[Mpdruss]

Hoping that someone can point me in the right direction here. I'm wanting to build a Workshop that has 110v power. I'm wanting to have about 10 receptacles and 6 florecent lights. I also need to power a 110v swimming pool pump. I currently have a 30 amp breaker pushing power through a 10-2 (with ground) underground rated wire buried in pvc 80 feet to where my shop is going to be built. Can I install a new load center with 2 20 amp breakers and a grounding rod that will power what I am wanting?

 

[Arrow3030]

Nope. You'll most likely need a larger wire and will definitely need 4 conductors

 

[Mpdruss]

Thanks Arrow, what size wire do you recommend ? 4 conductors? Is that the same as breakers?

 

[Ron6519]

You are limiting yourself with the 110 volt specs.

 

[Arrow3030]

I can't recommend because I don't know what the load or demand is. A guess is a two pole 60 amp breaker with #6 copper and #10 grounding.
4 conductors meaning two hots, one neutral and one grounding conductor.

 

[rjniles]

Since you already have the wire in place, I would install a small panel in the shop with the 2-20 amp breakers. In the main panel use a single pole 30 amp breaker feeding the 8-2 to the shop. You need 2 ground rods at the shop. I would use a small 4 space, 8 circuit main lug panel.

If this proves inadequate, you can replace the the cable to the shop with a larger 4 wire feed.

 

[Arrow3030]

That's good advice. He has 10-2 not 8-2. Trial and error isn't the way I'd recommend it. I'd do a load calc rather than potentially overloading a conductor.

 

[mpoulton]

You'll be struggling to make that wire work. Since you have conduit in place, I'd just replace the cable with #6 wire (three conductors plus ground) and install a 60A subpanel.

 

[MJenne]

You're building a workshop -> You can really never have too much power.

The last thing you want to do is come back and do this AGAIN 2 years from now when you add something to the shop only to find out you don't have enough power.

How big is the PVC conduit going to the workshop? The conduit size MAY limit the size of wire available for you to use.

My "DIY'er" advice -> run the biggest cable practical based on the size of the conduit (within reason). 6 AWG THHN wire will run you $1.60/ft for 4 conductors which will need at least a 3/4" conduit size. So 80 feet = $128 in copper.

By comparison, running 3 AWG THHN would allow you to go up to 100A, and the cost would be $240. So the cost difference isn't peanuts, but I would consider it an investment towards "future-proofing" your electrical needs in the workshop.

Disclaimer -> I'm NOT an electrician, so run the "conduit wire fill" and allowable ampacity by a professional ( or look them up yourself in the NEC ).

MJ