The Tax Ferry Came

[stlhooked]

Well I just got my huge return ($5000). Now I want to rennovate my garage.
Insulation, Heat and AC is the first thing I want to do. j
It's a 725sqft detached two car, so I'm thinking it will need a 1.5 ton unit. But I don't have 220. How hard is it to run 220? Should I run my cable and water for a sink in the same trench?

When it get's warmer I want to do the Rustoleum Professional Epoxy in Red.
On both side walls I think I'm gonna cover them with peg board and the back wall with drywall.
I also need to design a new bench so that my cabinats can roll under it. I need to find some old hardwood doors for the bench top.

 

[BetterDays]

Ferry? as in ship?
or Fairy, as in Mystical creature that leaves presents and rewards for good boys and girls?



From what I understand, the same trench should be fine. Depending on the distance, look at renting a ditch-witch.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Code won't allow electrical and plumbing in the same trench.

You need to run at least 100 amp service or you are wasting time and money.. You can use direct burial aluminum 2-2-2-4 twisted cable. If you have lots of rock in the soil you might consider running cable in a 2 to 2-1/2 inch conduit. Rock will slowly eat thru a direct burial cable if it is stitting up againist it.

Fairy or Ferry, either way it sounds like your ship came in.

Charles

 

[stlhooked]

Oh yea.. Oops I meant fairy. Sorry, it's been a long day.
It's about 30ft to the garage.

I guess I have to tap into the fuse box and run it across my basement cieling to the corner of the house that will allow me to drill a whole through the basement wall and out to the corner of the garage. That corner is also where I have my washer and wash basin in the basement. Otherwise If I go straight out from the fuse box I will have to go under my blacktop driveway.

 

[Flathead Youngin']

cool! sounds like a good project....

projects like this don't "hurt" as badly when you get unexpected money or have put it aside for a purpose......

otherwise, it seems like you're robbing peter to pay paul and you never really accomplish what you want- because you try to cut corners.....

be sure to get before and after pics....

i took an hvac course at our local technical college.....we had all kinds of dontated AC units that we were able to fix......the instructor does it for a living in the field and i asked him to keep an eye our for a unit we could fix......that i could have for my garage.....about a week later, he brought a nice clean unit that a church had upgraded.......we put a new start capacitor and a relay in it and it worked like a champ.....another student there gave me an old bryant forced air furnace....we set it all up in the lab....let it run.......i brought it home......set the ac unit by the garage......a few weeks later it was gone......"they" stole it during the high price of copper......and i live in a good area.....NEVER a problem with theft...

anyway, going to your local tech might be something to consider.....btw, it was a heat pump too..

 

[Aceman]

Code won't allow electrical and plumbing in the same trench.Charles

As far as I know the code has no say in sharing trenches with plumbing on the secondary side. If this was a service lateral to his home, the local power co. might not allow it. But as far as a feeder to his garage, I see no problem. If you think about it what's the difference if he digs two 1' wide trenches 1' apart or a single 3' wide trench? Nothing, once they are covered up, the plumbing and electrical are still the same distance apart. I would also strongly recommend running your wire in pvc to prevent problems in the future. The electrical loads in your garage will dictate the size but generally 100 amp is sufficient.

 

[the intimidator]

Aceman I also don't see the problem with running both in the same trench,

Charles (in GA) care to elaborate please? I am just not sure how this would affect anything Thanks

 

[stlhooked]

OK so I'm starting to understand what's involved I found alot more info by searching for 100amp instead of 220.
I think my obstacles are tapping into the fuse box drilling a sealing my basement wall and then drilling a sealing my garage wall and installing some type of socket.

I was thinking of going the Mini Split route, how does the condensor get power?

 

[the intimidator]

Well I just got my huge return ($5000). Now I want to rennovate my garage.
Insulation, Heat and AC is the first thing I want to do. j
It's a 725sqft detached two car, so I'm thinking it will need a 1.5 ton unit. But I don't have 220. How hard is it to run 220? Should I run my cable and water for a sink in the same trench?

When it get's warmer I want to do the Rustoleum Professional Epoxy in Red.
On both side walls I think I'm gonna cover them with peg board and the back wall with drywall.
I also need to design a new bench so that my cabinats can roll under it. I need to find some old hardwood doors for the bench top.

running a 220v service to you're garage would not be hard and with 30 feet it shouldn't be too expensive either. What amp service is run to you're house? I would run a minimum 100 amp's to the garage but oversize the cable to be able to handle 150amps to allow for future expansion (think welders aircompresers light's and outlet's ect) once you have you're 100 amp service into you're garge you need to install a breaker box from there you can divy up between 110-220v to run you're heater lights outlets ect plus you will have the ability to upgrade at a later date more amps. You most likely have 20 amps to the garage right now for the lights and a couple outlet's so you could keep that running light's and have 100 amps extra for whatever you want.

Sounds like it is going to be a nice addition to you're garage just make sure you plan it out first before you go drywalling you don't want to tear up the walls to run extra outlet's for future items

 

[the intimidator]

OK so I'm starting to understand what's involved I found alot more info by searching for 100amp instead of 220.
I think my obstacles are tapping into the fuse box drilling a sealing my basement wall and then drilling a sealing my garage wall and installing some type of socket.

I was thinking of going the Mini Split route, how does the condensor get power?

is you're basement finished? If it is just go direct outside from the breaker and run round the house in counduit. saves trying to run the new line threw the basement. sealing the holes up and working on the fuse panel is not too difficult nor is getting the line into the new shop find somewon you know and know's what he is doing, to show you around the fuse panel and too check you're work out once it is complete. Get a copy of the nec their is a online copy somewhere I'll find the link and ask questions if you need help ohh yea welcome to garage journal

 

[stlhooked]

Thanks alot for all your help. It's good people like you that makes a forum great.
Thanks, for the welcome. I've actually been checking out the galleries for some time, back when it was called gargagesomthingelse.com here is my first and only other post. I thought it was pretty funny you might remember it.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3007&highlight=I%27m+rich+love

 

[boiler7904]

I'd rethink doing the floor with Rust Oleum Professional in the stock Tile Red color. I did it in my garage last fall. Very dark - ***** all of the light out of the space. Also show every thing - especially mud and road salt. I'll see if I can get you a pic of my floor later this week. I wish I'd gone with one of the gray colors.

 

[Special55]

OK so I'm starting to understand what's involved I found alot more info by searching for 100amp instead of 220.
I think my obstacles are tapping into the fuse box drilling a sealing my basement wall and then drilling a sealing my garage wall and installing some type of socket.

I was thinking of going the Mini Split route, how does the condensor get power?

Not sure if you are talking about above or below grade so this may not apply. If you are thinking you need to go through your concrete wall that is not neccessary. Do as a couple others have suggested and use large conduit. They make large end pieces with access covers that will allow you to go through your side wall (bond) and then install the cover. You can get these at your local electric supply house or any of the big box stores.

Rich

 

[z28toz06]

Well I just got my huge return ($5000). Now I want to rennovate my garage.
Insulation, Heat and AC is the first thing I want to do. j
It's a 725sqft detached two car, so I'm thinking it will need a 1.5 ton unit. But I don't have 220. How hard is it to run 220? Should I run my cable and water for a sink in the same trench?

When it get's warmer I want to do the Rustoleum Professional Epoxy in Red.
On both side walls I think I'm gonna cover them with peg board and the back wall with drywall.
I also need to design a new bench so that my cabinats can roll under it. I need to find some old hardwood doors for the bench top.

Let's keep in mind that the tax Ferry brought you back your money that you lent him all year as an interest free loan. As a matter of fact he can penalize you for making him pay you back so much that you lent him. You need to decrease your dependents so he doesn't hold so much from each paycheck. then you can put that money in an interest bearing account and get the interest yourself and have the money for an emergency like a washer and dryer or fridge dying. (or a new compressor!)

 

[bmwpower]

Let's keep in mind that the tax Ferry brought you back your money that you lent him all year as an interest free loan. As a matter of fact he can penalize you for making him pay you back so much that you lent him. You need to decrease your dependents so he doesn't hold so much from each paycheck. then you can put that money in an interest bearing account and get the interest yourself and have the money for an emergency like a washer and dryer or fridge dying. (or a new compressor!)

Yea, right. Try to tell my wife that. She'd choose the big check everytime. She's in fear of oweing something at the end.

 

[Willy Victor]

Let's keep in mind that the tax Ferry brought you back your money that you lent him all year as an interest free loan. As a matter of fact he can penalize you for making him pay you back so much that you lent him. You need to decrease your dependents so he doesn't hold so much from each paycheck. then you can put that money in an interest bearing account and get the interest yourself and have the money for an emergency like a washer and dryer or fridge dying. (or a new compressor!)

The IRS encourages people to have more withheld from their paychecks not less. I claimed single and zero for at least thirty years even though I had six dependents and they never said a word.

Willy

 

[arkracing]

The IRS encourages people to have more withheld from their paychecks not less. I claimed single and zero for at least thirty years even though I had six dependents and they never said a word.

Willy

those must have been some nice tax returns

Funny - I'm from CT and my uncle who is from CT says the same thing that Z28 did.

The problem is that you have to be very diciplined in putting that $$ into a seperate account. If you aren't then it is useless.

I prefer a large refund as it has more of an effect on you, but to each his own.
_____________________________________

I would budget the $$ on what is most important

#1. Electrical (Run the water so it is there - but hold off on the sink)
#2. Heat - much more important than A/C unless you live down south
#3. A/C if you got enough left over

 

[wilbilt]

Yes, I would do the precious metals (electrical and plumbing) before the cost gets any higher for copper and aluminum.
Congrats on the large refund. My all-time high was about $3500, but I don't remember what the wife spent it on...

 

[bmwpower]

Yes, I would do the precious metals (electrical and plumbing) before the cost gets any higher for copper and aluminum.
Congrats on the large refund. My all-time high was about $3500, but I don't remember what the wife spent it on...

Are we all talking Federaal + state money or just Federal?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Working from memory on my statement about code not allowing elec and plumbing in same trench. I know that the city I grew up in Columbus, Ga would not allow but one thing in a trench, I think my local county now is the same way. I was thinking I saw something in print but cannot find it and have been busy fixing broke car tonite, and will keep looking.

Charles

 

[toolfreak]

I think Charles is right about not being allowed in the same trench and for some reason I am thinking they have to be a certain distance apart.

On the tax subject, I am single and claim 0 dependants, how do I go about not getting so much money back at tax time?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

On the tax subject, I am single and claim 0 dependants, how do I go about not getting so much money back at tax time?

Change your W4, the number of dependent, you can claim yourself, or figure out how much more, or less, you need taken out each pay period to even you out at the end of the year, and have your payroll people adjust your pay. I'm having extra taken out ot compensate for income that I have to pay all taxes on (contract work second job) so I don't get hit at the end of the year owing a huge sum.

Charles

 

[Special55]

Let's keep in mind that the tax Ferry brought you back your money that you lent him all year as an interest free loan. As a matter of fact he can penalize you for making him pay you back so much that you lent him. You need to decrease your dependents so he doesn't hold so much from each paycheck. then you can put that money in an interest bearing account and get the interest yourself and have the money for an emergency like a washer and dryer or fridge dying. (or a new compressor!)

I always thought you needed to increase your dependants on your W4 to increase your monthly income and reduce your tax returns (if any).

 

[Tscott]

I think Charles is right about not being allowed in the same trench and for some reason I am thinking they have to be a certain distance apart.

On the tax subject, I am single and claim 0 dependants, how do I go about not getting so much money back at tax time?

Not sure what the local code is where you are, but here in florida you must have a 12" seperation from another utility (I know this for a fact, as i work for an electrical cooperative). As it has been explained to me the idea is that if you must dig to get to one utility you wont end up cutting into another. Ideally electrical should be your lowest utility as it has a pesky habit of killing people and if at all possible your other utilities should not be over top your electric. Also just a word of advise, If it were me I would put the electrical cable in conduit 2.5" would do the job. This will allow your cable to last a long time and if you do get a little too close with the old shovel, you wont cut the insulation on the cable.

Tom

 

[the intimidator]

http://www.nfpa.org/freecodes/free_access_agreement.asp?id=7005SB

there is the link to the national electric code online

 

[stlhooked]

I got the big tax refund because I had a crappy low paying job that allowed me to attend school (EIC) and a child.

 

[mleichtle]

I think the fairy is more like a little Robbin Hood fellow, He stole my refund this year and gave it to you!