New construction wiring question

[5030tinkerer]

My new home is a two story with walkout. ELectrical service will be coming into the basement, where the main service panel will be located. Rather than have runs going from the basement to the second level, I was pondering installing a 100 amp subpanel in the second story (or maybe even in the attic where it can remain in "unfinished" space, this making future any future expansion easy) and running circuits for that floor from there. Is there any reason that anyone can think of why this wouldn't be a good idea? It would seem that I would save money on copper wiring and time running wire needlessly. Thoughts? There is about 1600 sqft on the second level.

 

[CurlyDave]

... I was pondering installing a 100 amp subpanel in the second story...

Sounds like a good idea to me, and it is pretty close to what I am doing in our new house.

The only thing I can add is that you should make certain that you have enough empty breaker slots for any future expansion you might want to do, and then a few more (cheap now, expensive later).

I would not put a sub-panel in the attic -- unless you enjoy the thought of crawing around up there to reset a breaker, or to kill power. It might not be legal either. You probably have to have stair access, room to stand up in front of the box, and 30 inch clearance in front of it.

I am putting elecrtrical panels and sub-panels in garages and storage areas, behind where the door opens works really well, you would not want to put anything there anyway.

Just make certain you have a way to get potential new wires up to the attic from the sub-panel.

 

[Slamfire]

I like it too, which probably means you can't get it past the inspector.

 

[Buckeye_Jim]

Analyze the type of circuits you must install first. Kitchens usually can benefit from having a sub panel if the service entrance is a long distance. Most kitchens have separate circuits for refigarator, disposal, diswasher, electric range, electric ovens, plus a few more for the plugs. Furnace would get it's own circuit, clothes washing machine, dryer, and air conditioning. Garage gets it's own also.

So yes, you often can save the cost of the subpanel and the cable to connect it with the shorter runs. Electrical contractors may not do this as often, because the extra time is more expensive than the wire. But if you are not paying yourself, then the savings in copper point to the benefits of a subpanel.

Good Luck,

Jim

 

[randy41]

you might have a grounding problem with that second box. i would check out the requirements with the inspector.

 

[hwp]

Most of what is now the upper level on our house is an addition. The easist way to power the various circuits I wanted to put in was to install a subpanel and then split off circuits from there. This meant that I only had to feed one cable to the upper level. The subpanel is in a storage closet. Works great. No problem with the building inspector.

 

[Inspector507]

you might have a grounding problem with that second box. i would check out the requirements with the inspector.

If done correctly, why would there be a grounding problem?

 

[JimR]

If done correctly, why would there be a grounding problem?

Good point, as the main panel is the one that is grounded and everything beyond that is already grounded through the main.

 

[dooleysm]

A friend of my dad's, who is a licensed electrician in another county, installed the sub panel for my pole barn, powered from the house via 90' of buried wire. He told me it would be a good idea to add a grounding rod someday if I get motivated to do it. He didn't say whether it is required by code, and we are out in the sticks and not likely to be visited by any inspectors, so 'someday' hasn't come around yet for me.

 

[The Baron]

We just built a home in Wisconsin and I found out that all sub panels must be grounded to their own ground rod. Also, they must be accessible. Just our experience with our locale. Good Luck! The Baron