Electrical – How to properly ground a subpanel in detached building

code-complianceelectricalgaragesubpanel

I Will be installing a subpanel in a detached garage. The subpanel will be 60 amp. The garage is about 30' from the main-panel in-house, and I will of course get an exact length before selecting the proper gauge wiring. I'll be using pvc underground for the wiring. There is already existing wiring going underground from the house to the garage, which will no longer be used. When it comes to grounding this subpanel, should I run a grounding conductor from the main panel to the new sub, or ground the sub to earth?

Reading this answer sounds like I would have to ground the subpanel to the main, primarily because in my situation this is a new install. All other variables I have control over.

  • If so, I would be running 4 wires from the main panel to the sub, 2 hots, 1 neutral, and 1 ground correct?

  • Then, at the subpanel, the ground bus bar and the neutral bus bar would not be connected, and the grounding screw removed from the ground bus bar?

  • Lastly, a GFCI Breaker must be used at the main, right? I believe this is true for any subpanel in a detached building, just want to be sure.

Best Answer

  • Pull 4 conductors (2 ungrounded (hot), 1 grounded (neutral), 1 grounding) (250.32(B)(1)).
  • Grounded (neutral) and grounding bus must be separate at sub-panel (250.32(B)(1)).
  • No need for a GFCI breaker in the main panel, unless your local code requires it.
  • A grounding electrode system is required at the second structure (250.32(A)).

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