Garage Service Question:

[HERMIT]

I was asked to wire a garage last week. It is not attached to the house. I planned on using a 4 circuit pony panel fed from the panel in the house--as it was full. I was going to feed it using a 60 amp double breaker and then feed the garage with a 50 amp doule and the remaining 2 to put the breakers removed from the panel.
I was then going to use a 6 circuit pony panel in the garage itself. The feed was a number 8 4 wire.
I was told that I needed to use a panel with a main disconnect in both the house and garage. Is this true? I thought that the garage would be considered part of the house structure as it was fed from the house service?

[Homer]

I was asked to wire a garage last week... I thought that the garage would be considered part of the house structure as it was fed from the house service?First I must warn you. If you are doing electrical work for hire in Canada, you must be lisensed within your province.
Secondly, you don't seem to be too familiar with the work that you are attempting to do. This makes me uneasy.

I will however inform you of the rules that need to be observed in case I am mistaken and you aren't really doing this for hire. You must obtain a permit and pass an inspection of any work done.

Here is my understanding;

1)You have a main panel that is full.

2) You plan to add a 4-circuit sub near the main and move some circuits to it.

3) You will power the 4-circuit sub with a 60A 2-pole breaker in the main.

4) You plan to install a 6-circuit sub in a detached garage and power it with a 50A 2-pole breaker in the 4-circuit sub using 8/3 cable.

These are my comments;

1) The 4-circuit sub near the main doesn't need a main breaker. (14-418)

2) The 6-circuit sub in the detached garage does need a main breaker. (14-418) If you were in the US, a 6-circuit sub-panel would be exempt.

3) If you're using a 60A breaker in the main, you need 6/3 cable to the 4-circuit sub.

4) If you're using a 50A breaker in the 4-circuit sub, you need 6/3 cable to the 6-circuit sub in the garage. If using cable, this must be NMWU rated for direct burial, not NMD. You could use conduit and individual conductors instead (T90/TWN75 dual rated).

5) You must keep the Neutral and ground bars isolated in both sub-panels. You may need to purchase ground bar kits to do this.

6) You need to install a grounding electrode at the detached garage.

You should read the 'detached garage' rules on this site. The only difference you will have for Canadian rules will be the fact that a 6-circuit sub in a detached structure requires a disconnecting means. UF is equivalent to NMWU, NM-B to NMD, THHN to T90, and THWN to TWN75.

Also, you need to confirm that the load you will be adding at the garage can be handled by the existing service. What will be powered in the garage and what is the size of the service to the house?

Homer

[Wgoodrich]

Instead of multiligual you are multi-nataional code interpreter. Wow !!! As if just the NEC isn't enough to boggle your mind you take the second challenge of another country's Code too. Now that is glutton for punishment !!

I am impressed,

Wg

[Homer]

Instead of multiligual you are multi-national code interpreter. Wow !!! As if just the NEC isn't enough to boggle your mind you take the second challenge of another country's Code too. Now that is glutton for punishment !!Disons que je sois fou!

Just call me crazy! I need some different hobbies.

Homer