Wiring form house to garage question

[tokyo]

I currently have a single 15 amp circuit that runs from my basement (in conduit) into the ground and through my backyard to the garage.

There is comes up out of the ground in a conduit that is routed into my garage..

My question is this - can I assume that conduit is running underground the entire length or is it in the dirt somewhere out there?

I need to get more amps out there and have two circuits in the house that can be rewired to run out there giving me more options.

I know enough about wiring to do it, but don't want to start something I can't finish.

Anyone have suggestions??

thanks,

tok

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Is the wire a single piece of romex looking cable, either Romex house wire (not approved for wet/underground installations) or similar looking UF wire, a solid molded cable with the wires inside it, probably flat, ribbon style? Or is the wiring, loose, individual wires?

If it is the UF cable, most likely the conduit runs down to depth and stops and the wire runs unprotected to the garage, where it reenters the conduit and emerges from the ground.

If it is individual wires such as is normally used in conduit, it is most likely, conduit all the way.

How big is the conduit? Your best option is a large capacity sub-feed, say 60 amps or so, out to the garage, with at subpanel. Much easier and better than running several small wires off the house panel.

Charles

 

[tokyo]

Charles,

the wire is typical romex 12/2 with the black, white and copper ground. I think it is the typical 600 amp rating. White cable.

Conduit must be about 3/4 or 1 inch.

So..you are suggesting a 60 amp panel (connected to the main panel) say..in the basement and then running a thick cable out to the garage?

tok

 

[Jentley2430]

i had about the same thing from the house to the garage in 1/2" conduit. The people that build the garage just ran 4 single wires. 2 for inside lights and 2 for outside lights and no room to add on to it. so i ran 3 #8 gage wires 1 for ground and 2 for power and hooked them to a 50 amp. breaker in my main panel and a sub-panel in the garage that gave me 220v. Im not sure if it's to code but it works great and i havn't had any trouble yet.


John

 

[crowldawg]

8/3 wire is not too flexible .Is it a straight shot from panel to garage? you could use the old wire as a snake.
I would trench it and put it in plastic conduit.Check with local codes to see how deep it has to be. It would **** if some poor unsuspecting slob put something through an unprotected 50 amp wire.

 

[Jentley2430]

yeah i run #8 gage THHN single wires thought 1/2" conduit. I used the old wires to pull but im going to have to redo it sooner or later to run a door opener and outdoor lights.

 

[crowldawg]

Not if you run 50 amp to the garage. 8/3 will hold that .I run my whole shop on 50 amp .Saws ,joiner ,planer ,hand tools ,and I have 220 for a compressor. 24 feet of fluorescence 2 garage openers and a frig for bait and beer.
If you can get the wires out there you are set unless every thing is running at once.

 

[JDMopar]

If you have a shop vac,air compressor,or other vac that can be hooked up to blow air....you can find out real easy if it's in pipe all the way. Lightly pack a little tissue paper into one end of the conduit,around the wire. Go to the other end and blow air thru it for 20-30 seconds and then go back to the other end and see if the paper got blown out. If it did,the wire is in pipe all the way and you can use it to pull in new wire. If not......I guess you'll be diggin!

 

[tokyo]

That's a great idea. I would have never thought to do that.

I will try it this weekend. I rally don't want to dig, but if i have to in the name of electricity then so be it.

Thanks guys.
tok