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Extending 220V Circuit

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nav1gtr

Member
Can the ground wire be bonded and/or extended or must it be continuous from the old location to the new location (sub-panel):

Main Panel -> 30-foot run to Outlet -> 20 foot run (to new sub-panel) -> New Sub Panel?

I get the feeling that I should pull new wire or run a new line and not mess with bonding or splicing the existing ground? Any thoughts?
 
tonyi

tonyi

Senior Member
Re: Extending 220V Circuit

Originally posted by nav1gtr:
Can the ground wire be bonded and/or extended or must it be continuous from the old location to the new location (sub-panel):

Main Panel -> 30-foot run to Outlet -> 20 foot run (to new sub-panel) -> New Sub Panel?

I get the feeling that I should pull new wire or run a new line and not mess with bonding or splicing the existing ground? Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Its OK to splice feeders...but what is the outlet in the middle of the feeder? Depending on what that is and the size of the feeder there may be other issues.
 
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nav1gtr

Member
Re: Extending 220V Circuit

The builder (of the house) ran a 220-volt circuit to an outlet cover on the side of the house. The wiring is in a flex tube (in-the house) and contains a romex wire. The main panel has a 60-Amp breaker for the circuit. I'm interested in extending the circuit to a sub-panel that is located about 20 feet away from the 220-volt circuit located on the side of the house. My main concern is whether there is a grounding problem created by splicing and/or welding (is that possible) of the ground conductor.

My gut tells me to run a new line using heavier gauge wiring, and change the breaker to 80-Amp. The load at the sub-panel is max 46-Amps in the worst case scenario.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
 
tonyi

tonyi

Senior Member
Re: Extending 220V Circuit

If the wiring for the outside outlet is straight 3-wire 220 (i.e. no neutral conductor, just two hots and a gnd) like many A/C compressors for example, then you're SOL for using it to feed a subpanel. Subpanels will need two hots, a neutral and a gnd.

If you had a 4-wire feed to the 220 outlet, what sort of load is intended to be plugged into this outside 220 outlet?

Was the feed copper or aluminum? (this will affect how you make splices).
 
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nav1gtr

Member
Re: Extending 220V Circuit

The wire is 4-wire (of that I am certain). I can't tell now if it's copper or aluminum. If it's possible to splice &/or bond to either of these then & meet the NEC code then I am in good shape.

The sub-panel will supply:
1) Pool Pump (9.8A typical/19.2A startup)
2) Pool Lights (3.8A max)
3) Lighting Transformers 18A (for two)
4) Sprinkler Control 1A
5) Misting Pump (18A w/c)

So I think I need to verify if the original wire is aluminum or copper, and what gauge it is, given that the breaker in the main panel is rated for 60A. Sounds like I might need to pull new wire or run a new line (that'd be continuous this time around) and change the breaker to 80A.
 
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pierre

Senior Member
Location
Westchester County, New York
Re: Extending 220V Circuit

Nav

That panel is required to be fed with the feeders in one of the raceway types listed in
680.25(A)Wiring Methods.

The Equipment Grounding Conductor is required to be insulated. 680.25(B)

Pierre
 
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