Add circuits or subpanel to attached garage?

[snoopy7548]

I'm trying to make a decision on what to do, between adding separate circuits or just a subpanel that I can branch off of, and hopefully you guys can help.

I have an attached garage right off the basement, which currently only has four 115V/15A receptacles (two are wall-mounted and two are ceiling-mounted). I'm getting a new dust collector, which runs off of 240V (15A recommended circuit size), so I'm trying to figure out the best way to approach this.

Here is the 200A main panel in the basement. You can see there's plenty of space:




My original idea was just to run separate circuits. Here is what I have in mind so far:

1x 240V/20A, ~30' run, 10/2 (single 6-20 receptacle, dust collector)
1x 115V/20A, ~20' run, 12/2 (double 5-15 receptacles, planer would only be used here)
1x 115V/20A, ~15' run, 12/2 (double 5-15 receptacles, table saw would only be used here)
1x 115V/15A, ~36' run, 12/2 (double 5-15 receptacles, drill press and hand tools)
1x 115V/15A, ~36' run, 12/2 (double 5-15 receptacles, work bench)

This will cover more than I could ever want, except for maybe a 240V bandsaw (and/or new tablesaw) - I could add a new 240V/20A circuit, but have it wired to two separate, single 6-20 receptacles on different walls - I would never run both at the same time). This is just another two slots lost in the main panel. Though I do plan to move within five years - if I ever buy a new table saw, it will be my last one, and most likely not in this house.

Even adding all of these breakers to the main (6, or 8 if I buy a bandsaw), there is still plenty of room - 10 slots.

I feel comfortable doing this work myself, but I have limited residential electrical experience - I'm an EE and I work with 240V all the time, though I know it's completely different here. I've been reading up on the codes; the snag here is that my town requires a permit, but will only issue one to licensed electricians. This may be stupid (and I guess if I have to say that it probably is), but I do feel like I could "get away" with wiring these circuits off the main myself, but not installing my own subpanel...

The other idea is to just install a subpanel in the garage, probably 80A, which would make all of this easier. But I don't feel very comfortable doing this on my own, and would rather hire an electrician. From there, I could just run conduit along the walls to however many outlets I need. This is great for future-proofing, but if I don't plan on living here longer than five years, it might be wasted money.

Any advice? Anyone else have the same dilemma?

 

[Sgt. York]

Many years ago my father did some electrical work on his house that required a permit. To keep costs down, he did all the work except the final hookup. He then hired a licensed electrician who pulled the permit and did the final hookup.

 

[NutBucket]

Run a sub. It will make your life easier down the line. I would say 100 amp.

If you're comfortable installing new circuits to the existing box, installing a sub isn't any harder. The only difference is pulling those thick wires might suck. Just remember the neutral isn't bonded to ground (the box itself) in the sub.

Final edit, who cares about permits? A potential buyer would never know you added that sub....unless the plans on file with the city include mechanicals.

 

[snoopy7548]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards a subpanel now. It would just be a 15' run from the main with only three 90 degree bends needed, and the basement isn't drywalled, so no big rectangles to cut.

I guess the only gotcha is that I can't say "well, it was here when I bought the place" because I'm the original owner.

I do like the idea of having an electrician do the final tightening, though I wonder how difficult it might be to get one out during this time for such a small job.

 

[NutBucket]

They're probably hungry for work. Final hookup is easy. Not sure what your reservations are if you're comfortable adding individual circuits.

<-- also an EE that loves DIY

 

[Greenman]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards a subpanel now. It would just be a 15' run from the main with only three 90 degree bends needed, and the basement isn't drywalled, so no big rectangles to cut.

I guess the only gotcha is that I can't say "well, it was here when I bought the place" because I'm the original owner.

I do like the idea of having an electrician do the final tightening, though I wonder how difficult it might be to get one out during this time for such a small job.

If it becomes an issue when you sell, just cut the main feeders and pull the breaker. Nothing is illegal at that point because it's not in use and can't be used.

As others have said, a subpanel is no harder than a 220v receptacle. Just be sure the neutrals aren't bonded in the sub.

 

[herm0016]

run the sub panel. you will be much happier in the long run.

 

[Paperdoc]

I'm inclined to agree on the sub-panel.

I have re-wired this old house when we first bought it nearly 50 years ago (upgraded from 60 A old knob-and-tube wiring to 100 A fuse panel), upgraded that later as we finished the basement and renovated the kitchen, and have revised the wiring in three different locations we leased to run commercial retail stores. I"m a Physical Chemist by training and a good home handyman, but house wiring is not too hard to learn if you get a couple books and a current Electrical Code book. In my region at those times you did not have to be a licensed electrician, but you DID have to get a permit and do the job correctly to pass inspection. And a key driver: If you do NOT have proof your wiring was inspected and approved, your house insurance is VERY likely to be voided! That could become an issue when you sell the house - where's your electrical inspection approval?

 

[NutBucket]

That inspection is super region dependent. In SoCal it is basically on the buyer. When we bought our house I did check records and saw that the seller (well, their electrician) had pulled a permit to upgrade the panel. Great. The problem is they never finalized the job so the permit was still open.

Generally in my area as long as the home inspection checks out (3rd party, not city/county) and the square footage matches what the assessor says, you're good to go. I'd argue 90% of people don't bother pulling permits for remodels where square footage isn't altered.

 

[snoopy7548]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll start planning out a 100A subpanel. This looks nice...

Siemens PL-Series, 100A 30-space panel. Way overkill, but why not?

P3030B1100CU 100-Amp 30-Space 30-Circuit Main Breaker Load Center - Circuit Breaker Panels - Amazon.com

P3030B1100CU 100-Amp 30-Space 30-Circuit Main Breaker Load Center - Circuit Breaker Panels - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

3-3-3-5 SER copper for the feeder cable. I'll likely mount the sub right next to the door that goes from the garage to the basement, so the wire run shouldn't be more than 15'.

 

[herm0016]

Price the breakers before you commit to a panel.

 

[NutBucket]

And how easy they are to get. I would go with something the local home center sells.

 

[snoopy7548]

Yeah, definitely. That specific panel isn't at Home Depot, but it's the same series as my main 200A panel, and all the breakers I'd need (or that it supports) are readily available.