Oof, I realized the #4 wire I mentioned is overkill, and probably too large for the conduit. #6 then?

Do inspectors usually make you show a load demand calculation?

Finally, someone told me connecting the buildings is a bad idea, because they move. He says I should use two masts. That seems hella ugly to me?

Oof, I realized the #4 wire I mentioned is overkill, and probably too large for the conduit. #6 then?

Do inspectors usually make you show a load demand calculation?

Finally, someone told me connecting the buildings is a bad idea, because they move. He says I should use two masts. That seems hella ugly to me?

I'd definitely go underground.

You may be able to avoid headaches with your concrete breezeway pad by routing your underground feed out a different side of the house and into a different side of the garage.

The garage is entirely surrounded by concrete - driveway, breezeway, back patio. The only side of the garage not guarded by concrete is facing my neighbor, as the garage is built very close to the lot line (I guess there were no setback rules 100 years ago). I cannot go underground without breaking out concrete, and there are no handy joints to separate old and new concrete. I'd have to just cut a narrow trench and patch it, which would look awful. I'd rather use masts, even though I think that will look bad too.

It is really too bad that the person who remodeled the house didn't plan ahead and install a really sizable chase/conduit path. The circuit to the garage is NM cable buried in concrete.

By the way, do I actually need to disconnect the existing circuit to the garage? Somehow I recall reading that would be required, it is unsafe/not code to serve a garage with a subpanel and a branch circuit from the main panel. I don't know where I read that. If not, then it would be more convenient to leave the existing garage door and 2 gang outlet on the existing circuit.

On the ground rods, I'm reading I need 2 rods, at least 8 feet apart, with #6 bare wire.

Well, I got some information from the electrical inspector.

I will need two ground rods for the garage, since it is a detached structure. Connecting the garage to house with my proposed header doesn't change the detached nature of the garage, he says.

The inspector said if I enclose the wires in conduit supported by a permanent structure connected to house and garage, then the 12-foot height from grade and other clearance rules of article 225 won't apply.

I read article 225.30 and now I understand why I must disconnect the existing branch circuit to the garage.

Still trying to educate myself to do this properly.

Sorry for all these questions.

On the conductor type - I am now thinking that since part of the conduit will be outdoors, I need to treat the whole conduit run as a ''wet'' location. If that is right, then I think I need wet-rated conductors?. I thought single conductors would be easier to pull through conduit, so that means THWN?

Since I will only have three current-carrying conductors (plus neutral) from main panel to subpanel, do I have to worry about de-rating?

I would also appreciate some help on the conduit type and size. My impression is that 1'' schedule 80 PVC conduit can hold up to six #4 or nine #6 conductors, so if I use 1.5'' conduit that would be more than okay for filling and easier for pulling, and PVC is okay for exterior use?

You need wet rated, most of the stuff you'll find today is rated THHN/THWN so you'll be OK.

No derating (that's three current carrying plus ground by the way).

PVC will be fine but if it's exposed you need to make sure it's rated for sunlight.

Duh - ground not neutral.

Going to start this weekend. Thanks for looking over my posts.