Setting up a new subpanel to easily add circuits later

[Sukhoi]

I'm working on defining renovation requirements and as part of it plan to install a new subpanel in the hallway by the bedrooms. The panel will initially be wired for two of the bedrooms and a bathroom while the wall is still torn open. I'd like the ability to easily run NM-B when I later rewire the third bedroom, and add a minisplit in the attic. The bedroom circuit would go out the bottom of the panel through the crawlspace, and the minisplit circuit up to the attic.

How can I legally make it easy to add the wiring for these circuits? From what I'm reading I cannot run 2" sleeves to the attic and crawlspace. Is that correct? Would it become legal if the 2" conduit ran to junction boxes in the crawlspace and attic such that it's now an enclosed raceway? Derating doesn't really seem to be a concern here since I'm looking at adding so few circuits later.

Or should I run NM-B for the future circuits now and have it terminate in attic/crawl space junction boxes for future use? I guess that would definitely be legal, though permanently add a junction in each circuit.

 

[deadlyapp]

Personally I'd just run the cable and terminate it in junction boxes. That said I don't see why running conduit would be against code as long as you have appropriate pull locations for it. It woukd be considered a raceway so you'd just need to check your bundling, and some inspectors might object to NM being run in it.

Safe bet would be run conduit and terminate it to a jbox. Run thhn or whatever to the jbox through conduit then splice to NM. I don't see any reason why that wouldn't pass.

 

[Sukhoi]

Yeah I think I'll run conduit to a box. Gives me the most flexibility later.

 

[skyking]

use THHN/THWN wire in the conduit and you will have no inspection issues.
You can easily change things later too. NM wire fills badly, is not as flexible as stranded THHN.

 

[Red Squirrel]

If the attic is easily accessible then yeah I'd just run a 2" conduit to a big jbox up there that you can then use as a splice point to branch off. Indiviudual wires in conduit then convert to romex at the jbox and branch out of it. Can do the same in crawlspace so you have two potential locations.

Another option might be to add access panels above/below/beside the electrical panel, whatever spot is most convenient to run new circuits later. Then you would fish romex through the walls and use that access panel to connect it to the panel.

 

[BoomerD]

A good alternative to romex (NM-B) is SEU-copper or SER-copper cable. (Service Entrance Unarmored or Service Entrance Round) Essentially THHN wires in a sheath. Doesn’t have some of the restrictions of Romex, doesn’t require conduit like individual THHN wiring.
May NOT be suitable for all applications…check with your local building code inspector.