Hello,
The previous owners of my house had power ran into the backyard. I believe it was for an above ground pool pump and some lights, which are now gone. They ran 6 12-awg wires (1 blue, 1 red, 2 green, 2 white) underground through conduit.
I want to use this existing run to power the shed I built. I already routed the conduit into the shed and already have an overhead light (may switch this to a light/fan combo to cool it off when I'm in there), bench light, and a few outlets set up (lights on one circuit, outlets on another).
I am wondering how do I now use the existing run to safely power those two circuits. Should I install a small subpanel with 2 20 amp breakers? If so, how would I do that using the existing wire configuration? Would I twist the existing pairs (blue/red, white/white, green/green) to pull more amps to feed the subpanel? Or should I just power each circuit with their own set of line(blue/red), neutral (white), and ground (green) using the main panel they are tied into (20 amp breakers) on each already? I'm hoping to not have to replace the feed wires in but I do want it to be safe of course.
I would probably rate my experience level around or slightly below an intermediate, as I worked four or five summers for an electrician during high school and college; but it has been years that I have done any big projects other than normal wiring around the house. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
The previous owners of my house had power ran into the backyard. I believe it was for an above ground pool pump and some lights, which are now gone. They ran 6 12-awg wires (1 blue, 1 red, 2 green, 2 white) underground through conduit.
I want to use this existing run to power the shed I built. I already routed the conduit into the shed and already have an overhead light (may switch this to a light/fan combo to cool it off when I'm in there), bench light, and a few outlets set up (lights on one circuit, outlets on another).
I am wondering how do I now use the existing run to safely power those two circuits. Should I install a small subpanel with 2 20 amp breakers? If so, how would I do that using the existing wire configuration? Would I twist the existing pairs (blue/red, white/white, green/green) to pull more amps to feed the subpanel? Or should I just power each circuit with their own set of line(blue/red), neutral (white), and ground (green) using the main panel they are tied into (20 amp breakers) on each already? I'm hoping to not have to replace the feed wires in but I do want it to be safe of course.
I would probably rate my experience level around or slightly below an intermediate, as I worked four or five summers for an electrician during high school and college; but it has been years that I have done any big projects other than normal wiring around the house. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.