Dusty Floor
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2011
- Messages
- 34
I have a detached garage used mostly for storage that is fed via an overhead cable from the service panel in the house. It's currently set up with a two breaker box, where one breaker controls the overhead door outlet, and the other controls 3 outlets and lights.
The disconnect in the house is a dual pole 20A breaker; the breakers in the garage are 10A (although I believe the outlets are wired with 12 gauge wire).
I planning to run a feed from this building to a post light and gate controller along the driveway, and would like to add outlets in more convenient locations for running power tools (circular saw, chop saw, etc.) in the driveway and Christmas lights. Ideally, these would be on separate circuits. I don't forsee a need to use heavy equipment, so don't really need additional capacity (although I should have at least one 20A circuit); I'm really just looking to add some flexibility.
We're also planning to repave the driveway next Spring, which would give me an opportunity to bury and possibly upgrade the service feed (it's probably 60-70'). I'm thinking of replacing the box now (with a 20A main breaker), and upgrading to perhaps 30A when a new feed is run.
The first gotcha I can think of is that I may have to relocate the panel, as the existing box is small and in the cavity between the overhead and service doors; I'm not sure a bigger panel will fit there. Given the two circuits, it shouldn't be a problem to extend them to the other side of the service door (which also happens to be closer to the existing ground). Is there anything else I should be thinking about?
The disconnect in the house is a dual pole 20A breaker; the breakers in the garage are 10A (although I believe the outlets are wired with 12 gauge wire).
I planning to run a feed from this building to a post light and gate controller along the driveway, and would like to add outlets in more convenient locations for running power tools (circular saw, chop saw, etc.) in the driveway and Christmas lights. Ideally, these would be on separate circuits. I don't forsee a need to use heavy equipment, so don't really need additional capacity (although I should have at least one 20A circuit); I'm really just looking to add some flexibility.
We're also planning to repave the driveway next Spring, which would give me an opportunity to bury and possibly upgrade the service feed (it's probably 60-70'). I'm thinking of replacing the box now (with a 20A main breaker), and upgrading to perhaps 30A when a new feed is run.
The first gotcha I can think of is that I may have to relocate the panel, as the existing box is small and in the cavity between the overhead and service doors; I'm not sure a bigger panel will fit there. Given the two circuits, it shouldn't be a problem to extend them to the other side of the service door (which also happens to be closer to the existing ground). Is there anything else I should be thinking about?