cheap 100amp cable

rodnocker

rodnocker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Location
Clayton NC
Yea, Yea... as if there is such a thing.

Here's the deal. I currently have 240v 30 amps running to my garage. I am upgrading my air compressor and getting a plasma cutter. In this process, I am also planning on upgrading my garage power. I am planning on running 100amp from the main breaker to the sub-pannel in the garage. There is already the 100amp panel in the garage, it's just that the person who installed it before we bought the house, only ran 10g copper and a 30amp breaker. My plan is to get some 2/2/2/6 aluminum mobile home feeder cable, trench from the main breaker to the sub-panel and hook it up. Straight shot is about 55 feet, but with the ditch and routing of cable, I'm figuring 125' total with a little extra to make sure.

My question is this... Does anyone have any connections or know of any good prices in the Raleigh, Knightdale, Garner, Clayton area? Lowes is insane. Last I saw it at Lowes, it was around 2-2.25 a foot.

Also, since I am just replacing what is already there, do I have to get a builder's permit?
 
If you need a permit, my brother is insured and licensed in Johnston County. But I'm electrical dumb and have absolutely nothing to add except his phone number if you are interested? There's a few electricians on here as well.
 
Not a builders permit, but technically, yes. An electrical permit should be pulled.

You can pull it as the registered homeowner without an electrical contractors license, but it will require an inspection. (This is SC law and Im 99% sure its accurate in NC as well but as always AHJ will reign here.)

That said I dont have my NEC or ugly handy...but IIRC #2 AL is good for ~95A max, again this will depend on exact wire type.
Also you need to determine if it is rated for direct burial or if you will be running conduit. Plus of course minimum depth requirements.

Dont overlook bonding considerations for the main vs the sub panel either. To do a 100A sub panel right that is over 100' away its not going to be cheap.
 
hunt electric in raleigh, permits should be pulled though, someone who knows amp loads and distance on wire size, hate for you to do all this work and burn the barn down
 
I've been out of electrical construction and in industrial maintenance for about 6 years, but last I recall you only had to get a permit if you were pulling your meter. If it were me and my house, I wouldn't pull a permit for what you're doing.
 
13bullets said:
I've been out of electrical construction and in industrial maintenance for about 6 years, but last I recall you only had to get a permit if you were pulling your meter. If it were me and my house, I wouldn't pull a permit for what you're doing.
Click to expand...

Personally I don't understand this philosophy. A permit costs very little in comparison to the cost of materials, and it gets you "free" advice and and inspection to make sure it's done safely and to code. The codes are there for your safety, not just to be a random pain in the ass.
Plus (and maybe more importantly) if you do it w/o a permit and something goes wrong, and the house burns down, if the insurance co finds out they can deny covering you.
 
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