Subpanel overhead feed?

[okrobie]

I want to install a 60A subpanel in my garage, which currently has no power at all. I was planning to dig a trench and lay a 2” sked 40 PVC in the trench as conduit. A friend suggested that I run an overhead conduit from the house to the garage. I don’t know if that would meet code or how to suspend it. The span would be less than 20 feet. Is this a workable solution? Thanks for any suggestions or help. Regards, Jim

 

[mike93lx]

No, conduit needs to be properly secured.

Burial is the way to go

2" is way bigger than needed for 60a, but it's a short run, so the added cost won't be earth shattering.

 

[dave*99]

You can run an overhead CABLE to your garage. But not an overhead CONDUIT.
I'd still opt for digging since it's only 20'

 

[okrobie]

Thanks Mike and Dave, I’ll probably go for the underground conduit since I’ll probably have other needs such as 10baseT and RG6 as well.

 

[dave*99]

Thanks Mike and Dave, I’ll probably go for the underground conduit since I’ll probably have other needs such as 10baseT and RG6 as well.

You mean flooded (submersible) CAT6 not 10 BaseT I hope.
Put some distance between the power and communications conduits.

 

[Norcal]

No, conduit needs to be properly secured.

Burial is the way to go

2" is way bigger than needed for 60a, but it's a short run, so the added cost won't be earth shattering.

2" is around $3 a foot at HD, not cheap like it was before. Being only 20 feet means it won't break the bank.

 

[mike93lx]

2" is around $3 a foot at HD, not cheap like it was before. Being only 20 feet means it won't break the bank.

Yeah, I know it's gotten stupid. Fittings too.

Personally, I'd run #2 xhhw and 1-1/2 for this. Breaker anywhere between 60 and 90, depending on availability.

 

[Zeke]

PVC needs to be Sch 80 if it has high (line) voltage. Save your 40 for the communications.

 

[mike93lx]

PVC needs to be Sch 80 if it has high (line) voltage. Save your 40 for the communications.

Only when subject to damage

 

[billconner]

And I'd run rigid because it only has to be 6" deep. Well worth it to me for my time saved.

PS - my error - rigid metal requires only 6" of cover. PVC requires 18".

 

[mike93lx]

And I'd run rigid because it only has to be 6" deep. Well worth it to me for my time saved.

PS - my error - rigid metal requires only 6" of cover. PVC requires 18".

Isnt Florida all sand? Hard to imagine an easier place to dig a trench. Still, 6" deep is easier than 18", no question

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I want to install a 60A subpanel in my garage, which currently has no power at all. I was planning to dig a trench and lay a 2” sked 40 PVC in the trench as conduit. A friend suggested that I run an overhead conduit from the house to the garage. I don’t know if that would meet code or how to suspend it. The span would be less than 20 feet. Is this a workable solution? Thanks for any suggestions or help. Regards, Jim

Overhead conduit? How in the world could that be secured?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thanks Mike and Dave, I’ll probably go for the underground conduit since I’ll probably have other needs such as 10baseT and RG6 as well.

10baseT? Thats really old. You mean 1Gig ethernet?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

PVC needs to be Sch 80 if it has high (line) voltage. Save your 40 for the communications.

Huh? Sch 80 only needed where subject to damage

 

[Zeke]

Huh? Sch 80 only needed where subject to damage

Not subject to damage 12" down in soil? Would be at my house. But if that is not code then I'm mistaken. Funny, though, that RMC has to be Sch 80 or am I reading the wrong data?

 

[billconner]

Pretty sure NEC requires buried pvc conduit to have 18" of cover.

 

[dave*99]

Pretty sure NEC requires buried pvc conduit to have 18" of cover.

It's permitted at 12" depth for branch circuits IF GFCI protection is upstream in the circuit.

 

[billconner]

I thought this was a 60 amp feeder to a panel. Your chart says 15 and 20 amp branch circuits. Do I misread this?

 

[Innovate1]

Just connect the buildings with a roof and then attached the overhead conduit to that.

 

[mike93lx]

Just connect the buildings with a roof and then attached the overhead conduit to that.

Added benefit of no ground rods, too!

 

[Innovate1]

Huh? Sch 80 only needed where subject to damage

Problem is "subject to damage" is vague and subject to local interpretation. Everywhere I have lived and done work sch40 was ok for runs on the outside of buildings. But I recall in one county I lived it was very rural and the nearby suppliers were in the next county. When I was looking into what was required for the conduit on the input side of a meter base for underground service I was told it had to be sch80. But that was just that county and didn't apply where I was. Sch40 was considered ok for where I was.

 

[alfredeneuman]

It's permitted at 12" depth for branch circuits IF GFCI protection is upstream in the circuit.

Not on a 60A subpanel it doesn't.
15 or 20A, 120 volt circuits only.

 

[dave*99]

Not on a 60A subpanel it doesn't.
15 or 20A, 120 volt circuits only.

Yup and I posted a table showing the applications where 12” is sufficient. That ain’t one.