Small Subpanel

[GrumpysWorkshop]

I'm in the process of insulating and upgrading the electrical outlet situation in my detached garage. I'm putting in more than enough 110 and 220 outlets for the near future. The panel I have is an 8 space, and it's already half full. If I use few tandems, I can just get the circuits I need into the panel, but that leaves absolutely no room for expansion. And who knows, I might want to put in a dedicated circuit for a dust collector or air compressor some day.

So can I replace the 8-space for a 16 or 20 space panel? It'd allow a little less confinement, no tandems, an extra circuit or two to separate some machines, and plenty of room down the road. The third option would be to wire in another subpanel, serving only the bigger machines, but that just seems messy.

Supplying the panel is a 60 amp breaker from the house and 6g copper. Upgrading this to 100A or more would be ideal, but I'm holding off on this atm. I'm the only one going to be working in the shop, I can only use one machine at a time, and most of my machines aren't that big yet or drawing the full load, so I doubt I'll be in danger of overloading this. If it becomes a problem, I'll deal with it. If I upgrade the service line, I'll have to upgrade the panel anyway, so I'll have that part done.

Stupid me says it's just a box and doesn't matter. It's like plugging 8 tools into a power strip - only one tool at a time won't trip anything, but overloading it will just trip the main. Individual circuits and more breakers would be safer than trying to cram it all on tandems or putting too much on one circuit because that's all I have room for.

 

[DeltaWye]

Now is the time to do it.

 

[GrumpysWorkshop]

Now is the time to do it. The new subpanel can be a 100 A one fed by your 60 A breaker, so it won't have to be changed even if you upgrade the feed to 100 A.

Yeah, that's kinda what I figure. I just thought to run it by someone since I've already dug myself into enough holes.

 

[DeltaWye]

Yeah, that's kinda what I figure. I just thought to run it by someone since I've already dug myself into enough holes.

Honestly, 60 amps is probably more than you'll ever need but having lots of spaces is never a bad idea.

 

[sberry]

An 8 space panel is not legal unless you used 2 for a main. Get a 100x20.

 

[pattenp]

Use a main breaker panel and not a main lug panel. As sberry stated, if you have more than 6 breakers you need a main disconnect at the detached garage.

 

[DeltaWye]

detached garage.

Don't know how I missed this. Sorry OP, you can't do what I was suggesting before.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I'd never use a panel without a main in it for a sub anyway.

 

[reader2580]

I was not aware until reading this that I will need a main breaker for my garage sub panel. Any reason I cannot use a 60 amp breaker with hold down for my main breaker? I already bought a Siemens sub panel to replace the crappy GE panel in my garage.

The rule seems to be that you need a disconnect for a sub panel over six handles in another building, but apparently a main breaker can act as a disconnect.

 

[DeltaWye]

I was not aware until reading this that I will need a main breaker for my garage sub panel.

I should probably quit while I'm behind, but it has to do with whether it's a detached building (and the NEC has this verbiage about no more than 6 disconnecting means for a service).

If you do require it and you have a panel without a main breaker, you can always add a separate disconnect (switch).

 

[reader2580]

I should probably quit while I'm behind, but it has to do with whether it's a detached building (and the NEC has this verbiage about no more than 6 disconnecting means for a service).

If you do require it and you have a panel without a main breaker, you can always add a separate disconnect (switch).

I should have made it clear that my garage is a separate building.

Yes, you could use a separate disconnect, but that probably costs more than just getting a 60 amp breaker with hold down kit. (The feed to my garage is 60 amps.)

 

[dw1]

I should have made it clear that my garage is a separate building.

Yes, you could use a separate disconnect, but that probably costs more than just getting a 60 amp breaker with hold down kit. (The feed to my garage is 60 amps.)

So the panel you bought is a main lug panel?
Yes, you could use the 60 amp breaker and hold down clip to be the back fed main breaker. Siemens makes main lug to main breaker conversion kits like this.

 

[reader2580]

I just ordered a hold down clip to use with a 60 amp breaker. The panel is main lug.