I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.

Alternative: I've seen those 2-circuit-1-slot breakers. If I take a
few of the existing circuits on the main panel and switch them over to
those, it'll open up enough space for a 240v breaker for the MIG
welder and a few 20amp circuits so my air compressor will quit making
the lights go out. Wiring that up is within my existing knowledge.

Is that a half assed solution? Sometimes the simple route is the
best, but it's my house and I want it done right.

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:50:55 -0800 (PST), The Reverend Natural Light
wrote:

I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.

Alternative: I've seen those 2-circuit-1-slot breakers. If I take a
few of the existing circuits on the main panel and switch them over to
those, it'll open up enough space for a 240v breaker for the MIG
welder and a few 20amp circuits so my air compressor will quit making
the lights go out. Wiring that up is within my existing knowledge.

Is that a half assed solution? Sometimes the simple route is the
best, but it's my house and I want it done right.

The farther the garage is away from the house, the better the idea a
sub panel is.

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:50:55 -0800 (PST), The Reverend Natural Light
wrote:

I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.

Alternative: I've seen those 2-circuit-1-slot breakers. If I take a
few of the existing circuits on the main panel and switch them over to
those, it'll open up enough space for a 240v breaker for the MIG
welder and a few 20amp circuits so my air compressor will quit making
the lights go out. Wiring that up is within my existing knowledge.

Is that a half assed solution? Sometimes the simple route is the
best, but it's my house and I want it done right.


An upgrade of Main is much better than a subpanel. Get 3 or 4
estimates.

"The Reverend Natural Light" wrote in message
...
I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.


Attached or detached garage? Having a sub panel with power tools can save
some trips down to the main to reset breakers.

"The Reverend Natural Light" wrote in message
...
I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.

Alternative: I've seen those 2-circuit-1-slot breakers. If I take a
few of the existing circuits on the main panel and switch them over to
those, it'll open up enough space for a 240v breaker for the MIG
welder and a few 20amp circuits so my air compressor will quit making
the lights go out. Wiring that up is within my existing knowledge.

Is that a half assed solution? Sometimes the simple route is the
best, but it's my house and I want it done right.

If you were having heart problems, who would you call?

Don't dick around with something that will burn your house down, electrocute
you, or just be a PITA because it doesn't work right.

In a lot of cases, a "run" of wire can feed the whole panel, and you can
have circuits off that. Is it expensive? No. Your life and the life of
your family is worth it. Now, you can shop around and find different
prices, but if you know how to compare apples to apples, you can get the
"best" price. The "best" price doesn't mean $44 for the whole job, but it
will mean the "best" price for the job using the same components. All
sparkies buy their stuff at the same places and charge different for their
labor. Now, if you can get one that will let you do some of the work and
lower the cost, that's good, too. You can dig the ditch and save a couple
of bucks, or if you aren't that energetic, then you have to pay someone to
do it.

Steve

"The Reverend Natural Light" wrote in message
...
I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.

Alternative: I've seen those 2-circuit-1-slot breakers. If I take a
few of the existing circuits on the main panel and switch them over to
those, it'll open up enough space for a 240v breaker for the MIG
welder and a few 20amp circuits so my air compressor will quit making
the lights go out. Wiring that up is within my existing knowledge.

Is that a half assed solution? Sometimes the simple route is the
best, but it's my house and I want it done right.

There is nothing wrong with either solution. Typical modern panel is
designed to take either full sized breakers, or depending upon the model, a
combination of full and half sized breakers. It should spell this out on the
inside of the panel door. If you want or need more circuits and possible
future circuits in or near the garage, then install a sub. It's really no
more difficult than running any other circuit, except the cable will be
larger

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:49:47 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

"The Reverend Natural Light" wrote in message
...
I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.


Attached or detached garage? Having a sub panel with power tools can save
some trips down to the main to reset breakers.

I'll second that. Do you really want to run into the house when you have
oil, grease, or mud all over you to reset a breaker?

Mike D.

"The Reverend Natural Light" wrote in message
...
I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.

Alternative: I've seen those 2-circuit-1-slot breakers. If I take a
few of the existing circuits on the main panel and switch them over to
those, it'll open up enough space for a 240v breaker for the MIG
welder and a few 20amp circuits so my air compressor will quit making
the lights go out. Wiring that up is within my existing knowledge.

Is that a half assed solution? Sometimes the simple route is the
best, but it's my house and I want it done right.



If you plan on adding more circuits to the garage I would say that a
sub-panel is the way to go. This has been discussed many times in this
newsgroup. Do a search in Google to find past discussions. Maybe you can
find an electrician who will work with you and let you do some of the work.
You can only use twin circuit breakers in panels that have been approved for
them. Read the labels on your panel to see if they are permitted. I
strongly suggest that you get a permit and have an inspection by your town
for this project.

If you post some pictures and more details about the garage and location we
can probably give you better information.

On Nov 30, 10:40*am, Michael Dobony wrote:
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:49:47 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
"The Reverend Natural Light" wrote in message
....
I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. *A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. *The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. *It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. *I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.

Attached or detached garage? *Having a sub panel with power tools can save
some trips down to the main to reset breakers.

I'll second that. *Do you really want to run into the house when you have
oil, grease, or mud all over you to reset a breaker? *

Mike D.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Our house is about 60 feet long. The garge (originally a carport is
attached.
We have: A 200 amp 115/230 volt service.
a) A main panel still with several spare positions after 38 years..
b) A sub panel near the kitchen about 30 cable feet away. Fed from a
100 amp breaker.
c) A sub panel about 40 cable feet away for garage/storeroom. etc. Fed
from a 50 amp breaker.
d) A double pole switch/fuse above work bench about 15 cable feet away
in basement workshop which can 'kill' all power to workshop tools etc.
Fed from a 30 amp breaker.
All panels can supply additional 15/230 volt circuits as required. All
have spare positions.

On Nov 30, 10:40*am, Michael Dobony wrote:
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:49:47 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
"The Reverend Natural Light" wrote in message
....
I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. *A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. *The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. *It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. *I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.

Attached or detached garage? *Having a sub panel with power tools can save
some trips down to the main to reset breakers.

I'll second that. *Do you really want to run into the house when you have
oil, grease, or mud all over you to reset a breaker? *

Mike D.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Our house is about 60 feet long. The garage (originally a carport) is
attached.
We have: A 200 amp 115/230 volt service.
a) A main panel still with several spare positions after 38 years..
b) A sub panel near the kitchen about 30 cable feet away. Fed from a
100 amp breaker.
c) A sub panel about 40 cable feet away for garage/storeroom. etc.
Fed
from a 50 amp breaker.
d) A double pole switch/fuse above work bench about 15 cable feet
away
in basement workshop which can 'kill' all power to workshop tools/
outlets etc.
Fed from a 30 amp breaker.
All panels can supply additional 115/230 volt circuits as required.
All
have spare positions.
Works for us. Btw our basement remains basically unfinished so it's
easier to route new circuits across and then 'up' into partition walls
etc. (wood frame construction). An example being a dedicated circuit
from a basement located UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) to a main
floor room, for our computers.

"Michael Dobony" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:49:47 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

"The Reverend Natural Light" wrote in message
...
I need a 240v outlet right now, and I want to do a full rewire of the
garage in the near future. A subpanel sounds like a really neat
idea. The main panel is just about full already and I just like the
idea of a separate panel in the garage.

But,

A. It looks like it's going to cost a lot.

B. I really don't know what I'm doing.

If it's the right way to go, I'll learn how to do it right and spend
the cash.


Attached or detached garage? Having a sub panel with power tools can
save
some trips down to the main to reset breakers.

I'll second that. Do you really want to run into the house when you have
oil, grease, or mud all over you to reset a breaker?

Mike D.

Or it's dark and sleeting outside? Guess why it's dark, and where the
breaker is ............. If it's like my garage, you'd have a 50/50 chance
of making it to the house alive in the dark.

Steve

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:50:55 -0800 (PST), The Reverend Natural Light
wrote:

it's my house and I want it done right.

Then ya gotta do your homework.

Learn to spec the job. Collect max amp draw numbers for the welder
and all expected devices on new circuits.

Then determine max amp draw on all the old stuff in the house.
Will the old panel safely support both the old and the new?
If so then proceed. If not, you may need a new main panel.

Once you've got that far, the rest is not difficult to figger.
A sub-panel shouldn't cost very much, and isn't very
hard to wire. If you know what you're doing.

Do it right and you'll have something.

P

"Take Yo' Hand Out My Pocket (I Ain't Got Nothing What Belongs To You)!"
- Rice Miller, who probably never even _heard_ of GW Bush, Paulson, etc