I am a newbie to this site and would like your thoughts on where I can physically locate a sub-panel.
The main panel is now located on the exterior wall of my gargage. I am in the process of adding an addition to the house and need to add 9 or 10 new circuits to the panel.
One of these new circuits will be a 50 amp feed to the deck area for a hot tub (I plan on using 6-3 cable from the sub panel to a disconnect approximatey 80ft away)
Two circuits will be 30 amp circuits for a new A/C unit (one for the blower and one for the compressor (using 10-2..also approximately 80ft away).
I will also have 2 outside outlets that will be on a GFCI circuit (probably 15 amp using 12-2 about 50ft)
The remaining circuits will be 15amp circuits for lights, fans, outlets and two corner lights for security lighting (also using 12-2 about 50ft).
Originally, I had planned on adding an outdoor sub panel on the back of the house and running a feed cable from the existing main panel but if I understand the code properly, I must have at least 30" of empty wall space, 6.5' of overhead clearance, and no large appliances directly beneath the sub panel (i.e. a/c compressors etc). Unfortunately the only way I could meet these requirements would be to mount the sub panel at the front corner of the house....which would detract from the looks of the house.
So, my fallback position is to add a sub panel in the garage right next to the existing main panel which will end up with side-by side electrical panels.
My question is this.....am i allowed to place a sub panel directly next to the main panel, and if not how far away must this new panel be?
I plan on doing the work myself and while I am not a licensed electrician, I am very handy with these type things and am also very aware of the dangers of doing electrical work.
Am I on the right path???? or am I setting myself up for problems.
I have browsed the forum and found you guy's (and women) to be brutally honest and hope that you can provide me with some assistance.
any help you could provide would be appreciated.
Thanks
The main panel is now located on the exterior wall of my gargage. I am in the process of adding an addition to the house and need to add 9 or 10 new circuits to the panel.
One of these new circuits will be a 50 amp feed to the deck area for a hot tub (I plan on using 6-3 cable from the sub panel to a disconnect approximatey 80ft away)
Two circuits will be 30 amp circuits for a new A/C unit (one for the blower and one for the compressor (using 10-2..also approximately 80ft away).
I will also have 2 outside outlets that will be on a GFCI circuit (probably 15 amp using 12-2 about 50ft)
The remaining circuits will be 15amp circuits for lights, fans, outlets and two corner lights for security lighting (also using 12-2 about 50ft).
Originally, I had planned on adding an outdoor sub panel on the back of the house and running a feed cable from the existing main panel but if I understand the code properly, I must have at least 30" of empty wall space, 6.5' of overhead clearance, and no large appliances directly beneath the sub panel (i.e. a/c compressors etc). Unfortunately the only way I could meet these requirements would be to mount the sub panel at the front corner of the house....which would detract from the looks of the house.
So, my fallback position is to add a sub panel in the garage right next to the existing main panel which will end up with side-by side electrical panels.
My question is this.....am i allowed to place a sub panel directly next to the main panel, and if not how far away must this new panel be?
I plan on doing the work myself and while I am not a licensed electrician, I am very handy with these type things and am also very aware of the dangers of doing electrical work.
Am I on the right path???? or am I setting myself up for problems.
I have browsed the forum and found you guy's (and women) to be brutally honest and hope that you can provide me with some assistance.
any help you could provide would be appreciated.
Thanks
