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akarka

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I am about to hire an Electrician to do some work for me and something just doesnt seem right.
Let me see if I can explain properly:
I have a manufactured home with an outdoor 200amp service panel. It feeds another 200amp service panel inside the home. It also feeds my work shop to a 100amp sub panel.
What I am doing is building a deck approx. 300' away from the work shop near the river. I want to have at least 4 circuits there for outdoor plugs, lights etc... So, I called an Electrician and here is his scope of work:
Run #8 AWG from the 100amp panel at the work shop to the deck location (300') in 1 1/2" schedule 40 PVC to feed another 100amp sub panel. From the new 100amp sub panel feed the 4 circuits of outdoor duplexes. To feed the duplexes he proposed to use direct burial romex cable and staple it to the deck posts.
I just want to check on here to see if all this sounds good and more importantly by code. The problem I have is feeding a 100 amp subpanel with another 100 amp subpanel...that just doesnt sound right and also why do I need another 100amp service panel if all I want is 4 circuits that will most likely never have a load on them at the same time. And the distance of 300', I would have thought would require a bigger wire size. and does it not need to be in rigid conduit? or is the schedule 40 ok. Also, not sure about stapling the wire to the deck posts...cant you attach conduit to the duplex gang boxes.

Any help would be great...thanks
 
akarka said:
Run #8 AWG from the 100amp panel at the work shop to the deck location (300') in 1 1/2" schedule 40 PVC to feed another 100amp sub panel. From the new 100amp sub panel feed the 4 circuits of outdoor duplexes. To feed the duplexes he proposed to use direct burial romex cable and staple it to the deck posts.
I just want to check on here to see if all this sounds good and more importantly by code. The problem I have is feeding a 100 amp subpanel with another 100 amp subpanel...that just doesnt sound right and also why do I need another 100amp service panel if all I want is 4 circuits that will most likely never have a load on them at the same time. And the distance of 300', I would have thought would require a bigger wire size. and does it not need to be in rigid conduit? or is the schedule 40 ok. Also, not sure about stapling the wire to the deck posts...cant you attach conduit to the duplex gang boxes.
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#8 is rated for 50 amps at 75 degrees, so if he's protecting the sub-panel at the deck with a 100 amp breaker you're going to have a problem.
"Why do you need a 100 amp service panel...?" You don't.
Schedule 40 PVC and direct burial cable is fine, as long as he adheres to the burial depths indicated in Table 300.5
Stapling the cable to the posts is generally an acceptable practice.
"cant you attach conduit to the duplex gang boxes." Yes
 
The Electrician told me he needed to use a 100amp panel because of the distance of 300' from the source subpanel. "I thought that didnt seen right".

Also, I spoke with another electrician who said all he would do is add a 60amp GFCI breaker (whatever that is) at the source and install a main lug breaker box at the deck location to feed the receptacles. He said they would all be protected at the source. He also suggested using a UF direct burial cable to feed the new breaker box.
This all pretty much sound like spanish to me...I just want to make sure it gets done right and that this electrician is not hosing me.
 
He is probably going to use a 100amp "rated" sub out there but may only provide overcurrent protection of 50amps from the current sub.
 
akarka said:
This all pretty much sound like spanish to me...I just want to make sure it gets done right and that this electrician is not hosing me.
Click to expand...


There is a service provided by the local jurisdiction at minimal cost. It's called an electrical permit. Once a permit is obtained then the local jurisdiction will send out an inspector that should know what he is doing to make sure the job is safe and meets code.

No matter how much information is given to you on a forum you are probably not qualified to inspect the work. This is where having a third party inspection really helps out. The inspector will know the correct wire size and breaker.

Make sure that you only use licensed electricians and not side workers. You should be fine the job is no big deal.
 
akarka said:
The Electrician told me he needed to use a 100amp panel because of the distance of 300' from the source subpanel.
Click to expand...
Apparently his intention to compensate for voltage drop. That's a good idea but a bigger panel doesn't make a difference. Bigger wire does. #8 is the smallest I would use for a 20 amp circuit at 300 feet.
akarka said:
Also, I spoke with another electrician who said all he would do is add a 60amp GFCI breaker (whatever that is) at the source and install a main lug breaker box at the deck location to feed the receptacles. He said they would all be protected at the source. He also suggested using a UF direct burial cable to feed the new breaker box.
This all pretty much sound like spanish to me...I just want to make sure it gets done right and that this electrician is not hosing me.
Click to expand...
That'll work too.
 
growler said:
There is a service provided by the local jurisdiction at minimal cost. It's called an electrical permit. Once a permit is obtained then the local jurisdiction will send out an inspector that should know what he is doing to make sure the job is safe and meets code.

No matter how much information is given to you on a forum you are probably not qualified to inspect the work. This is where having a third party inspection really helps out. The inspector will know the correct wire size and breaker.

Make sure that you only use licensed electricians and not side workers. You should be fine the job is no big deal.
Click to expand...
This is the best advice so far.
 
growler said:
There is a service provided by the local jurisdiction at minimal cost. It's called an electrical permit. Once a permit is obtained then the local jurisdiction will send out an inspector that should know what he is doing to make sure the job is safe and meets code.

No matter how much information is given to you on a forum you are probably not qualified to inspect the work. This is where having a third party inspection really helps out. The inspector will know the correct wire size and breaker.

Make sure that you only use licensed electricians and not side workers. You should be fine the job is no big deal.
Click to expand...


He seems to think he is, take a look at his profile
Occupation:
Inspector

I don't know what kind of inspector , maybe meat inspector.:rolleyes:
 
acrwc10 said:
He seems to think he is, take a look at his profile
Occupation:
Inspector

I don't know what kind of inspector , maybe meat inspector.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

That's funny, I read his profile after I posted. :grin:

The permit idea is the same advice I give to everyone. It's just easier that way. You can't get in trouble by suggesting that people obey the law. :smile:
 
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