[John_Fa]

Good morning,
I purchased a 100 AMP (main lug?, I believe)Indoor use, Square D QO panel from Lowe's. I also purchased a 100 AMP QO Breaker and Size 2 copper-wire(black insulation). I also have green-red-white tape for the wires.
My purpose for the sub is the Main Panel is quite full. In the lower right side of my Main Panel I have a 50 Amp breaker that is used for my Welder. The Main Panel is located in my Garage, the Sub-panel will be attached right next to it on the right side of the Main. I have already knocked out 1 1/4" knockouts on both panels. Connected them with 1 1/4", maybe 3" total length of straight PVC. I have the threaded 1 1/4" ends in each panel with lock nuts and the bushings to protect the wires.
My plan is to remove the 50 Amp breaker from the main and install the 100 AMP breaker in its place. The 50 Amp will be relocated to the Sub. I will also install a 2 pole 20 AMP GFCI in the sub with the purpose of running a 220 circuit to the front of the garage(outdoors) to plug in my Chevy Volt. I have already purchased a small(~4" long) ground bus for the sub-panel, I do know the neutral and the ground buses need to be separated. What I don't know is how do I get a size 2 wire attached properly to a ground bar, where do I find the adapter to make this possible?
Any ideas in general to my plan will be greatly appreciated. I clearly am not an electrician. In the end I will pull a home-owner permit just for ease of mind. I think my work should be inspected for safety reasons.
Thanks for your input.
John_Fa:vs_worry:

 

[jhil]

Grounding conductor only needs to be #8 cu

 

[MrElectricianTV]

Good morning,
I purchased a 100 AMP (main lug?, I believe)Indoor use, Square D QO panel from Lowe's. I also purchased a 100 AMP QO Breaker and Size 2 copper-wire(black insulation). I also have green-red-white tape for the wires.
My purpose for the sub is the Main Panel is quite full. In the lower right side of my Main Panel I have a 50 Amp breaker that is used for my Welder. The Main Panel is located in my Garage, the Sub-panel will be attached right next to it on the right side of the Main. I have already knocked out 1 1/4" knockouts on both panels. Connected them with 1 1/4", maybe 3" total length of straight PVC. I have the threaded 1 1/4" ends in each panel with lock nuts and the bushings to protect the wires.
My plan is to remove the 50 Amp breaker from the main and install the 100 AMP breaker in its place. The 50 Amp will be relocated to the Sub. I will also install a 2 pole 20 AMP GFCI in the sub with the purpose of running a 220 circuit to the front of the garage(outdoors) to plug in my Chevy Volt. I have already purchased a small(~4" long) ground bus for the sub-panel, I do know the neutral and the ground buses need to be separated. What I don't know is how do I get a size 2 wire attached properly to a ground bar, where do I find the adapter to make this possible?
Any ideas in general to my plan will be greatly appreciated. I clearly am not an electrician. In the end I will pull a home-owner permit just for ease of mind. I think my work should be inspected for safety reasons.
Thanks for your input.
John_Fa:vs_worry:

You can buy an adapter for the ground bar at an electrical supply company.

I would keep the welding outlet connected in the main panel. If you need spaces, relocate some of the smaller circuits into the subpanel.

I would also connect the electric vehicle charging outlet to the main panel. I would also prepare for making that circuit bigger in the future. Maybe install a larger conduit so bigger wires can be pulled later.

 

[Oso954]

You did not mention the make/ model of your main panel. If it is not a QO panel like the sub panel, your idea of moving breakers between the panels will not work. Even Square D Homeline breakers are not compatible with QO.

I like the QO panels, just giving you a heads up that the 100 amp may not fit in your main panel, and you may need new QO breakers for each circuit that you move to the sub.