What size wire for new garage

[muk]

I am building a new garage and it will be 120 feet from the 100 am panel in my current garage. what size wire do I need to run for this? and can I put another 100amp panel in the new garage or should I go with a 60 amp panel?

 

[pattenp]

Common size is 100A, so use that size for the best value. You can feed it with any size amp feed up to the 100A. It helps to know what you plan on doing so to suggest the amp feed size. In most cases 60A is plenty. #4 XHHW-2 Aluminum in conduit will work for 60A, or #6 THHN/THWN copper will also work for 60A.

Edit: You need four conductors, that's three #4's and one #8 of aluminum, or three #6's and one #10 of copper for 60A

 

[Mike Folks]

Planning on Welding? 220 Volt circuit? Heavy duty use? 3 phase power?

 

[dcg9381]

There are a couple of wire size calculators out there. Here's one:
http://www.paigewire.com/pumpWireCalc.aspx

Note, 90A is typically the "sweet spot" for garage power, as 100A may knock you up a wire size, so play with the calculator.


You don't match the panel to your feed size (although it can't be less than you feed size). A 200A panel works just fine on a 100A feed or a 50A feed. It's about how many slots you need.

Wire prices are WAY up over the last 90 days..

 

[muk]

For 220v items I will have a welder which is currently on a 15 amp circuit, a lift 220 and a minisplit ac system on a 20 amp circuit.

The mini split will run the most, the welder and lift are intermittent. other than that I will have lights and garage door opener. My air compressor is in the other garage and will be piped to the new one.

 

[muk]

Common size is 100A, so use that size for the best value. You can feed it with any size amp feed up to the 100A. It helps to know what you plan on doing so to suggest the amp feed size. In most cases 60A is plenty. #4 XHHW-2 Aluminum in conduit will work for 60A, or #6 THHN/THWN copper will also work for 60A.

Edit: You need four conductors, that's three #4's and one #8 of aluminum, or three #6's and one #10 of copper for 60A

Why four conductor? I thought it would be 3 two power from the meter and a ground.

Never mind I did not think of the neutral and ground being separate

 

[muk]

I am planning on running 2-2-2-4 MHF cable direct buried except where it comes out of the ground then it will be in conduit and and LB to the exterior wall. My panel in the garage is recessed (flush to the drywall) so I cannot connect to the back of it since the LB would stick out too far from the wall. When I come through the outside wall does the service cable need to be in conduit or is it allowed to be between the exterior wall and the interior drywall? if not how would I make such a sharp turn inside the wall to the panel?

 

[pattenp]

If entering the panel from the rear a LB with a short ****** should work. Don't know why you think the LB will set out to far from the wall. I assume the conduit is coming up against the outside of the wall. The MHF needs to be in conduit all the way to the panel. Feeding in from the bottom of the panel two back to back LB's can be used. What size conduit are you using?

 

[mike93lx]

#2 MHF is perfect for this. Tons of capacity and it's cheap.

 

[muk]

If entering the panel from the rear a LB with a short ****** should work. Don't know why you think the LB will set out to far from the wall. I assume the conduit is coming up against the outside of the wall. The MHF needs to be in conduit all the way to the panel. Feeding in from the bottom of the panel two back to back LB's can be used. What size conduit are you using?

It will be in 1 1/2" conduit. My concern was that since the panel is flush to the drywall the stub on an LB is about an 1" then I would need to put a small piece of pipe that I can thread to the back of the panel which will add another inch or two that puts the LB about 2" from being flush to the wall. the exterior wall is T1-11 siding and the back of the panel sits right against the siding.

 

[Mike481]

Just get a chase ******.