[DYounger]

I purchased my home about 6 months ago and I am in the process of undertaking a few DIY projects.

I have a shop/garage in my basement with a sub-panel. It connects to the main panel on a 50A breaker. My main is also connected to a generator.

Connected to this sub panel are 4 20A circuits and 2 30A circuits. The 20's have outlets and/or lighting (one is actually disconnected). One 30A looks like it was for a welder. The other is connected to my sewer grinder/pump.

It looks like a new wire was run to the sub-panel, probably when the grinder pump was installed about 10 years ago. It appears that originally the wire ran through 1" conduit, but it was partially removed and the new wire was not run through it. The new wire runs along the floor joists and then through a hole in a block wall that is also used for a heating duct. It travels about 8 feet along an 8" I-beam and then through a 2nd block wall and down to the sub-panel. It is not contained in conduit or even anchored. Through the 1st wall it is "sealed" with expanding foam, but the 2nd it just runs directly over the blocks. Furthermore, the shop has a drop ceiling and whomever installed it, just cut a small gap through the metal ceiling track and sprayed a little foam to help "protect" it.

Side 1 of first wall:

Side 2 of first wall:

Side 1 of second wall:

Side 2 of second wall:

Drop from ceiling to panel:

First question: Safety... The way the main wire is run concerns me, especially where it runs through the ceiling track. But also how it is run through the walls and along the I-beam. What, if anything, do I need to do to "fix" this? The home inspector didn't note anything about this in the report I received.

Second question: Is 50A from the main panel sufficient? Adding up the breakers there is an obvious difference. I currently have the breaker to the welder plug off and don't have any immediate plans to use it.

I really don't want to have to re-run the whole line. Can I protect it with some sort of split conduit so I wouldn't need to disconnect and pull through standard conduit? I've seen clip anchors for securing wires to I-beams, or I was considering using construction adhesive to attach a 1x6 to to the I-beam to use for securing it.

Thanks.

 

[DYounger]

Sorry, it seems that I cannot embed images or links since I recently registered.

Album at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/edecGY8Ewdtqci7j7

 

[chandler48]

Picture link worked fine. That looks to be the main run from your main panel to feed the subpanel. It needs to be supported and protected when it enters the room. Clip anchors would fill that need. Spray foam is way down on the list. I would consider splitting a rubber grommet that would fit the cable and installing it and fitting it to the track to add to the protection. Running the cable protected is fine as long as it is not subject to abuse.

50 amps is probably sufficient. You don't add up the breaker values to determine the subpanel supply amperage. For instance, look at the breakers in your main panel. I'll bet they add up to way more than the main breaker value. So you're good there.

 

[DYounger]

Thanks chandler48.

To clarify: Use a rubber electrical grommet to protect the cable where it runs through the drop ceiling bracket? Then use a cable clip to secure it to the I-beam? Sounds reasonably simple enough.

Your explanation about the breaker sizes makes perfect sense.

Thank you.