EV charging does not require 50A or 60A by itself (despite what some people seem to think). I would seriously consider a 50A or 60A feed, provided your main panel/service has the capacity for it. Why more?Ī 30A subpanel feed can easily power 2 x 20A 120V circuits, and in fact depending on usage could generally handle 4 x 20A 120V circuits. A 20A circuit can use 12 AWG or larger wire. It can power additional receptacles, but it must be a separate circuit from the first 20A circuit.Ī 15A circuit can use 14 AWG or larger (e.g., 12 AWG) wire. The receptacles can be 15A or 20A receptacles. An old garage might not have this, but you are effectively building (or at least electrifying) a new garage, so you need to meet current code. 20A GFCI-protected receptacle circuit.The two circuits you need right now are actually: But a 20, 30 or even 40 space panel can make sense - perhaps $50 to $200 extra but then you have lots of room for expansion. You only need 2 breaker spaces right now (each 120V circuit takes 1 space, each 240V circuit takes 2 spaces), but anything less than a 12 space panel just doesn't make much sense as the cost is minimal. Generally we recommend more spaces for breakers so that you don't have to replace the subpanel in the future. But they all need the same empty space in front of the panel (30' x 36' space kept clear) so the extra breaker spaces don't affect the physical space you need (except a few inches in the wall, but that doesn't matter).Ī subpanel can have anywhere from a few circuits on up to dozens. Main panels are typically 20 - 40 spaces. Size - subpanels are typically 4 - 12 spaces.It can be a 200A main breaker with a 60A feed - doesn't matter as long as the 'main breaker' is >= the size of the feed breaker in the actual main panel. But if you have a subpanel in another building it needs a disconnect and a main breaker is one of the cheapest (main panels bundle everything together) and easiest (it comes pre-installed) ways to get a disconnect. Main breaker - a main panel has one, a subpanel generally doesn't.

If a panel doesn't have one, it is easy (and inexpensive) to add one.

Ground bar - must have a separate ground bar in a subpanel, optional in a main panel.

Neutral/ground bond - add for main panel, remove for subpanel - easy.

There are four differences between typical main panels and typical subpanels:

That can be a separate box, but the simplest thing is to just use a 'main panel' as a subpanel. However, a subpanel in a separate building, like this detached garage, needs a disconnect. Subpanel Size and TypeĪ subpanel in the same building does not need a disconnect. But consider a little more - explanation below. The wire must be sized appropriately, so that means 10 AWG or larger. So yes, 30A is enough to feed two basic garage circuits. A 30A feed means 30A 240V, which is actually 60A 120V if balanced. The feed is normally 240V from a double breaker. There are two separate issues here: Subpanel FeedĪ subpanel feed can be pretty much any size you want, as long as it is large enough to do what you want it to do.

100 amp panel square d