DIYbanter - View Single Post - Electrical

Bud--

On 8/7/2012 8:10 PM, wrote:
On Sat, 04 Aug 2012 01:43:05 -0500, wrote:

On Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:21:49 -0500, wrote:

On 8/3/2012 9:06 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
...

I believe that code requires a disconnect for out builidings that can
be reached from the door. Since you are planning to have 2 separate
circuits, do you need 2 disconnect switches? Are 2 disconnects allowed
or should you have used 1 run to a disconnect panel and then splilt
the circuits inside the shed? (A bit late for that, I would think)

Yes, Code does say there does need to be a disconnect for each branch
circuit at the nearest point where it enters the building rather than by
the door, necessarily. Since there are more than one of those points
(apparently) in this installation, Code says there's to be a plaquard at
each location denoting all the other(s).

It does allow for residential outbuildings to use a a snap switch (or a
set of 3-way or 4-way snap switches) as the disconnecting means for
garages and outbuildings on residential property without having a
€œservice equipment€ rating.

So, his cheapest out that is at least reasonably close would be to wire
his inlet into a double box and feed the receptacle from the switch and
then if he is going to have another outlet feed it from that outlet.

It all goes to show one ought to do the planning _before_ the
construction...

So you're saying that by code that I need a switch or breaker in the
shed that I ran the wires to?

Each circuit has a 20A breaker in the garage. Isn't that enough?

It would be senseless to put another 20A breaker for each circuit in the
shed. After all, since both are 20A (in shed and in garage), which one
would trip if there was a short or overload?

The thought does occur to put a double 20A breaker in the garage, thus
supplying 240V to the shed (240 is not needed), and then put another 20A
breaker on each 120V line in the shed. But once again, we're back to
the same issue. Both buildings have a 20A breaker, so which one will
trip? Since the wire is 12 gauge, I cant put a larger breaker in the
garage (such as a 25 or 30A)......

I suppose I could put in one of those old double fuse boxes with a pull
down lever to disconnect, and put in 30A fuses, since the wires are
actually protected by the 20A breakers.

Yet, all of this seems senseless. If a breaker trips, I have to walk
about 35 feet to the garage. I know a guy who lives in a 60 foot long
trailer home, and his breaker panel is in the back bedroom. If he's on
the other end of the trailer, he has to walk nearly 60 feet to go to the
breaker panel. That's almost twice as far as walking to my garage.

The idea of using plain light switches on each of the 2 circuits is
simple enough to wire, but they would need to be some heavy duty
switches. Plain light switches are not designed for heavy loads. This
is a tool shed, there are power saws and other larger motors that need
to start up. If I put in an air cond. or use an electric space heater
in winter both of those are heavy loads. Those switches would need to
be able to handle that current along with the heavy starting current
when a motor starts up.

The "disconnect" does not NEED to be "protected" - it is there for
safety reasons - so you can cut the power quickly in case of a
malfunction/emergency.

Who said anything about "protected"?

As I stated before, I would use a 240 volt
disconnect at the door

As dpb said several days ago (and quoted above) the NEC wants the
disconnect "at the nearest point where it enters the building rather
than by the door."

and tie the 2 cables together at both ends -
sharing the neutral - and mark appropriately.

Paralleling the neutrals is a code violation and not necessary.

borrowed from different post:
Use a fused or breaker type subpanel in the outbuilding

A breaker subpanel in the shed for 2-20A circuits? All that is required
is a simple switch. As the OP said (quoted above) "it would be senseless
to put another 20A breaker for each circuit in the shed."

But no problem. Holmes will fix the wiring you do when he discovers it.

--
bud--