Installing 240V Service To Your Shop - Price Breakdowns...

[MossRoad]

Installing 240V Service To Your Shop - Price Breakdowns...

Maybe its a good time to break down the cost of adding 240V service to a small shop, garage, etc... to see how much it really costs.

In this example, I have a shop 50' away from my house.
There is only one 120v circuit providing lights and a couple outlets to the shop. I'm fairly certain if you want to add more than one circuit, codes say you have to install a sub-panel in the shop. So that's what I'm figuring here.

I want the following circuits in my shop:
1. 120v 20amp for lights. One circuit will provide well if I use typical fluorescent shop lights.
2. 120v 20amp outlets.
3. 120v 20amp outlets.
4. 240v 30amp outlet for my stick welder (that's what mine calls for. Your's may call for higher).
5-? expansion. Maybe some 240V outlets for saws, drill press, etc...?

So, I want a 50amp 2 pole breaker in the house to feed the shop.
Wire from the house to the garage in buried conduit.
Breaker box in the shop.
3 20amp single pole breakers.
1 30amp double pole breaker.
Grounding rod.
Grounding wire.

Price breakdown:
BOX and breakers:
Here's a kit from home depot that contains all the breakers, and the box.
GE PowerMark Gold 125 AMP 12-Space 24-Circuit Indoor Main Lug Value Kit Includes Select Circuit Breakers-TLM1212CCUPL8 at The Home Depot
contains 6 single pole 20 amp breakers, 1 30 amp double pole and 1 50 amp double pole.
I'll feed the shop from the 50amp contained in this kit and have spare breakers.
$60.00

Ground rod, clamp and wire about $35.00.
Non-metallic conduit about $50 + fittings, so let's say $100.
12-2 wg romex, outlets, boxes, etc... about $150.

Now the big cost..... 6-3wg cable to feed it and wire the 30amp 240v outlet, about $200.

So, I'm looking at around $500-$550 to wire the shop.
You could upgrade some breakers, add some ground faults, etc... however you want it.
This is very similar to how I wired my garage, but before the copper went up.

That's not a bad investment if you're going to do some work in an outbuilding. I'm sure you could find better prices with some research.

Just something to consider.

 

[LD1]

100A is probably cheaper. For 50' away, it seems you are pricing ~$4/ft for the 6ga copper.

Use aluminum and easily cut that cost in half or more. A 100a 20-space panel is only a few bucks more also.

 

[Todd NE WY]

I am going to second LD on this one. The cost to move up to 100 amps is small for the benefit. Also you will need the 50 amp breaker in your shop as well as one in the house. Usually you set up the shop the same as the house, main breaker/disconnect then the individual breakers. I am tuned in with you on this because I have to upgrade the service to my shop. The original owner put a 60 amp service in so I cannot even put the 50 amp receptacle for my welder in until I upgrade.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Have you checked to see if you can get 6-3 in your home panel? Mine is so friggin tight..

But to the electricians, can you put a 100 Amp breaker in the lower portion of your box? I guess so but I have never seen it done.....

 

[newbury]

Go big



I've 400 amps Left as a mess by the prior owner.

 

[MossRoad]

Just to be clear on this, its one scenario. I've alreay done it for my garage years ago.

I just want folks to start discussing how much it would actually cost to do this for themselves.

I'd stay away from aluminum wire. Yes, its half the cost.

 

[MossRoad]

100A is probably cheaper. For 50' away, it seems you are pricing ~$4/ft for the 6ga copper.

Use aluminum and easily cut that cost in half or more. A 100a 20-space panel is only a few bucks more also.

50' away, plus 15' in the house, plus 10 feet in the garage, plus 20' to the outlet for the welder = 95' of #6 three conductor plus ground. More like $2.00 per foot.


I won't use aluminum wire, but yes, it is about half the cost.

While a 100A 20 space panel is only a few bucks more, the panel I linked to for $60 includes six 20amp single pole breakers, one 30amp double pole breaker and one 50amp double pole breaker. All the breakers I would need plus a couple extra.

 

[MossRoad]

I am going to second LD on this one. The cost to move up to 100 amps is small for the benefit. Also you will need the 50 amp breaker in your shop as well as one in the house. Usually you set up the shop the same as the house, main breaker/disconnect then the individual breakers. I am tuned in with you on this because I have to upgrade the service to my shop. The original owner put a 60 amp service in so I cannot even put the 50 amp receptacle for my welder in until I upgrade.

Why would you need the 50amp in the shop? Just asking.

 

[MossRoad]

Have you checked to see if you can get 6-3 in your home panel? Mine is so friggin tight..

But to the electricians, can you put a 100 Amp breaker in the lower portion of your box? I guess so but I have never seen it done.....

When I did mine, there was no problem with adding 6-3 into my home panel. We only have 100amp service and a 20 breaker box in the house. There's a double pole breaker for the well pump, and the double pole for the garage and a double pole for the air conditioner. The other 14 spots are 20 amp circuits for lighting and outlets. Three bedroom, 1 bath, 1300sq ft. Works for us.

As for a 100amp breaker in the box, I've seen it several times in houses with 200 amp service, or rental houses. They'll put in a 100amp breaker in the main panel, then feed a sub panel somewhere else in the house.

 

[MossRoad]

Go big

I've 400 amps Left as a mess by the prior owner.

YIKES! :laughing: