Wiring – Choosing an Outbuilding Sub-Panel

detached-structureelectrical-panelsubpanelwiring

I'm wiring a shed to use as an insulated tech workshop. A 20A circuit for 10 outlets, 15A for lights, and a 20A for a mini-split A/C. My main breaker appears to be 150A.

Should I just match the 150A on the subpanel, or is that overkill?

Is my house panel even big enough to run a sub-panel?

How should I go about choosing the correct/best size for my sub-panel?

I live in Georgia (USA). The building is 100 feet from the house. I'm currently planning on using rigid metal conduit and digging the trench by hand.

Here's a pic of my house panel.

Picture of my House Panel

Best Answer

  1. Your main panel has several spaces open! Hurray! That means you have no problem adding a double-breaker for the subpanel. It also means that if you start adding more circuits inside the house then you are not in immediate panic mode. If you do start adding more circuits - e.g., a kitchen remodel - then you should consider a subpanel rather than going to double-stuff/tandem breakers. But no rush on that - even with the planned subpanel added you will still have 4 spaces open.

  2. Conduit is great because you can change the wires later if needed. Rigid metal is even better because it takes care of the ground - one less wire to run.

  3. The subpanel can be any size you want. But bigger is better, because you may decide later that you need a bunch of additional circuits for "reasons". The subpanel can be a "main panel" that comes bundled with a big main breaker (e.g., 100A or even larger), because that main breaker is used purely as a disconnect switch and does not have to match the power supplied to the panel. Your main panel is 30 spaces - a 24 or 30 space, or larger, subpanel would be fine.

  4. The double-breaker in the main panel feeding the subpanel must match the wire. You could probably get by with even a 40A breaker & 8 AWG wire, but 60A & 6 AWG would be more typical and allow you to add a few more circuits without upgrading breaker & wire. The key is to make sure your conduit can handle larger wire in case you ever need it. 3/4" conduit would do fine for 6 AWG, but if you go up to 1" then you're good for up to 2 AWG and > 100A.

  5. You will need ground rods at the subpanel.