How many amps does a garage subpanel need?

A 100-amp subpanel in a detached garage may be enough to handle high-draw appliances such as refrigerators. As for basic lighting or low-load electronic devices, a 50- or 60-amp subpanel in a detached garage may suffice.

What size breaker do I need for garage?





Garage outlets are often wired with #12 so that you’re able to use 20A breakers, which are more suitable for heavier power equipment.

How many breakers can I put in a subpanel?

The limit is that the breaker in the main panel to supply the subpanel has to be 90 Amp or smaller. What number of 15 and 20 amp 120 volt breakers can I use in the sub-panel? As many as you want.

Does a garage sub-panel need a main breaker?

The subpanel may be equipped with a main breaker to allow for power interruption without having to go back to the main panel, but it is not required to have a main shutoff circuit breaker, since the feeder breaker back in the main panel serves this function.

How do I know what size subpanel I need?

Subpanel Coverage Area
Measure the length and width of each room and multiply them together to find the square footage of the room. Add up the square footage of all of the rooms to find the total square footage. Multiply the total square footage by 3 (watts) to complete the calculation.

Can I run a 200 amp sub panel off 200 amp main?





Is feeding a 200A sub from a 200A main legit? Yes, and you don’t even need another 200A breaker. The 200A breaker alread present in the panel will suffice, and so you can use a subfeed lug kit as DrSparks advises.

What is the 6 breaker rule?

The “six breaker throw rule” was a requirement in the National Electrical Code that a service must have have a main disconnect that shuts off all power and it cannot take more than six switch throws to do it, and the main disconnect(s) also must be clearly marked, as in the photo above.

How do you set up a subpanel to a detached garage?

Dig an 18-inch deep trench for the outdoor electrical wire, which you will run from the main panel box to the garage sub panel. Use 1 1/4-inch PVC conduit for a 100-amp sub panel or 1-inch PVC conduit if the sub panel is 50 amps or less. Run the conduit from the garage to the main panel box.

Can you run a 100 amp sub panel off a 100 amp main panel?

Let me try and answer some of your questions. First the panels you are looking at that are rated 100A simply means you can use them for any application up to 100A. You can for example add a 60A breaker to your existing panel and protect the new subpanel with a 100A rating.

How many circuits can be on a 60 amp subpanel?



Modern 60-amp electrical panels are purpose-built as sub-panels and generally only have 8 to 10 slots available for circuit breakers.

How many circuits can be on a 40 amp sub panel?

A 40A/240V panel can support as many as 10 or more 120V/15A circuits, presuming they won’t all be heavily loaded at the same time. You might even be able to upgrade the power feed later. Many panels are sold as 4 spaces/8 circuits.

Can I run a 100 amp sub panel off 200 amp main?

Can you add a 100 amp breaker to your main panel? Yes you have 12 slots the double pole breaker will only take 2 slots.

Can you daisy chain sub panels?



Answer: Yes. The main electrical service panel is where branch circuits originate. A branch circuit consists of the circuit conductors between the final over-current device protecting the circuit and the lights, receptacles and equipment supplied by the branch circuit.

How many 20 amp breakers can you have on a 100 amp panel?

Typical 100-amp panels have 20 circuits, meaning they can handle 20 full-sized breakers.

Should a sub panel have a ground rod?

Yes, any sub panel outside of the main building requires it’s own ground rod and a ground wire back to the main building.

Does a subpanel in a detached garage need a ground rod?

The detached structure is required to have its own Grounding Electrode System (GES) i.e. ground rods. The subpanel in the detached structure will have its grounds and neutrals separated.

How many ground rods do I need for a detached garage?



You need 2 grounding rods at least 10′ apart. Do not use a 60A panel in the garage; they have too few spaces in them to be useful.