6/2-fed, 120v-only sub panel - Anything for inspector to nitpick?

S

SparkyNH

Member
Location
NH
Occupation
GC
Hi all,

Customer removed an old hot tub and wants to convert the existing feed (6/2 Romex) for the old 60A 240V hot tub circuit into a sub panel to service additional branch circuits in the basement living space (I'd normally insist on running new feed, but its clear on the other side of the building, 100' from the main panel, all finished spaces, and would be a nightmare to run).

I think we're good, but I just figured I'd check here to see if there's anything for the inspector to nitpick. Subby's plan is this:

At the main, remove the old 60A 2-pole breaker, install new 60A single-pole breaker (and another breaker to fill the space), swing neutral of 6/2 feed to neutral/ground bus.
At the sub, bond hot conductor from feed to one of the two hot busses, jumper one hot bus to the second. Bond neutral to neutral bus. Install separate ground bus, bond ground from 8/2 feed to ground bus.
Load will be two 20A circuits and one 15A, for a total of 55A of load.

So what is inspector going to yell at us for? 😝
 
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Yes you can re-use the existing feeder but not exactly the way you've described. Starting with #8 NM cable is only rated for 40 amps so that is your maximum OCPD size. You cannot jumper two conductors under one terminal so you would need to do something like a splice. As mentioned you'll need a separate bus for the EGC's. You'll also need to install a GES.
 
Apologies, it's actually AWG 6, not 8. So 6/2 Romex, not 8/2. Edited the first post to correct.

Mmm, I was wondering about the jumper. That seemed weird. But then again wirenutting three 6-gauge wires (or one 6 and two 8's, I guess) together inside a panel box seems weird too. Is that really kosher?
 
infinity said:
Yes you can re-use the existing feeder but not exactly the way you've described. Starting with #8 NM cable is only rated for 40 amps so that is your maximum OCPD size. You cannot jumper two conductors under one terminal so you would need to do something like a splice. As mentioned you'll need a separate bus for the EGC's. You'll also need to install a GES.
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Sounds like this is in the same building, not a separate structure.
 
curt swartz said:
SparkyHN, your profile shows you are a GC, Do you have an EC doing the electrical work?
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Yep. I'm a GC, I have licensed subs I use for all my stuff. But I always like to double check them on stuff that's not straightforward, since it's my company name on the permit!
 
curt swartz said:
Sounds like this is in the same building, not a separate structure.
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I saw hot tub and didn't think that it was indoors or within the building but yes if within the same structure no GES is required.


SparkyNH said:
Mmm, I was wondering about the jumper. That seemed weird. But then again wirenutting three 6-gauge wires (or one 6 and two 8's, I guess) together inside a panel box seems weird too. Is that really kosher?
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Just use one of these.

1000000460.jpg
 
SparkyNH said:
Apologies, it's actually AWG 6, not 8. So 6/2 Romex, not 8/2. Edited the first post to correct.

Mmm, I was wondering about the jumper. That seemed weird. But then again wirenutting three 6-gauge wires (or one 6 and two 8's, I guess) together inside a panel box seems weird too. Is that really kosher?
Click to expand...
Polaris lugs would be a cleaner and better connection.
 
curt swartz said:
For 3 circuits I would just use a 6+ space loadcenter and use every other slot instead of jumping both busses together.
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Oh that's a great call. Save subby some time, and they won't be (can't!) add any more circuits anyway without running a new feed, which I highly doubt they're ever going to want to pay for, given the run in question.
 
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