. I know I do now.

 

[Syberia]

I can't imagine ever needing 90-100 amps in the attached garage. I question if I will ever even need 220v in the garage, if I do it would be a welder or a car charger. Not sure I could ever justify a 220v welder either, I just don't do anything heavy enough to need that.

I didn't either. But I've seen 70 amps or so charging two cars, mini split running, and using a table saw or something.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

I upped my garage to a 100 watt sub panel some years ago. It seemed like a lot then, but just adequate now.

 

[mike93lx]

I upped my garage to a 100 watt sub panel some years ago. It seemed like a lot then, but just adequate now.

The whole 100 watts? Holy smokes

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I upped my garage to a 100 watt sub panel some years ago. It seemed like a lot then, but just adequate now.

wow you could only run a couple light bulbs off that 100WATT sub. youll get more ampacity if you upgrade to LEDs

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Thanks, I was just talking about light bulbs a few minutes ago. Watt a difference. I never thought I would need more than 50 amps in my garage, or more than an 8 foot ceiling. I could go back and run another line to correct the power, but it cost me, because I couldn't imagine needing more 22 years ago. Save a nickle, spend a dime.