I'm running electric to my new fishroom which is located in the garage. I have a 150amp main and installed a 100amp breaker in the main panel, then ran 4/3 wire over to a 100amp subpanel for the fishroom. I then plan to run 4 20amp circuits. My question is am I on the right track here? Will the 150amp main be ok? All my house appliances are gas so I would think the load from the house is minimal anyway. Any help greatly appreciated!
electrical advice needed
- Thread starter 4everwet
- Start date
j_electric
New member
4/3 is pushing it on a 100 amp breaker
4/3 is good to about 85 amps
I would change the breaker to 60 amps and that is more then plenty for 4 20amp circuts
if you are ru7nning a large pump for return or a CL try to make them 220v they will run better and more energy efficiant
-joe
4/3 is good to about 85 amps
I would change the breaker to 60 amps and that is more then plenty for 4 20amp circuts
if you are ru7nning a large pump for return or a CL try to make them 220v they will run better and more energy efficiant
-joe
NewBostonConst
Premium Member
You are supposed to run a 4 conductor for 220vac subpanel and put in a new ground rod. Most subpanels are 220vac. Running a 220vac panel will help you balance the load on your main panel also. If you run it 110vac you will end up having all the load on one leg of the power feed coming into your house, which isn't a good thing.
You will have to "unbond" the subpanel to install it correctly. If you are getting this inspected the things I am saying will be a requirement. If you aren't getting it inspected you can probably get it running, but not correctly.
1st wire is for L1 (one side of the main)
2nd wire is for L2 (other side of the main)
3rd wire is for Neutral
4th wire is for Ground
I did a quick search and found this. I didn't read it, but it may help.
http://www.electrical-online.com/subpanelinstallation.htm
You will have to "unbond" the subpanel to install it correctly. If you are getting this inspected the things I am saying will be a requirement. If you aren't getting it inspected you can probably get it running, but not correctly.
1st wire is for L1 (one side of the main)
2nd wire is for L2 (other side of the main)
3rd wire is for Neutral
4th wire is for Ground
I did a quick search and found this. I didn't read it, but it may help.
http://www.electrical-online.com/subpanelinstallation.htm
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I have to disagree with azrednex. It is not because you have a higher voltage and lower Amps that you will have more power.
the formula for power is P= UxIxcos phi x root 3 ( for a 3 fase electric distribution ). So if you make voltage ( U ) higher then your Amps ( I ) can lower for the SAME power consumption.
The only gain you can have for it is that your wireing can be smaller in diameter ( directly linked to your Amp's ) so less expencive and your instalation will be less expencive as well for a surtain degree.
the formula for power is P= UxIxcos phi x root 3 ( for a 3 fase electric distribution ). So if you make voltage ( U ) higher then your Amps ( I ) can lower for the SAME power consumption.
The only gain you can have for it is that your wireing can be smaller in diameter ( directly linked to your Amp's ) so less expencive and your instalation will be less expencive as well for a surtain degree.
j_electric
New member
With the metioning of 4/3 this is a 4wire condutors 2-hots 1-neutral 1-ground , they label the wire this way because it is #4 wire with three conductors the ground is not counted as a conductor so for short they just call it 4/3
-joe
I plan to run a subpanel in my fishroom fed by a double pole 60 amp breaker in the main panel. I'll have about 60' of wire in between the main and sub panels. I plan to have (4) 20 amp breakers in the sub panel. Max usage is expected to be 40 amps worst case, but generally closer to 30 amps. I planned to run 6/3 between the panels and an electrician confirmed this would be sufficient. Any disagreement here?
j_electric
New member
old timer that would be fine I typically runnig 6/3 at 50 amps but I over due everything #6 can run at 125% at 65 amps so your good
-joe
-joe
