Is this a junction box? Do conduits connect to it? Can you post a photo?
You will likely need to run right to your main panel.
What will you be running in this shop?
Power to an outside workshop
Hi All
The previous owner of my house -which is fairly new - had a power box put on the outside wall of the house. It's a grey metal box with a 4 screw cover.
Inside are wires but nothing else. I would like to take power from there to a new workshop. I realise it will have to have wire buried etc but is there anywhere I can get a blow by blow instruction. I don't know yet if the wire is live and whether there is a fuse point on the inside panel..I'm assuming there is but how do I tell?
Macargyll.
The previous owner of my house -which is fairly new - had a power box put on the outside wall of the house. It's a grey metal box with a 4 screw cover.
Inside are wires but nothing else. I would like to take power from there to a new workshop. I realise it will have to have wire buried etc but is there anywhere I can get a blow by blow instruction. I don't know yet if the wire is live and whether there is a fuse point on the inside panel..I'm assuming there is but how do I tell?
Macargyll.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
You will likely need to run right to your main panel.
What will you be running in this shop?
Jamiedolan is right, more than likely you are going to have to run some 12 gauge back to the panel. But you can still use the hole in the wall and use conduit to make it look pretty.
Sorry, I meant to include - Couple of lights and various machines like cutoff saw; table saw; Shop vac and other smaller power tools (one at a time 
)
Regards
Mac
What will you be running in this shop?
)Regards
Mac
What will you be running in this shop?
Well it's a junction box. Without knowing why it's there or what the wires connect to, hard to say if you can use it. Might have been put there with someone thinking they would use it for a hot tub or something similar.Here are a couple of photos.
Regards
Mac
There needs to be a clamp on the cable coming into the box.
You should figure out where the wire runs to, you might be able to use it.
Thanks James
It was put there by the previous owner's electrician in readiness for running power to a shop. None of the wires are live so either it hasn't been connected to the inside main panel or there is a disconnect there?
I don't know how to trace it back to the panel.
Regards
Mac
It was put there by the previous owner's electrician in readiness for running power to a shop. None of the wires are live so either it hasn't been connected to the inside main panel or there is a disconnect there?
I don't know how to trace it back to the panel.
Regards
Mac
First question that comes to mind is 'Are there any breakers in your main panel which are off?'Thanks James
It was put there by the previous owner's electrician in readiness for running power to a shop. None of the wires are live so either it hasn't been connected to the inside main panel or there is a disconnect there?
I don't know how to trace it back to the panel.
Regards
Mac
Next question would me, are there any wires in your main panel that aren't connected to breakers?
It looks to be at least 10 gage, which in the us would be good for 30a, which sounds like it would be okay for your shop setup.Thanks James
It was put there by the previous owner's electrician in readiness for running power to a shop. None of the wires are live so either it hasn't been connected to the inside main panel or there is a disconnect there?
I don't know how to trace it back to the panel.
Regards
Mac
You might be able to pull that cable out of the wall a little and read it's jacket to find out for sure what gage it is.
Can you go in the basement where you can look for this cable in some open areas to see if it goes back to your panel? Or look at your panel and see if you can see a cable that looks the same heading in the direction of this box.
One would assume that is not live, but just in case, I would try to trace the cable before you take a look at the cable for the gage.
I know there are some people from Canada here, hopefully they can chime in about the local codes that will apply.
Unfortunately all the cabling goes down to the basement between the walls so there's nothing in sight.It looks to be at least 10 gage, which in the us would be good for 30a, which sounds like it would be okay for your shop setup.
You might be able to pull that cable out of the wall a little and read it's jacket to find out for sure what gage it is.
Can you go in the basement where you can look for this cable in some open areas to see if it goes back to your panel? Or look at your panel and see if you can see a cable that looks the same heading in the direction of this box.
One would assume that is not live, but just in case, I would try to trace the cable before you take a look at the cable for the gage.
I know there are some people from Canada here, hopefully they can chime in about the local codes that will apply.
It's definitely not live - I've checked it with a tester.
Perhaps the cable runs to the panel but isn't connected yet?
Mac
Yes, that is very possible, it could even be hooked up to a breaker, but turned off.Unfortunately all the cabling goes down to the basement between the walls so there's nothing in sight.
It's definitely not live - I've checked it with a tester.
Perhaps the cable runs to the panel but isn't connected yet?
Mac
The next step would be to explore the panel if your comfortable with that.
Jamie
It is 8/3 or 6/3 romex rated for 40A or 55A. Look for a 40A or 60A breaker in the panel. It needs a connector in the back of the box.Here are a couple of photos.
Regards
Mac
Is this a junction box? Do conduits connect to it? Can you post a photo?
You will likely need to run right to your main panel.
What will you be running in this shop?
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
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