A few code?'s for an Electrician, more power to garage.

[87 WE2]

I have a 200amp service and want to extend more power to the garage. Right now I only have a 120v 15amp circuit out there.

I have a 60amp breaker to install in my house (Cutler Hammer) panel to feed my Sqaure D sub panel to go in the garage. My sub panel is a back feed through breaker style (I forget the technical term) I have a 60 amp breaker for it also.

My question's are:
What size conduit do I need to run for (3) #8 wires and (1) #10awg ground, (total distance of run 40ft garage to house)?

Are those wire sizes correct for my application?

I have to be 18" deep for conduit burial correct?

When I get into the house, do I need to still be in conduit all the way to the panel, or can I run regular copper #8 wire like for an electric stove?

If I do not have to be in the conduit in house (basement) can I splice the stove style wire into an LB that would be on the conduit comming from the garage, or is that a no, no?

Thanks very much for the help.

[TexasT]

I'm sure a real electrician will know more and should post.

A lot depends on your local ahj and the edition of the NEC they follow. I used direct burial cable to avoid running conduit all the way. Any where it is exposed (going in and out of the ground and into the structure) should be put in conduit to avoid damage to it.

As far as exposed wiring within the structure, I believe if it is a certain height above the walking surface it can be left exposed when using romex. If it will be in the wall and is sheathed that will make a difference. Depends on the type of wire you are using.

I do know you should separate the neutral and ground in the sub-panel. There should be a removable bar there where the ground bus is.

[Danster]

Post your question here. DoItYourself.com Community Forums - Home Improvement & Home Repair Questions & Answers

Went to this site to ask about adding a 220V source for my Air Compressor. Bunch of guys will steer you straight on what needs to be done.

Dannyo

[GregInAtl]

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

I have a 200amp service and want to extend more power to the garage. Right now I only have a 120v 15amp circuit out there.

I have a 60amp breaker to install in my house (Cutler Hammer) panel to feed my Sqaure D sub panel to go in the garage. My sub panel is a back feed through breaker style (I forget the technical term) I have a 60 amp breaker for it also.

My question's are:
What size conduit do I need to run for (3) #8 wires and (1) #10awg ground, (total distance of run 40ft garage to house)?

Are those wire sizes correct for my application?

I have to be 18" deep for conduit burial correct?

When I get into the house, do I need to still be in conduit all the way to the panel, or can I run regular copper #8 wire like for an electric stove?

If I do not have to be in the conduit in house (basement) can I splice the stove style wire into an LB that would be on the conduit comming from the garage, or is that a no, no?

Thanks very much for the help.

OK, every state is different, and sometimes county to county is differents. What we would do in the situation is;

I'd get direct burial, go 18" deep and and call it a day. Run from the sub panel to its own ground rod the ground wire and save some $ on that copper. just put it outside the sub panel in next to the foundation.
Splices are generallly a no-no nless they are junctioned and always accessable (But must be fully enclosed including a blank plate over them)
I'd do the 8 from the panel out to the garage one run, all "UF" or underground direct burial wire.
HTH
GC

[87 WE2]

I should have stated that the conduit and #8 wire feeds and the sub panel were all free. Left over material from a job at work, and my boss gave me the sub panel & breakers removed from panel upgrade job.

So basically I only need buy like 15' of wire in the basement

[gnxtc2]

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

I have a 200amp service and want to extend more power to the garage. Right now I only have a 120v 15amp circuit out there.

No, problem. Been doing electrical work for 18 years and licensed for the past 12 years of the 18. Should know something

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

I have a 60amp breaker to install in my house (Cutler Hammer) panel to feed my Sqaure D sub panel to go in the garage. My sub panel is a back feed through breaker style (I forget the technical term) I have a 60 amp breaker for it also.

Put the 60A breaker in your main panel. Run 6/3 Romex or BX (as per NEC) out of the panel to your exit location of the basement for the conduit. The mininum size conduit is 3/4. I run 1" or 1 1/4" for possible ungrade (welders, refriges, lifts, heaters, etc,etc) in the future. You don't need a breaker in the sub panel in the garage. The wires could terminate on the lugs in the panel.

My question's are:

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

What size conduit do I need to run for (3) #8 wires and (1) #10awg ground, (total distance of run 40ft garage to house)?

Run (3) #6 wires instead of the #8s. The #10 green (ground) is fine. The #6 wire is good for 60A.

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

Are those wire sizes correct for my application?

See above

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

I have to be 18" deep for conduit burial correct?

Yes. Use PVC, the gray stuff not the white plumbing PVC. Make sure you PVC cleaner prior to glueing the PVC.

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

When I get into the house, do I need to still be in conduit all the way to the panel, or can I run regular copper #8 wire like for an electric stove?

No. I don't know how old your house is. If it's old, the stove might be wired with 2 hot legs, 1 ground and NO neutral. This way is a code violation today.

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

If I do not have to be in the conduit in house (basement) can I splice the stove style wire into an LB that would be on the conduit comming from the garage, or is that a no, no?

I would run the either the RX or BX to your exit location and box it. Run your conduit into the box. This box is your conversion from RX/BX to individual conductors (THHN) that ran inside the conduit. Don't splice in the LB, although it's allowed provided you have the room, it's better to splice in a box.

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

Thanks very much for the help.

No problem

If part of the basement is above the ground, try to drill through foundation or wooden floor joist. Don't drill out under the ground, it's a pain to seal it or it will leak water into your basement.

Post a pic of your proposed work site and I be of assistance to your conduit run.

Do NOT use UF (underground feeder) cable. It is low budget and will burn up over time. UF wire keeps me busy at condo/townhouse developments, it keeps burning up or the landscaper chops it.

If you have any other question, just ask.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

[87 WE2]

Thanks I should have called the stove cable romex. Just bought some to hook up my new stove its #8 3 wire with a ground. Had that laying there so thats what I was thinking in my head. I'll get some RX or BX to get as suggested for the basement.

I think the panel I have did't have a main, no lug thats why I believe I needed the breaker to back feed the main into the sub panel.

Should I isolate the gound bar in the sub panel?

Conduit run is a piece of cake, straight out like 30' then a left turn 10' to the garage. Already have the gray pvc and glue, primer. I had #8 wire from work that was free, guess I'll buy #6. I plan to run a Dayton G73 heater with is 20.8amp on high. I have a 15 amp compressor out there. Probably will have a welding machine at some point. + my lighting 8 amps or so. I will obviously not be running all that crap at once but its better to have more power then you need then not enough

I am definatly going in above grade through the joist already made that desision.

[gnxtc2]

[quote=Grand Nash;1825433]
I think the panel I have did't have a main, no lug thats why I believe I needed the breaker to back feed the main into the sub panel. [?QUOTE]

Ah, no problem with backfeeding a breaker. I highly recommend that if you are backfeeding a breaker, the panel manufacturer makes a part that converts the breaker to be non-removable by ordinary means (can't be popped out).

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

Should I isolate the gound bar in the sub panel?

The ground bar should not be isolated. You can not put the grounds with neutrals on the neutral bar. The grounds and nuetrals must be kept seperate.

Originally Posted by Grand Nash

Conduit run is a piece of cake, straight out like 30' then a left turn 10' to the garage. Already have the gray pvc and glue, primer. I had #8 wire from work that was free, guess I'll buy #6. I plan to run a Dayton G73 heater with is 20.8amp on high. I have a 15 amp compressor out there. Probably will have a welding machine at some point. + my lighting 8 amps or so. I will obviously not be running all that crap at once but its better to have more power then you need then not enough

You never know when you could welding and the sparks ignite a small fire and you use the air blower to put it out

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com