[choppermrt]

let me state that i am a novice and have dabled somewhat in electrical work but am always seeking guidance and tutelage. so here is the skinny...there was previously 60 amps of service running to my shed( to a subpanel) from my main panel( which is a 200 amp service) by a 60 amp breaker. i will spare the detalis why i am reduing this. i would like to go back just the way it was but have some questions. one was the above done correctly? two: what is the largest main i can put in the subpanel? this may be a dump question. and do i need a main shutoff at that subpanel. three: how much/many circuits can i run off of the 60 amps of service in my shed. i will be installing a small shop and a bar. will go into greater detail as questons arise.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Was what done right?
You have given no information other then breaker size :huh:

#2 The largest Main depends upon the wire size going to the shed

#3 You can run as many circuits as will fit in the panel so along as the sub panel has a main breaker
You can only use 60a 240v total before the main kicks off

 

[Gigs]

i will be installing a small shop and a bar..

"hey cleetus git me some more vodka I cut my finger off again" :laughing:

 

[Magnettica]

Your 60 amps should be fine for a bar and some lights, and a few refrigerators. Have you given a thought about heating and air conditioning? That would be something 60 amps alone might not be able to handle. The size of the 60 amp breaker and if it was done correctly depends on the insulation of the wire. And in your garage your panel needs a main disconnect if there are more than 6 circuit breakers being used.

 

[Gigs]

Oh, hmm, I had assumed he meant work shop, not retail shop. I guess he should clarify, since the power requirement would be vastly different.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Oh, I was thinking handy man workshop to
Not something open to the public...retail
Heat & AC...yeah depends upon what you want to use this for & where you are located

 

[300zx]

"hey cleetus git me some more vodka I cut my finger off again" :laughing:

:laughing: Just don't stick your ''Hot dog'' in there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esnQwVZOrUU :yes: I was thinking handy man workshop to.

 

[Suzuki91vx800]

I cant stop laughing Gigs lmfao:laughing::laughing::laughing:

and 300zx that video lol what ever lmao

 

[Suzuki91vx800]

choppermrt, I just re did my garage with the help from our friends here, I have a 60amp running my garage, I ran 3 #4 wire from the house to the panel in the garage and I have to add a 4th to be up to the NEC so I will be adding 1#10 wire to it for my ground, all four wires encased in 1" schedule 40 conduit and burried(use 1 1/2”) as well as 2 grounding rods. out of the 60 amp feeder I have 2, 20 amp circuits for outlets, 1, 20amp circuit for lights, and I have a 60 gallon 2 stage 15 amp compressor which is 240 volt run off of a 20 amp 2 pole breaker, and my 220volt stick welder.

Read through these threads they are from the questions I was asking

http://www.diychatroom.com/f18/proper-awg-wire-size-use-46971/

http://www.diychatroom.com/f18/more-questions-me-47046/

http://www.diychatroom.com/f18/multiple-fluorescents-47002/

Also keep in mind that your local city code supercedes the NEC'C so you need to know your local building code to do it "legal" but if done using the NEC it will be just as safe since that’s what your local code will be built off of.
Also the last link has a link to an article about calculating circuit loading

 

[choppermrt]

more specific

thanks for the feedback guys/gals, looking forward to more.so here goes. before the cluster****, from the main panel on the house there was (3) 6awg wires running in the conduit to the subpanel in the shed. and yes this is just going to be a hobby workshop/bar. it was wired directly to a 60 amp breaker in the main panel. there was no main shutoff/ breaker in the shed. should there be? there were 4 20 amp breakers and 1 30amp for a good size window unit. ok to go back the same way or need to improve a bit? appreciate the timely response everyone! mike

 

[Gigs]

thanks for the feedback guys/gals, looking forward to more.so here goes. before the cluster****, from the main panel on the house there was (3) 6awg wires running in the conduit to the subpanel in the shed. and yes this is just going to be a hobby workshop/bar. it was wired directly to a 60 amp breaker in the main panel. there was no main shutoff/ breaker in the shed. should there be? there were 4 20 amp breakers and 1 30amp for a good size window unit. ok to go back the same way or need to improve a bit? appreciate the timely response everyone! mike

You don't need a disconnect if you can turn it all off in 6 breakers or less. If you put a disconnect you can have as many circuits as you want though.

It should be 4 wire to bring it up to modern code, and you need to keep neutrals and grounds separate.

 

[choppermrt]

maybe a stupid question but is 60amp main shutoff in the subpanel the most i can go with since there is only a 60 amp service.i only ask b/c i had seen the question brought up before. if i was to put the main shut off and wanted to go with more then 6 circuits would that depend on what i was all drawing. sorry for the simple questions. quite the rookie and like asking alot of questions. looking at possibly 8 to 10 receptacles in the bar area another 6 or so in the shop lights in both. possible occassional use of a ts or chopsaw in the shop. bar with have stereo, t.v., maybe a little fridge one day, some neon lights. also the window unit is already wired separate on its own for its own circut.

 

[Gigs]

You can only go higher than 60 amps on the main feed breaker if you want to run bigger wires out.

You have window A/C on a different feed from your house? That's against code to have two feeds to one building.

 

[choppermrt]

if 6awg will work for what i want than i am happy with the 60a. and no the window unit was previously run with its own line in the subpanel, sorry wasnt clear. what is the rule of thumb for number of receptacles on a 20a run. i am using #12 wire. as i said before in the bar area i am looking at maybe a tv, small fridge, some neons, and a stereo. is that too much for one 20 amp circut?

 

[choppermrt]

thanks for baring with me yall

also about my previous question if there is a 60a feeder breaker in the main panel to the subpanel what is the largest main there can be in the subpanel. i ask b/c of the convenience of those contractor kits for 125 amp subpanels and h.d. and lowes.

 

[HouseHelper]

also about my previous question if there is a 60a feeder breaker in the main panel to the subpanel what is the largest main there can be in the subpanel. i ask b/c of the convenience of those contractor kits for 125 amp subpanels and h.d. and lowes.

The panel and the feeders are protected by the breaker in the main panel. The "main" breaker in the subpanel becomes a disconnect and can be any size.

 

[choppermrt]

gotcha, and no matter what size the shutoff in the sub, 60a is all that is available to use say if the shut off was 125a?, since that is the service from the main panel. correct?

 

[Gigs]

also about my previous question if there is a 60a feeder breaker in the main panel to the subpanel what is the largest main there can be in the subpanel. i ask b/c of the convenience of those contractor kits for 125 amp subpanels and h.d. and lowes.

Oh, yes it's OK to have a bigger disconnect, as long as the protection at the main panel is the right size for the wires.

 

[Gigs]

if 6awg will work for what i want than i am happy with the 60a. and no the window unit was previously run with its own line in the subpanel, sorry wasnt clear. what is the rule of thumb for number of receptacles on a 20a run. i am using #12 wire. as i said before in the bar area i am looking at maybe a tv, small fridge, some neons, and a stereo. is that too much for one 20 amp circut?

It's probably OK. Depending on how you set the bar up, it could be considered a kitchen under the code, and then you'd need at least 2 20amp small applicance circuits with GFCI protection.

Is there a sink or a stove or anything?

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Yes - only 60a available at the sub
This is based on breaker in the main panel 1st, sub 2nd
But that's 60a 240v
So if you are using mostly 120v that's quite a lot