By the way, honey, I need a 30 Amp circuit...

Leah Frances · 02-26-2011, 09:27 PM

My dear sweet husband bought a portable lift for our detached garage (it's 75 feet from our house and has power) a month ago. He has spent the last three weekends trying to put it in. It has been a hassle and a half. Tonight I volunteered to babysit my neighbor's kids so he could help my husband finish setting it up and so I could avoid having to divorce my husband over the stupid lift.

They came in at 9:00pm tonight and my husband says (like it is NO BIG DEAL): "I need a 30 AMP dedicated circuit to operate the lift."

This would have been useful information to have a month ago.

Do It Right · 02-26-2011, 09:42 PM

Leah, you mentioned that the garage has power. Does it have its' own sub-panel, or just one circuit to a light and outlet? If it has a panel, it shouldn't be too tough for an electrician to provide power to the lift.
If there is just one 120v 15 or 20amp circuit, you'll have to look into how it is powered.
If there is direct-burial cable, a trench will need to be dug out to the garage for the new power.
If there is a pipe run the whole way, you may get lucky and be able to add the necessary 30 amp wires too it (depends on size of pipe).
Either way you need to call a licensed electrician to get 'er done.

Look on the bright side, once the lift is in there, he'll spend even more time in there....priceless.

kbsparky · 02-26-2011, 09:49 PM

How much juice you got out there, Leah? Inquiring minds want to know ...

AllanJ · 02-26-2011, 09:51 PM

If you do not already have a 10 gauge 3 conductor (120.240 volt) circuit you will need to restring the entire feed from the main house. Only one circuit (either 120 volt only or 120.240 volt) is permitted between any two buildings. You may as well put in 6 gauge wires (red, white, black, 8 gauge green) for a 60 amp 120/240 volt circuit and thus provide for the future.

Include a subpanel if one is not already there.

Leah Frances · 02-26-2011, 09:53 PM

Thankfully, the garage was wired with substantial capacity. We've got 90 AMPS running to a sub-panel in the garage. But my husband had NO CLUE as to this, he just assumed it would be fine.

I'm the electrician, so I guess I know what I'll be doing next week. In my county homeowners can do their own work, so long as they get it inspected.

kbsparky · 02-27-2011, 07:06 PM

I'm licensed in your county, so if you get in a jam, call me ...

a7ecorsair · 02-27-2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leah Frances

My dear sweet husband bought a portable lift for our detached garage (it's 75 feet from our house and has power) a month ago. He has spent the last three weekends trying to put it in.

A portable lift

Did he have problems getting the garage door open

02-26-2011, 09:27 PM	#1
Leah Frances Learning by Doing Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Easton, Maryland Posts: 3,156 Blog Entries: 7	By the way, honey, I need a 30 Amp circuit... My dear sweet husband bought a portable lift for our detached garage (it's 75 feet from our house and has power) a month ago. He has spent the last three weekends trying to put it in. It has been a hassle and a half. Tonight I volunteered to babysit my neighbor's kids so he could help my husband finish setting it up and so I could avoid having to divorce my husband over the stupid lift. They came in at 9:00pm tonight and my husband says (like it is NO BIG DEAL): "I need a 30 AMP dedicated circuit to operate the lift." This would have been useful information to have a month ago. __________________ If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.

02-26-2011, 09:42 PM	#2
Do It Right Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SE Mass Posts: 87	By the way, honey, I need a 30 Amp circuit... Leah, you mentioned that the garage has power. Does it have its' own sub-panel, or just one circuit to a light and outlet? If it has a panel, it shouldn't be too tough for an electrician to provide power to the lift. If there is just one 120v 15 or 20amp circuit, you'll have to look into how it is powered. If there is direct-burial cable, a trench will need to be dug out to the garage for the new power. If there is a pipe run the whole way, you may get lucky and be able to add the necessary 30 amp wires too it (depends on size of pipe). Either way you need to call a licensed electrician to get 'er done. Look on the bright side, once the lift is in there, he'll spend even more time in there....priceless.

02-26-2011, 09:49 PM	#3
kbsparky Electrical Contractor Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Delmarva Posts: 3,148	By the way, honey, I need a 30 Amp circuit... How much juice you got out there, Leah? Inquiring minds want to know ... __________________ -KB Life is uncertain -- eat dessert first!! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-26-2011, 09:51 PM	#4
AllanJ Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nashua, NH, USA Posts: 6,775	By the way, honey, I need a 30 Amp circuit... If you do not already have a 10 gauge 3 conductor (120.240 volt) circuit you will need to restring the entire feed from the main house. Only one circuit (either 120 volt only or 120.240 volt) is permitted between any two buildings. You may as well put in 6 gauge wires (red, white, black, 8 gauge green) for a 60 amp 120/240 volt circuit and thus provide for the future. Include a subpanel if one is not already there. __________________ The average homeowner who lost his house in the Oklahoma tornadoes should move for good and not rebuild. Too much complexity watchdogging the contractor. Too much a chance to be defrauded.

02-26-2011, 09:53 PM	#5
Leah Frances Learning by Doing Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Easton, Maryland Posts: 3,156 Blog Entries: 7	By the way, honey, I need a 30 Amp circuit... Thankfully, the garage was wired with substantial capacity. We've got 90 AMPS running to a sub-panel in the garage. But my husband had NO CLUE as to this, he just assumed it would be fine. I'm the electrician, so I guess I know what I'll be doing next week. In my county homeowners can do their own work, so long as they get it inspected. __________________ If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.

By the way, honey, I need a 30 Amp circuit...