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New garage wiring
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Posted by jetter (My Page) on Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 11:59
| Hi. Could use some advice. Adding another attached garage to home. New 3 walls consist of concrete block. Footing poured right now. I am adding a 100 amp sub panel, attaching to existing home wall, running 2/2/2/4 alum wire thru attic to new garage, 56' run. I have routed a rope 77' to pull wire thru attic as access is a real bear. I will buy 78' to be sure I have enough. Or is copper thru conduit a better option? Questions I have. 1. Can I run some type of conduit thru the concrete walls, naturally prior to cement poured thru them? I think I can and if so, is ridgid pvc conduit better than flexi type?? And if flexi is better, what kind? I have seen gray flexi but think a blue ribbed one might be good too. Blue has those snap in things that attach it to the box. If I use ridgid then I have to buy 90 degree sweeps I guess to get wire out to the box??
2. Is it best to just run the conduit thru the concrete block and just attach the metal box to the concrete block with tapcons or should I cut thru the concrete block and sink the box in the wall?? I am told concrete will make the box solid, but I need to be there to assist with this process. I intend to put up peg board using furing strips and that will need the box to stick out some.
I have done wiring many times but never with concrete as the backing. I want to pass inspection and dont want to tick the inspectors off. Ha. At present I am a frusted lady electrician with questions all over the place. Any help is appreciated. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: New garage wiring
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| Were going to need a little more information to provide any assistance. Why do you need a 100 amp panel? That is a lot of power for a garage, generally speaking. What type of 2-2-2-4 alum are you going to use? What is the conduit for, the feeder to the panel? Why wouldn't you surface mount the panel on the existing wall and build a chase around it to provide wiring access for now and future? |
RE: New garage wiring
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| Hi...thanks for responding. Need 50 amps for spa and maybe pool with A/C in future. Main box is 200 amps, so figured I would go for the 100 sub now vs later. I have table saw, compressors, much tools that I use. Was looking at SER 2-2-2-4 alum within its own case. Don't need conduit in attic with this type of wire. I did intend to surface mount the sub-box with chase, as you suggested, to provide easy access. Was thinking of putting up a plywood backing to make sure box stayed put. LOL. Conduit, flex or ridgid, is for the walls that are yet to be built, concrete and block. I wanted to add outlets for a planned workbench and outlets all around. I hate extension cords. I am hoping to hide the romex, in the walls with just the boxes exposed for a clean look. My concern is properly and safely feeding the outlets, light switches, etc. |
RE: New garage wiring
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| You are going to need EMT with concrete tight connectors or rigid threaded conduit if you plan to run inside the encased concrete. The wire in the pipe has to be individual thwn wires. Out of the block wall into the ceiling you could transition to flex or continue the pipe. The blue smurf or metal flex can not be encased. If you can't just surface mount the conduit on the walls or build walls in-front to cover the wiring, this would be a very difficult d-i-y job. Even some mainly residential companies wouldn't know how to properly install wiring to block walls. |
RE: New garage wiring
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| Wire inside the pipe has to be what? Romex no good? |
RE: New garage wiring
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| "The wire in the pipe has to be individual THWN wires." Just like Spencer said. THWN individual wires. Romex cable is not acceptable. |
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