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Sub-panel in Attached Garage

murf257

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Joined
Oct 21, 2012
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7
First and foremost I know nothing about eletrical wiring!! My wife said to call a professional!! OK I need to make her wrong!!

I have an attached garage and want to add 220v for a Bendpak car storage lift.

Everything else in the garage is currently connected to the origial 200amp service panel in my basement.

So...... what do I need??

Simple question! Ha Ha

My panel to garage is approx. 35'

I presume I need #6 two hot, one neutral and a ground, through conduit.

I was told I could pull that through 3/4" conduit.

With that said and all is true, I need 3/4" conduit, 35' of #6 times 4 to supply the sub-panel.

What else?

What is needed in the panel itself?

I know I'll need a conduit bender to make my bends, whatelse?

Again, be gentle, guys I need to prove the wife wrong!!!
 
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pattenp

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Jun 4, 2008
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If the route you can take to run the wire is in walls, through attic space or similar where the wire isn't exposed you can run NM (Romex) to a wall box or box in the ceiling. Then do a flex drop to the lift with a plug or a disconnect. If you have space in your 200A panel you can run the circuit off of a double pole breaker from there. Circuit size needed will be specified in the lift instructions.

If you want a sub-panel then that's more involved.

Edit: For the sub I suggest 60A using the #6 copper. You need three #6 for hots and neutral and a #10 for the ground. Use THHN/THWN type wire, that will fit 3/4" conduit. Since the garage is attached you can use a main lug panel for the sub-panel. A main lug doesn't have a main breaker.
 
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madosta

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Sep 4, 2012
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Michigan
A subpanel in the garage is definitely more future-proof, giving you circuits in the garage when you want to add a welder plug, or a heater circuit, or a new receptacle for your batter maintainer... but it is a lot more work and lots to learn about doing it correctly.

pattenp can tell you all of it! :) His first suggestion of getting some 6-3, 8-3, or 4 conductor NM (romex) and running it to where the lift will be is a good idea. You might be able to do a dedicated 10-2, or 10-3 run, but you need to read the manual on your lift and tell us the specs first.
 

theoldwizard1

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SE MI
I was told I could pull that through 3/4" conduit.
That sounds small to me ! More likely 1" or possibly even 1½". You will need couplers, pulling elbows, support clips and the appropriate fitting at each panel box. Buy an electrician fish tape. Make sure you have the appropriate fasteners to connect the support clips to the wall.

What is needed in the panel itself?
You will need a 240V breaker in your main panel and the same sized "main" breaker in the sub-panel. (I am guessing 60A.)

I know I'll need a conduit bender to make my bends, whatelse?
You might want to consider PVC conduit. Now bender required, just purchase the bends. It requires more support clips on horizontal runs. All available at HD or Lowes.


Measure twice, cut once ! TRIPLE check you wire length before having it cut. Add at least 6-10' to your estimate.
 
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pattenp

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That sounds small to me ! More likely 1" or possibly even 1½". You will need couplers, pulling elbows, support clips and the appropriate fitting at each panel box. Buy an electrician fish tape. Make sure you have the appropriate fasteners to connect the support clips to the wall.

3/4" conduit will hold four #6 THHN at max. 1" will give you an easier pull.

You will need a 240V breaker in your main panel and the same sized "main" breaker in the sub-panel. (I am guessing 60A.)

The main breaker in the sub-panel does not need to be the same size that's in the main service panel. You can put a DP 60A in the house panel and have a 100A main breaker panel in the garage. The main breaker in the sub-panel in this setup is a disconnect, the 60A in the service panel is the breaker that's protecting the feeder wire and is sized for the feed to the sub-panel. And as I said before, since the sub-panel is in the same structure as the main service panel it is not required to have a main disconnect, but it is a nice feature to have.
 

Speedy Petey

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Apr 22, 2012
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Location
NY State
First and foremost I know nothing about eletrical wiring!!

...........
...........

What else?

What is needed in the panel itself?

I know I'll need a conduit bender to make my bends, whatelse?

Again, be gentle, guys I need to prove the wife wrong!!!
So you know nothing about electrical work, and a sub-panel with a conduit feed is your first project? IMO this is NOT a good place to start learning.

WHY are you so dead set on proving your wife wrong??? Women usually have very good instincts, and I am with your wife on this one.
 
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M

murf257

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Oct 21, 2012
Messages
7
I guess my male genes are more competitive than yours, just don't tell me you stop and ask for directions! lol
 
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