Detached Garages @ Multi Family Dwellings

[A/A Fuel GTX]

I've got an 8 unit condo with two separate detached four car garages on the premisis. The garages are across the street from the condo's but the land they are built on is deeded to the condo project. I'm wondering if I should avoid having to go through the process of running a separate circuit from each unit to their respective garage stall and just establish a separate service at each garage and have the bills pooled along with the house panel service? I can see one possible downside on going with the common service scenario and that being someone putting a fridge or something like that in their garage and having the other tennants being forced to kick in part of the cost of the KW's used to run the fridge. Has anyone been faced with something like this? If so, how did you approach it?

 

[jtester]

Depending on fire wall ratings, you could have all kinds of trouble with 4 circuits, one from each condo, run to one building or structure. 225.30 in the 2005 will be your nemesis.

If the condos are individually owned, you have a problem, but if they are rentals, look at the garages as house loads. I've designed a number of complexes where rental units share a multi garage structure. If you're concerned about excessive electrical usage, only run 1 20 amp circuit. There won't be enough power available to be excessive.

Jim T

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Jim....These units are each individually owned. I see your point regarding 225.30 but if I only run 1, 20A circuit from the house panel, we are talking about 4 garage door openers, one receptacle per stall and that could be a big problem too especially if someone is out in the garage vacuuming their car out and a couple of people decide to open or close their garage doors at the same time. And then there is the security lighting issue also. There would probably be two or three outside lights to further complicate the issue. It seems like maybe the way to go would be to put a 100A service on each garage and let them police any KW abusers.

 

[jtester]

I believe the building codes require individual home owners to be able to observe their electrical consumption, one meter one residence. That is why I mentioned you might be in trouble. The guy who owns the garage is not having his electrical consumption metered per most recent building codes. I'm not sure how an inspector will interpret it, but If I was designing the building I'd have a very frank talk with the architect to see how he intends to have me to comply.

Jim T

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

I think they each need a seperate meter and treat them as a seperate building.Fire walls may be required but i would not feed them from the condo unit.How were you planning to handle the disconnects ?

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

I was going to bring the branch circuits up from an underground counduit and put them in a four gang box with a snap switch for each stall to act as a disconnect. The more I think about this, the more I feel that a separate service at each garage is the way to go.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Sounds like over kill but might be faster and cheaper

 

[charlie b]

I think that 225.30 will allow you to treat each garage as a separate building. Thus, you have 8 separate garage buildings. So you are permitted to run one branch circuit or feeder to each garage. If I were the owner of one of these units, I would want a feeder from my dwelling unit?s main panel run to a 4 (or so) circuit sub panel installed in my garage. Perhaps not the easiest solution nor the cheapest, but I think it is the right thing to do.

 

[haskindm]

What are you doing about "house" loads on the dwelling structure? If you have a house panel and meter, perhaps they would agree to allowing you to feed the garages from the house panel. Otherwise, I see a conflict with the garage building being served by by four branch circuits or four feeders.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

There is a house panel but that is located in the main structure across the street from the garages. I'd still be faced with the problem of more than one branch circuit or feeder going into each of the 2, four car garages. One circuit would not be adequate IMO with door openers and a receptacle in each also. Plus there will be some security lighting on the exterior of each garage.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

I think that 225.30 will allow you to treat each garage as a separate building. Thus, you have 8 separate garage buildings. So you are permitted to run one branch circuit or feeder to each garage. If I were the owner of one of these units, I would want a feeder from my dwelling unit?s main panel run to a 4 (or so) circuit sub panel installed in my garage. Perhaps not the easiest solution nor the cheapest, but I think it is the right thing to do.

Charlie, were in 225.30 do you see that? I read just the opposite. I have two, four car garages. Not eight individual garages.

 

[triphase]

Have You calculated the loads?

 

[marcb]

I've got an 8 unit condo with two separate detached four car garages on the premisis. The garages are across the street from the condo's but the land they are built on is deeded to the condo project. I'm wondering if I should avoid having to go through the process of running a separate circuit from each unit to their respective garage stall and just establish a separate service at each garage and have the bills pooled along with the house panel service? I can see one possible downside on going with the common service scenario and that being someone putting a fridge or something like that in their garage and having the other tennants being forced to kick in part of the cost of the KW's used to run the fridge. Has anyone been faced with something like this? If so, how did you approach it?

Is the street a public road or is just part of the parking lot? If it is a public road you won't be able to run a conduit fom the condos to the garages. I belive a new service (house meter) at the garage is the best way to supply power to these units.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Have You calculated the loads?

I figure a door opener, a couple of overhead lights and a receptacle for each stall. So say a 15A circuit for each garage. Theoretically, they could all be in use at the same time.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Is the street a public road or is just part of the parking lot? If it is a public road you won't be able to run a conduit fom the condos to the garages. I belive a new service (house meter) at the garage is the best way to supply power to these units.

There is a public street that would have to be crossed. Is there a code reference concerning going under a street? I'm definately leaning towards putting a 100A service on each of the two garages and pooling the bills along with the house meter and letting the condo association handle the details.

 

[benaround]

Tom,

I think Jim T. has the right idea, Until it is on paper you'll have no way to get

paid if there is a conflict.

JMO.

 

[Cavie]

Just inspected 8 "Carports with storage" today that were across the street just as you have. Lights and outlets all on the house meter from across the street. All is well.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Just inspected 8 "Carports with storage" today that were across the street just as you have. Lights and outlets all on the house meter from across the street. All is well.

All on one circuit? If not, what about 225.30?