[Coco] Powering a computer room/ham shack?

[Mike Pepe]

Hey Frank, I wouldn't recommend replacing the outlet device as described. If you have a fire in the house (even if it's totally unrelated) and the insurance adjuster sees the un-approved electrical work, you may find your claim voided. Best to be on the safe side and pay the inspection/permit fee.


> -----Original Message-----

> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-

> bounces at maltedmedia.com] On Behalf Of Frank Swygert

> Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:12 PM

> To: coco at maltedmedia.com

> Subject: Re: [Coco] Powering a computer room/ham shack?

> 

> Running a 20A 220 circuit on 12 AWG is fine (two hots and one neutral).

> That's really all you need to worry about. Run the 20A 220 to a small

> sub panel. You'll only find 125A sub panels at Lowe's and such, but

> again, that's not a problem. I don't know how many circuits you can

> run, but as long as you don't exceed the 20A draw you're fine. Most sub

> panels are run with a 30A or higher breaker, but they are run with more

> draw in mind than what you have. I have a six breaker sub panel run in

> my house but with a 50A 220V breaker in the box. I have 5 20A and 1 15A

> breaker in the sub panel. This is just to divide lighting and zone the

> outlets. The 15A breaker is for the lights, probably no more than 1A

> draw with just over 100 watts of lights -- compact fluorescents -- and

> that's if all are on at the same time... well, cut the ceiling fan on

> and it might pull 2-3A. I don't know what the percentage over the main

> breaker for the sub panel is (in your case a 20A), but I know it's at

> lea

>  st twice the amount. If you're just putting 2-3 15A breakers and 15A

> outlets in you're more than covered.

> 

> You might want to just run 1 220V receptacle in a box with the spare

> circuit until the inspector leaves. Then replace the receptacle and box

> with a sub panel and 3-4 15A outlets, either each on their own breaker

> or a pair on each breaker. I'm not recommending you do something

> unsafe, as the 20A breaker will blow if you overload. It just makes it

> easier for you to do without explaining anything. The inspectors

> usually take the tack of "if you sell the house the new owners won't

> know and might just stick a bigger breaker in." My thought is if

> they're that stupid they're likely to screw something else up and burn

> the house down too, you can't idiot proof everything!

> 

> Most just don't run less than 30A to a sub panel, but your idea is more

> to spread the load around, not put more than a 20A load on it. You'll

> only have a problem if you start tripping the 20A 220V breaker. No

> electric heaters down there!! Legally, you can work on your own wiring,

> just not if it is a rental or commercial space (at least in most

> states).

> 

> #12 wire is good for 20A. http://www.electrical-

> online.com/cableandwire.htm

> 

> --------------

> Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:28:02 -0500

> From: "John E. Malmberg" <wb8tyw at qsl.net>

> 

> I am trying to set up a workshop where I may be able to play with my

> COCOs and other toys again, so this is not totally off topic.

> 

> Unfortunately the builder of my house, while putting in the plumbing

> for

> downstairs bathroom, only put one spare power cable, a 12 AWG with 3

> insulted wires and a ground.  That would be good for 2 20 A split

> neutral circuits.

> 

> This is in addition to the required single 20 A circuit in the basement

> that is currently active.  Combined that gives me a total of 60 A in

> the

>   basement.

> 

> The resulting 60 Amps is more than sufficient for powering the expected

> TVs, Ham Radios, and computers, and workbench tools.

> 

> I would prefer though to have a sub-panel with multiple circuits, where

> each circuit would just be 15 A, for the computers and the Ham Radios

> and TVs.

> 

> I have not been able to find a strong reference as to if this would

> pass

>    a housing inspection.

> 

> All the references on the Internet I have seen is using 30A dual

> breakers and 10 AWG feeders to a sub panel.  Putting in the 10 AWG

> feeder would be difficult as there is no good path from the main panel

> in the garage to the basement.  I would likely have to run visible

> conduit on the outside of the dry-wall.  As such, I would probably have

> to get a professional to install that.

> 

> The NEC does seem to have tables indicating that a 20 A feed is

> allowed,

> as long as 20 A ganged breakers are used to protect it.

> 

> 

> 

> --

> Frank Swygert

> Publisher, "American Motors Cars"

> Magazine (AMC)

> For all AMC enthusiasts

> http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html

> (free download available!)

> 

> 

> 

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