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Upgrading garage circuit to 100A? Ignoramus18798 05-22-2006
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Posted by Ignoramus18798 on May 22, 2006, 9:47 am
I presently have a 220V subpanel in my garage, the circuit is wired
with 6 gauge wire on a 60A circuit breaker.

This circuit is inside a 3/4" conduit. It is comprised of three 6
gauge wires (two hots and neutral, with conduit being the ground).

I now realize that choosing that low capacity was a mistake. (with a
big welder now in the picture) I would like to know just what would be
involved if I wanted to upgrade to 100A.

Can I be able to squeeze, say, two 4 gauge conductors (hots), plus one
8 gauge conductor (neutral), into a 3/4" conduit? Or will I have to
replace the conduit too?

I am very regretful of not doing the right thing and going for max
capacity. When I did it, the only 220V tool I had was a 3 HP
vertical compressor.

i


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Posted by Toller on May 22, 2006, 9:51 am

>I presently have a 220V subpanel in my garage, the circuit is wired
> with 6 gauge wire on a 60A circuit breaker.
>
> This circuit is inside a 3/4" conduit. It is comprised of three 6
> gauge wires (two hots and neutral, with conduit being the ground).
>
> I now realize that choosing that low capacity was a mistake. (with a
> big welder now in the picture) I would like to know just what would be
> involved if I wanted to upgrade to 100A.
>
> Can I be able to squeeze, say, two 4 gauge conductors (hots), plus one
> 8 gauge conductor (neutral), into a 3/4" conduit? Or will I have to
> replace the conduit too?
>
> I am very regretful of not doing the right thing and going for max
> capacity. When I did it, the only 220V tool I had was a 3 HP
> vertical compressor.
>
Can't answer your question (at least not without looking it up...) but
wonder if you have the electrical capacity in your panel for a 100a sub.



Posted by Ignoramus18798 on May 22, 2006, 9:58 am
>
>>I presently have a 220V subpanel in my garage, the circuit is wired
>> with 6 gauge wire on a 60A circuit breaker.
>>
>> This circuit is inside a 3/4" conduit. It is comprised of three 6
>> gauge wires (two hots and neutral, with conduit being the ground).
>>
>> I now realize that choosing that low capacity was a mistake. (with a
>> big welder now in the picture) I would like to know just what would be
>> involved if I wanted to upgrade to 100A.
>>
>> Can I be able to squeeze, say, two 4 gauge conductors (hots), plus one
>> 8 gauge conductor (neutral), into a 3/4" conduit? Or will I have to
>> replace the conduit too?
>>
>> I am very regretful of not doing the right thing and going for max
>> capacity. When I did it, the only 220V tool I had was a 3 HP
>> vertical compressor.
>>
> Can't answer your question (at least not without looking it up...) but
> wonder if you have the electrical capacity in your panel for a 100a sub.

Good question.

I have a 200A panel. The big loads that I may have is a 28A air
conditioner and a 50A kitchen range.

The garage circuit is used for my hobby stuff (compressor, welder),
and, as such, is used very intermittently. As you can guess, the
welder is also going to be used at a low duty cycle, it is not a
production style situation.

That's some data for me to ponder.

i


Posted by on May 22, 2006, 11:03 am
On Mon, 22 May 2006 13:58:15 GMT, Ignoramus18798

>>
>>>I presently have a 220V subpanel in my garage, the circuit is wired
>>> with 6 gauge wire on a 60A circuit breaker.
>>>
>>> This circuit is inside a 3/4" conduit. It is comprised of three 6
>>> gauge wires (two hots and neutral, with conduit being the ground).
>>>
>>> I now realize that choosing that low capacity was a mistake. (with a
>>> big welder now in the picture) I would like to know just what would be
>>> involved if I wanted to upgrade to 100A.
>>>
>>> Can I be able to squeeze, say, two 4 gauge conductors (hots), plus one
>>> 8 gauge conductor (neutral), into a 3/4" conduit? Or will I have to
>>> replace the conduit too?
>>>
>>> I am very regretful of not doing the right thing and going for max
>>> capacity. When I did it, the only 220V tool I had was a 3 HP
>>> vertical compressor.
>>>
>> Can't answer your question (at least not without looking it up...) but
>> wonder if you have the electrical capacity in your panel for a 100a sub.
>
>Good question.
>
>I have a 200A panel. The big loads that I may have is a 28A air
>conditioner and a 50A kitchen range.
>
>The garage circuit is used for my hobby stuff (compressor, welder),
>and, as such, is used very intermittently. As you can guess, the
>welder is also going to be used at a low duty cycle, it is not a
>production style situation.
>
>That's some data for me to ponder.
>
>i


You could possibly squeeze two 4s and an 8 in 3/4" (39% fill) but if
there are many bends you will have trouble getting them in there.
That still only gets you 85 amps that you can "round up" to a 90a
breaker. 310.15(B)(6) does not apply to sub panels.
On the other hand, I wouldn't do anything until I had a problem.. I
ran a pretty big shop with a welder and AC on a 60a.


Posted by Ignoramus18798 on May 22, 2006, 11:12 am
> On Mon, 22 May 2006 13:58:15 GMT, Ignoramus18798
>
>>>
>>>>I presently have a 220V subpanel in my garage, the circuit is wired
>>>> with 6 gauge wire on a 60A circuit breaker.
>>>>
>>>> This circuit is inside a 3/4" conduit. It is comprised of three 6
>>>> gauge wires (two hots and neutral, with conduit being the ground).
>>>>
>>>> I now realize that choosing that low capacity was a mistake. (with a
>>>> big welder now in the picture) I would like to know just what would be
>>>> involved if I wanted to upgrade to 100A.
>>>>
>>>> Can I be able to squeeze, say, two 4 gauge conductors (hots), plus one
>>>> 8 gauge conductor (neutral), into a 3/4" conduit? Or will I have to
>>>> replace the conduit too?
>>>>
>>>> I am very regretful of not doing the right thing and going for max
>>>> capacity. When I did it, the only 220V tool I had was a 3 HP
>>>> vertical compressor.
>>>>
>>> Can't answer your question (at least not without looking it up...) but
>>> wonder if you have the electrical capacity in your panel for a 100a sub.
>>
>>Good question.
>>
>>I have a 200A panel. The big loads that I may have is a 28A air
>>conditioner and a 50A kitchen range.
>>
>>The garage circuit is used for my hobby stuff (compressor, welder),
>>and, as such, is used very intermittently. As you can guess, the
>>welder is also going to be used at a low duty cycle, it is not a
>>production style situation.
>>
>>That's some data for me to ponder.
>>
>>i
>
>
> You could possibly squeeze two 4s and an 8 in 3/4" (39% fill) but if
> there are many bends you will have trouble getting them in there.

The bends that I have are all open kind, that is, there is either a 90
degree turn with removable back cover, or a junction box.

> That still only gets you 85 amps that you can "round up" to a 90a
> breaker. 310.15(B)(6) does not apply to sub panels.
> On the other hand, I wouldn't do anything until I had a problem.. I
> ran a pretty big shop with a welder and AC on a 60a.

Thanks... Maybe I will just follow your advice. I am not going to weld
bridge sections or oceangoing ships.

i


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