Main panel in the garage?

10 years ago

We are building a new home and the builder is saying that he wants (needs to?) put the main panel in the garage. I want it in the basement so that I can more easily add circuits. He says that the underground service needs to make a straight and short run (or something like that) to the main panel - which means in the garage.

Is there anything in the code that would keep him from running the service into the garage, up the wall into the ceiling and then down the opposite wall and into the basement? Or keep him from running it around the foundation and enter the basement on the back wall?

As I ask the question I am thinking that code officials probably dont want that unprotected service running any greater distance or being any more exposed than it needs to be. What's the deal with this?

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Comments (4)

yankee4210
10 years ago
Really no reason you can't do that, it would only involve your main disconnect being at your meter (if you keep with the original entrance point) or more distance if you wrap around your foundation to where you'd like it to enter the basement. Probably your builder has bid out your service for X amount of dollars, and your basement proposal means more cost to him and/or deviates from his norm.
User
10 years ago
"As I ask the question I am thinking that code officials probably dont want that unprotected service running any greater distance or being any more exposed than it needs to be."

Correct...

VI. Service Equipment — Disconnecting Means

230.70 General. Means shall be provided to disconnect all conductors in a building or other structure from the serviceentrance conductors.

(A) Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed in accordance with 230.70(A)(1), (A)(2), and (A)(3).

(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.

http://freenec.com/T55.html
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User
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
"He says that the underground service needs to make a straight and short run (or something like that) to the main panel - which means in the garage."

Many power companies take this stance for the "base price". You can often have them run the underground service around the house to a reasonable extent, but they also will charge a premium price per foot above the shortest route. Some power companies have had stipulations that the meter can not be in the back yard, but remote reading may be doing away with that. The inside service cable (after the outside disconnect at the meter socket, more $) is also fairly expensive. All this will be at your expense, but it can be done.

I often just go ahead and run the extra circuits to the basement initially for less $$.

I personally think that the best place for the service is at the back of the garage, and right next to the house wall, just in case you don't anticipate all the necessary circuits for the house initially.
schreibdave
Original Author
10 years ago
Builder has proposed a sub panel in the basement.