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NEW SHOP NEED ELECTRICAL HELP

XMAN JR

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Milton PA.
Had to sell dads house & garage. Bought a house w/ smaller garage & in need of wiring, new sub panel. The works. I know just enough about wiring to get the job done. Im just not that sure about adding the wires to the sub panel from the sockets & switches. I can post some pics if it helps. Trying to do things my self to cut down on cost. Working on a budget. I got a odd, weird situation or what ever you want to call it. The house is a new 200 amp service. There is 100 amp breaker in that panel w/ a 100 amp wire that goes to 1 garage. That garage has a new 100 amp panel in it that I am wiring up. Now that 1st garage 100 amp sub panel also has a 100 amp breaker in it w/ a 100 amp wire going to a 2nd garage w/ a new sub panel. Hope im not confusing anyone lol In either garage there will not be any thing that will need 220 volts. This is the way I bought the place except for the garages had the old style glass fuses.
 
You have 2 garages? Are those panels wired in series? I added a garage and put a 100 amp breaker to a sub panel no shut off breaker in sub panel. In my town think they have a limit on sub panels but not positive.
 
I read your post 2x but couldn't find your question.
Sorry I have 200 amp panel in the house. I have a 100 amp breaker in it w/ a 100 amp wire going to a 100amp sub panel. question is can I add a 100 amp breaker to that sub panel to feed another sub panel in a 2nd garage
 
You have 2 garages? Are those panels wired in series? I added a garage and put a 100 amp breaker to a sub panel no shut off breaker in sub panel. In my town think they have a limit on sub panels but not positive.
Yes in series. There is the house then the first garage then the 2nd garage. All within 30 feet of one another. 1st garage 2 bays 7 foot ceilings & 1/2 dirt floor 2nd garage 1 bay
 
You have 2 garages? Are those panels wired in series?
With AC power nothing is ever wired in series.
I don't believe you can put a 100 amp breaker in the branch space of a sub-panel.
Maybe a 60 amp, which is plenty for lights, receptacles. Even a 220 Volt welder.
You may be able to add dual lugs and extend the feed to the next sub-panel.
 
I think you are saying the 200 Amp Panel has a 100 Amp 220 Breaker that is feeding both garages. The question I think is to feed the garages in series or parallel?
I don't know what the code is for that? If the second garage is 110 volt, how much power do you really need.
You also will need to know the wire size used between panels and the run length between them to calculate voltage loss.
 
Yes you can run in series, around here anyways. Not sure if your codes are different but in theory you can do that. My house is 200amp. I have done the same layout you are doing. 100 amp for garage with no 220 outlets is allot. You could save yourself some coin with less. Keep the wiring sizes in check though.
 
It likely may depend on how many circuits are open in the 200 Amp box, and the run lengths between the buildings.
I think for the 220 circuit run you need to run 4 wires, and 3-wires for the 110.
I would look into the actual loads needed. Usually a 60 Amp 220 breaker will power most smaller shops, welders, and such. When you goto 100 Amps the cables get really bulky (hard to route) and expensive.
 
My local codes, don't think I could do what your saying. Maybe run 2nd breaker off main panel but not sure 2-100 amp breakers are kosher.
Could you run a second service to garage you intend to use the most power. One how much power do you need, you only have 2 hands unless friends are working too.
 
I know a bit about these things....which means I don't get "shocked" too often.
The question is "should you", more than "could you".

Here it is: as I've never seen a 100a single pole breaker, I must assume that it is a double. Which is to say that the 100a breaker in your house, is really pulling 50a per line. So you have (2) 50a lines in yor garage #1, sporting 220 volts ( very good for a garage ).

You probably would never need that much....and the same could be said for garage #2. Why not put in a 30a double pole and feed the second garage with a #10-3 wire. This would give you 220 volts available there as well.

As it happens, I've done that with my garage. I have a bank of overhead lights, 3 garage door openers, car lift, mig welder and more. I have no problems, but how many things can 1 guy run at once?

220 volts is a good thing and I'd recommend it. You could go higher in amps to garage #2, but you should be less than the input to garage #1
 
I looked at the code Section 225-31.
You do need a disconnecting means from the 1st sub-panel to the second.
 
I would run 60A service at most to the third panel.

What will you need in the first garage for circuits?

Take that, subtract from your 100A, and the remainder is what can go to the second garage.
If you come up with 60A, then put a 40A feed to garage 2.

If you plan on having more, or larger stuff in garage 2, the n go the other way, say 40 (2x 20A) in garage 1 and then as above, 60A to garage 2.
 
[QUOTE
Here it is: as I've never seen a 100a single pole breaker, I must assume that it is a double. Which is to say that the 100a breaker in your house, is really pulling 50a per line. So you have (2) 50a lines in yor garage #1, sporting 220 volts ( very good for a garage ).
[/QUOTE]

I think that is incorrect. Each line is still feeding the number of amps the circuit breaker is marked as, but they are out of phase with each other.
 
Neither garage needs 100a worth of power, but if that’s what’s feeding the 1st garage, you can run a 60a to your 2nd garage, that’s plenty enough power. I would run it into a 60a breaker in the panel in the 2nd garage and use that as a main shutoff in there. You want to be able to shut off each box at the box, otherwise you would need to run into a service disconnect before the panel.
 
So there’s a 100a branch circuit breaker in the 200a main panel.
There should be 4 wires (2 hots, a neutral and a ground) feeding your sub panel.
The neutral bar in the sub panels must be isolated.
The ground bar must be bonded to the panel.
I’d agree with feeding the additional sub panel with the above mentioned 60a branch circuit breaker from the first sub panel.
I’d use a 60a main circuit breaker in the 2nd sub panel as a means of a disconnect.
I’d also run a #6 solid bare copper wire to a ground rod from each panel. So there would be 3 separate ground rods, one dedicated to each panel.
 
Not sure of what you are saying. When everyone is saying series that just means its after the 2nd 100a breaker via a branch circuit from the second panel. Can you do it?, sure, is it legal, probably not since branch circuits are limited to 80% of their rating. Your sub panel is essentially a branch circuit.
I would do what YY1 suggest and just run a 60a circuit to your second garage.
Parallel would be doublelugging under the second 100a.... which if your wire is sized correctly would be impossible to fit on a 100a brkr....
 
The under ground wire between the 2 garages is a big gray wire. Inside that wire is 1 bare wire, 2 black wires, 1 w/ a red stripe. All 3 wires are aluminum. I am only thinking of using a 100 amp breaker in the 1st sub panel is because that size wire will only fit a 100 amp breaker. Not a 60. I don't want to dig up that wire & put in a small wire if I don't have to. Yes it might be over kill using a 100 amp breaker but that's what I have & that wire is already run.
 
Well, if you ever sell your house just say it was “existing “ when you bought your house....
 
I would run wire in the GREY pvc under ground and feed a disconnect outside of the garage then into the garage to a sub panel. Like others have said it doesnt have to be more than 60 amps. I have my huge compressor out in my shed and a few outlets and 3 lights. Its way more than I will ever need.
 
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