So it begins, the subpanel...

[dbhost]

Got the list from the electrician, and so it begins...

We are going to replace our main panel (damaged by Hurricane Ike), run the sub panel etc...

The deal with the electrician is I get the parts, he provides the permitting and labor.

So on the way home from work today I picked up...

250' 12/2 romex w/ ground.
50' 10/3 romex w/ ground.
4 @ 110V 15 amp GFCIs.
1 @ 250V 20 amp outlet
1 @ 250V 30 amp outlet
cover plates
6 nail in single gang boxes
2 nail in double gang boxes.

I already have boxes of wire nuts and romex staples...

There is so much more needed, the new main panel, the sub, 125' of 8/3w ground.

I am doing this with the fluff factor in my paychecks, what a lot of other guys use as the beer fund, but since I rarely ever drink, I use it for my subpanel fund...

Next payday come the panels themselves, Square D QO panels as the house, and actually entire neighborhood have Square D...

Home Depot lists the 200 amp Square D panel at $132.00, and then come the breakers...

I can't wait until this is all done... It will be great to not have to worry about plugging two things in at once, or running my dust collector and air conditioner at the same time...

[chopnhack]

Sounds like fun, make sure you get all the outlets you need while your walls are open. I had good luck with this company when I did my sub panel last year. http://www.superbreakers.net/ The smaller breakers were comparable to home depot, but IIRC the larger breakers were much cheaper with these folks as was my panel. YMMV good luck.

[cabinetman]

You definitely have your work laid out. Have a plan that will fit your future needs. I hope you have good advice and competent supervision if need be.

.

[toolguy1000]

annoying how expensive the wire is, isn't it? i had considered upgrading my 30A detached garage service to 60A when i got the unisaw and upgraded the large BS to a rikon 10-340. the 6/3 wire (nm and uf romex), from the inhouse main panel to the garage, was over $700. fortunately, that's not necessary as 30A (i was surprised this) is sufficient to run the 220v tools and the 50-850 DC.

good luck with the wiring project. not having to jury rig extension cords and not watching lights dim when tools are activated should make the effort worthwhile. some pics of the process would be interesting and informative.

[cork58]

When I had the shop built I told the contractor to put in a set of outlets low about 3 feet apart, another set at about 46" from the floor and wall light outlets at about 80" on each wall, (ceiling is 12'). Now that will be way more than I will ever need! He ask me about 250v and I was really glad he did! Yea put one in next to the service.

Looking back I wish I would have had him put in more. I now have 4 250v outlets that we had to put in after the fact. 1. Air compressor 2. Bandsaw 3. Jointer 4. Surge protector (2000 joules).

I plugged and unplugged for a few years till I got the surge protector and bit the bullet for the other outlets.

Point is, I see you only have 2 250v outlets. Make sure you have enough like I didn't. Something else I didn't do was put electric to the project table so that comes off one of the overhead lights circuits.

The reason for my indiscretion? My little 15 gallon air compressor will be enough. WOW can't pass up the deal on that bandsaw! Always wanted a jointer. I can save how much with surge protector-capacitor!

Just my hindsight.

[dbhost]

I am bringing it all in at 250V and splitting it down to 110V where needed. I should be good for whatever comes down the road for me.

Wire is hideously expensive, but I kind of expected that...

The panels, breakers etc... aren't that bad, but the wire, yeah that kind of hurts price wise...

I have been working smaller electrical projects today. The walls that have been finished inside the house, have had the old standard almond fixtures replaced with Decora switches and outlets in bright white. I wanted to go with Decora as it gives everything a modular, more modern look, and I could end up with some nice big, lighted switches which I figure would be easier to find in the dark...

So far 2 pairs of 3 way switches, 4 regular switches, and 4 outlets have been swapped over. No more having a Decora plate on one outlet (GFCI) and the one just across from it being an older style... Sure looks a lot nicer now!

[cabinetman]

So far 2 pairs of 3 way switches, 4 regular switches, and 4 outlets have been swapped over. No more having a Decora plate on one outlet (GFCI) and the one just across from it being an older style... Sure looks a lot nicer now!

I did that when we bought this house...changed all outlets and switches and cover plates to Decora. Found some with reversed polarity, and some with no ground.

.

[dbhost]

The 220V outlets honestly are not needed by me yet. I wanted them IF I decided to upgrade to 220V equipment later on down the road. The most likely candidates for 220V are table saw (I REALLY want a SawStop 3HP PCS), and MAYBE upgrade my dust collection to a 3+ HP cyclone...

I am unlikely to go 220V on anything else unless I can be convinced a 12" jointer / planer machine is worth the extra $$. I have been happy with my 110V bench top machines, same with the lathe and band saw...

Compressor is new, and 110V, 29 gallon and more than enough capacity for everything I have tried to throw at it, so I won't be upgrading that for at least 10 years I figure...

When I had the shop built I told the contractor to put in a set of outlets low about 3 feet apart, another set at about 46" from the floor and wall light outlets at about 80" on each wall, (ceiling is 12'). Now that will be way more than I will ever need! He ask me about 250v and I was really glad he did! Yea put one in next to the service.

Looking back I wish I would have had him put in more. I now have 4 250v outlets that we had to put in after the fact. 1. Air compressor 2. Bandsaw 3. Jointer 4. Surge protector (2000 joules).

I plugged and unplugged for a few years till I got the surge protector and bit the bullet for the other outlets.

Point is, I see you only have 2 250v outlets. Make sure you have enough like I didn't. Something else I didn't do was put electric to the project table so that comes off one of the overhead lights circuits.

The reason for my indiscretion? My little 15 gallon air compressor will be enough. WOW can't pass up the deal on that bandsaw! Always wanted a jointer. I can save how much with surge protector-capacitor!

Just my hindsight.