OT- Any electricians out there? 4 car garage!!, California code if it matters. Options

[Andyrew]

Any electricians out there that can help me with a couple house wiring questions. We're in the closing stages of building our garage add-on. My FIL is a journeyman electricain, but doesn't do Residential and therefore doesn't know the codes.

We're putting a new 200amp service outside the new garage wall that will feed the existing 125amp inside the new garage (outside the old garage). I suspect that will need to run in conduit (or should). My FIL wants to know if we can run 3 #2 wires to feed that old service. All the new wiring will come off the new 200amp service.

Questions about the garage and the Laundry room wiring.

How large do the holes need to be?
Do we need Conduit?
What is the minimum per wall? (we'll probably add more later)
If I put more per wall do you think it will raise concerns of (re)doing electrical calculations?

I know they all have to be GFI protected.
One of my research studies states that only the first in a string needs to be GFI the others can be standard and will pop the first GFI that they all go thru. Something like this.

o/ /========O========O=======O==============O
Breaker GFI std outlet std outlet std outlet

I think my other house was like this. Outlets in the front of the house would pop the GFI at the back Patio.

Do I need to put an outlet on the front car door mini walls?
I'd like to put an exterior outlet there...

Any help would be appreciated. We're getting close to shelter around the Porsches. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mueba.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mueba.gif)

Dan (already had it posted on Andrews account. Oh well.)

[scotty914]

yes i am a master sparky

i will cut and paste answers

quote: I suspect that will need to run in conduit (or should). My FIL wants to know if we can run 3 #2 wires to feed that old service.

does not need to be in pipe unless its under ground or can get damaged, or its single wires.but you can use under ground rated wire then just sleave it to the panels. as for wire size it needs to be sized by branch circuit numbers. which means if copper # 2 are good to 100 amps, i would put the breaker in the new panel at 100 amps and run # 2 hots, a #4 nuetral, and a # 6 ground. thats what is allowed, you could go bigger but the wire prices go up very quickly when you get bigger.there is something with wire size saying #4 is good to 100 amps but most panels say rate wire at 90 degress cel. which bumps you to 80 amps on #4. and it is a sub panel so it needs seperate ground and nuetral

quote How large do the holes need to be?
Do we need Conduit?
What is the minimum per wall? (we'll probably add more later)
If I put more per wall do you think it will raise concerns of (re)doing electrical calculations?

what holes, do you mean for the wires through the studs, if so not so important just dont run more than 3 hots through one hole. you only need pipe if the wire is surface mounted if it is in the walls no you dont. if it is just a laundry room you only really need one, but other wise code is one outlet every 12 feet and with in 6 feet of the door way. as for the calc, good rule is not more 8 devices per 15 amp circuit.

quote :I know they all have to be GFI protected.
One of my research studies states that only the first in a string needs to be GFI the others can be standard and will pop the first GFI that they all go thru.

you only need to gfi outlets that are in unfinished area ie basements, wet areas ie garage, out side, bathrooms,kitchens. if the laundry room is finished it does not need gfi unless it is with 4 ffet of a wash sink. and yes you can daisy chain the out lets off of the load side of the gfi, most say 8 outlets.

as for out side outlets you need a light and an outlet at every entrance, with in use covers ( cost 4 times as much )

give me a call with any other questions

410 534 7319