my home is a 100 amp service. im running a sub panel to my detached garage for lights and outlets mostly, but i might add some other things to the garage down the road such as 220 compressor, welder, and some stationary power tools. if you can answer that question, what size wire would i need if i stepped it down to a 60 amp panel instead of the 100 amp.
2006-10-12 15:02:27 · 9 answers · asked by psucar248 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
If you don't know the wire size you need I suspect you don't know other requirements for this job. Did you know you need a ground rod and other grounding? And there are so many wrong answers here, even from "electricians". Direct burial wire needs to be 2 feet underground, not 6 inches! Can you even get the wire you need at a local store? By code, assuming 75 degree terminals, 100A needs 3 AWG copper or 1 AWG aluminum for the phases, 60A needs 6 AWG copper or 4 AWG aluminum.
For your own safety, call an electrician.
2006-10-13 03:38:52 · answer #1 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can end up with some very serious problems by not wiring a sub panel properly.If you have a twenty and thirty ckt there will be a difference of 10 amps.If the sub panel is bonded to the neutral from the main panel, the sub panel box can be electrically live and be a very dangerous shock hazard, even if the sub is just a 120 volt system and u r pulling say 25 amps with the neutral tied to the sub panel box then yes the sub box can/will be live to ground. That is why the code says the neutral MUST be insulated/isolated from the ground or metal enclosure of the sub panel the sub panel box
2016-03-28 07:02:28 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah. I like the idea of upgrading to 200A at the house and using the other for the garage.
If you get the same type panel, you might be able to move some breakers around until you are ready to add the loads you are planning on.
I'd price copper and aluminum. Usually aluminum use 2 sizes larger. Of course we all prefer copper, but if there's a huge price difference.. Check to make sure old panel is rated for aluminum - AL-CU.
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An Electrical Engineer - wow.
But are you an licensed Electrician or have other skills besides reading manuals?. I'm doubt you could make it as an electrician given your people skills...
How can you say it's wrong if you don't even know where he's at?
6" deep is OK by my electrical coop given the same stated circumstances - but they like it better if there's a board over it.
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Anyway, however deep it ends up, if you're using direct burial, snake it just a bit to leave it some give for contraction or expansion.
Sometimes in real rocky areas, we put a couple of inches of sand in the trench just in case you shovel a sharp rock back on it.
There's a lot of chirt and flint around here - nice sharp hard rocks. We get a crapload of flat tires too - just from the gravel roads (the 6-ply LT's I have now have cut that down a lot...).
2006-10-12 23:38:47 · answer #3 · answered by Jon W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
#2 copper can be used for a 100 amp breaker. At 110' I would consider using #1 copper to compensate for voltage drop. If it were my garage ,I would try to determine what my amperage use would be at any one time. I would think for your needs a #4 copper with a 60 amp breaker would handle most of your needs that you have mentioned. Try to balance your loads in your sub-panel. With #4 copper you will have a much easier pull through your conduit if you are running underground. Hope this helps and good luck.
2006-10-12 16:37:22 · answer #4 · answered by steven a 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sevenout and steven a are both right, but, Why not upgrade the house to 200 amp. Use the old panel in the garage. This will be a GREAT upgrade if you sell your house, and you won't be limited in the garage. Only about $50 difference in the boxes.
2006-10-12 16:43:22 · answer #5 · answered by T C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would say 1 or 1/0 wire but they are a few things you need to remember, are you going to bury it underground in a pipe, you will need heavier wire also if you use copper versus aluminum core, plus if it over 100 ft you need to use the next size larger, go to home depot they have a chart that will tell you.
also if it is a sub panel, it is running through your main panel, and you will need to increase to wire coming in too. if you have a welder and compressor drawing amps in your garage and your doing laundry and have the a/c in your house going you will blow some fuses and/or ruin the main wire coming in from the power company to your house, you may need to upgrade your main srvice comeing in too..good luck
2006-10-12 15:16:55 · answer #6 · answered by sevenout7 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
100A-2/3UF,60A-4/3UF; to allow for voltage drop at that distance I stepped the wire sizes up 1 size 2AWG is rated for 115A 4AWG is rated for 85A but the wire needs to be that big because of the distance it needs to travel to compensate for voltage drop by national code UF can be buried a minimum of 6 inches deep under yards and areas not subjuct heavy traffic but I recommend at least 2 feet deep for safety and to avoid digging accidents
2006-10-12 19:37:11 · answer #7 · answered by daniel s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4/0
2006-10-12 15:39:03 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
This link may help.
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
Good Luck
2006-10-13 00:53:43 · answer #9 · answered by opie with an attitude 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋