Connect stand-alone garage

[DirkM]

Hi there,

 

I was wondering if there is a way to control two houses (seperate meters off of the main power line) with a single ISY.

 

The main house is fully controlled by ISY but I'm thinking of building a new garage in the back yard. It would be much easier to install a second meter/breaker box in the new garage instead of getting electricity from the breaker box in the main house. Is there a way to connect the two buildings and control both with a single ISY?

 

Thanks,

Dirk

[DirkM]

I should have looked down a few topics, I think viewtopic.php?f=28&t=9399 answers my question. Sorry about the double posting.

[LeeG]

Check with the utility company. They may have a minimum monthly charge for the new meter. Normally does not matter but a garage may not use enough electricity to offset the minimum charge.

[DirkM]

Lee,

 

Thanks for that info, I didn't know about that. At the end I would be willing to pay a premium if it helps to avoid running new wires through the finished basement and through the back yard. But I will definitely contact them to get an idea if it is even possible.

 

Dirk

[LeeG]

It is a judgment call. My detached garage is less than 25' from the transformer. All utilities are under ground and it would have been so much easier for the utility to run a feed to the garage and install another meter. I was willing to pay for the cost of the new drop until I found out the minimum meter fee was just too great for the very small amount of electricity the garage uses. Even with both bay doors on openers and lights in both the first and second floors.

 

Once I decided to run the cable from the house, some 300', I also buried a water line to the garage at the same time. My only regret is that I did not have the garage built years before I did.

 

Good luck with the project.

[DirkM]

One last question: for a 200 feet distance, what awg to I need to have? If it's not too much I may be able to use the 1/2 inch conduit that I have from the outside outlet to the main breaker. If that wont fit that would mean opening walls to run new conduit.

[LeeG]

I don't know the lose over 200'. Also depends on what is powered in the garage. I think 10/2 will fit in 1/2 electric conduit if lubricant is used (stuff made to fish wire through tight spots) which should provide 15 Amp service, maybe 20 Amp but it is not likely if feeding from an existing outlet you have more than 15 Amp to start with. 10/2 would normally provide 30 Amp so even with 50% lose (which I think is way too much lose for 200') the garage would have 15 Amps. Enough to run an opener and a few lights.

[DirkM]

Great, thanks a lot. 15A are plenty, just a couple lights and a single power tool once in a while, that's all I need in there. The current outside outlet has a 4' 1/2" conduit directly into the breaker box. If I can get 10/2 in addition to the 14/2 through that 1/2" conduit, that would solve all my issues with a 2nd meter. I may also only need 100' since a 100' hose direct line reaches the new garage location.