I have come across a detached garage. It is not wired yet. The homeowner has 8/2 (THHN in conduit) run from the house panel (bonded panel) to a junction box inside the garage. I have advised the home owner he needs to consult an electrician. He happens to have a neighbor who is one. His neighbor says, he has to run a new feeder (8/3 with ground). I am not getting involved any more than this. He keeps citing an old code regarding 3 wire to seperate building. I do no know such a code. Could someone shed some light?
Detached Garage wiring
- Thread starter BarretHC1
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Prior to the 2008 NEC it was permissible to run a 3-wire feeder to a detached structure and install a panel where the neutral is bonded to the enclosure. This was permitted when there were no parallel metallic paths between the two structures. In 2008 and beyond a 3-wire feeder is no longer permitted.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
He's probably right. Prior to 2008 NEC you could rebond the neutral at a separate structure as long as there were no other metallic paths between the two.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Prior to the 2008 code, you were permitted to feed a second building using just the ungrounded and grounded conductor. You bonded the neutral at the second building just like you do at a service.
The 2008 code required that an EGC be run with the feeder conductors and that the neutral not be connected to earth at the second building.
The 2008 code required that an EGC be run with the feeder conductors and that the neutral not be connected to earth at the second building.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
As an aside from the other correct answers, you mentioned 8/2 then THHN, also 8/3. Both 8/2 and 8/3 usually mean NM cable. If so, they can't be ran in conduit outside as inside the conduit is considered a wet location. NM is not allowed in a wet location.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
I like your statement "I am not getting any more involved than this"
drcampbell
Senior Member
- Location
- The Motor City, Michigan USA
- Occupation
- Registered Professional Engineer
If the conduit is metal, continuous, and properly joined, it can be used as the EGC.
"EGC": Equipment Grounding Conductor
"NEC": National Electrical Code (published by the National Fire Protection Association)
"EGC": Equipment Grounding Conductor
"NEC": National Electrical Code (published by the National Fire Protection Association)
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Could be UF cable.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Sometimes when people say 12/2 They mean 2 number 12 conductors. Other people mean two number 12 conductors with a ground. I don't know what 12/3 means. Is that two number 12 conductors with a ground? I've also seen it written 12/3 g, which is fairly obvious.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Only rubber cords count the EGC.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
The old code allowed 3 wires to the detached shed if there were no metallic pathways back to the building where it is being fed. In that case you would have the neutral and ground the same as you would on a service and the ground rods would be wired to the same bar. I think the code changed in 2008 Nec
- Status