I am looking to feed my detached garage from the main panel on the side of my house. I do not want to dig a trench so I would like to go overhead as the distance is not too far. I won’t have a lot out there, just lights and a few power tools. I will probably do 50 amps max.
My question is what is required for the cable exit at the main panel (off a breaker) and entrance at the garage? Do I have to come out of a mast/weatherhead? Do the service drop height rules apply (12′ above grade over driveway). I really don’t want to go up through the roof but I may have no choice.
And, same question… at the garage, do I need a weatherhead or gooseneck, or can I go straight through wall with some sort of bushing, since this is a subpanel (protected) feeder and not a service entrance (if I understand correctly).
From the main panel, there is about 5-6 ft of brick wall to the corner of the house which is closest to the garage, which is then maybe 10-12 feet away. Previously, EMT conduit was run along the side of the house just under the soffit and then UF cable ran across the driveway to a hole in the gable end of the garage (this all had to be removed while upgrading the panel). This work will be inspected by the city.
Thanks.
David
Replies
...maybe I should just go underground?? :-)
I had similar thing--was going to go underground, but have concrete slab between house and garage--a builder I know came over and just ran Romex or something from high on the house to high on the garage, nor weather head--don't remember if there is even a drip loop or whatever they call that. No problems yet, but not sure I'd recommend it. Consider this a "bump" until someone else (maybe an electrician) gives you a real answer!
After Pop died, Mom wanted the garage back as a garage, complete with 3 way light switches, etc.
Garage only about 20 ft from the house.
Code/schmode/hah - simply drilled a hole thru the wall into the attic under the overhang, routed wires down in the wall for a 3-way switch, ran an old chunk of 14-2 romex left in Pop's stash out thru the hole and taped it to the existing overhead feeder, did the same at the garage end.
Been good for over 5 years now.
BTW, when you are 2000 miles away, ya get done what ya can in a limited amount of time in a safe (but not necessarily prescribed or code) manner. And yes, I do think I have enough qualifications to know what is safe for Mom.
Showed the above hack job to a well respected member of BT, he was polite enough to not laugh <G>.
Thanks for the bump.Before I started upgrading the service (and re-wiring the house) there was some UF double lugged to the main breaker that ran from under the soffit across to the garage, similar to what you describe. I didn't have any problems with it either but it was in the way of some of the other work I was doing so it had to go.I am upgrading my service which includes the meter base and main panel... which means the POCO will have to come out at some point... which means I had to get a permit... which means all of this work will be inspected :-)I am starting to think maybe I should just go underground. I just didn't want to dig. The distance is short enough to where renting a machine isn't worth it but just long enough to make me not want to do it.
I don't have my code book handy, but this is covered in the electrical code. The main use of this is feeding outbuildings on sites like farms, but the code applies anywhere. That said, local AHJs might require other techniques such as burial.
It is really pretty simple.
First, you must buy wire specifically designed for outdoor use. This material has strength in it to allow it to be suspended at either end.
Second, you need a proper entrance fitting. It should be similar to the drop used from the power line. It will keep water from coming into the building. This fitting must be on both buildings.
Third, you must support the wire. Using the requirements of the power company, you must support the wire directly into the building, and not on any other pipe or other item. The method of support depends on the type of wire you purchased.
Fourth, you must keep the wire above a certain minimum height. At a minimum I would recommend 14 feet at the lowest point, which is taller than most vehicles. The code actually has a recommended height that I don't remember.