Install electrical subpanel in crawl space

[msimerson]

background

• main panel is difficult to access
  • resulting in lots of spaghetti wiring
• installing a subpanel
  • makes future wiring projects much easier
  • allows mutilated corner studs to be repaired

specs

• 125 amp panel
• 8 breakers (supports 16 tandem breakers)

todo

• buy Cutler Hammer subpanel (same breakers as existing)
• install subpanel
  • 2-gage feed from main panel
  • mostly (90%) enclosed in conduit
  • fully enclosed in conduit
• install 100A breaker in main panel
• Inspection
  • microwave circuit no microwave #38
  • fridge circuit fridge needs a dedicated circuit #61
  • dishwasher circuit dishwasher needs a dedicated circuit #62
  • water heater circuit water heater uses chimney #46
  • car charger a faster (level 2) car charger would be nice #51
  • crawl space light circuit crawl space is dreary and poorly lit #59
  • crawl space outlets only two outlets in crawl space #60
  • office outlet

[msimerson]

May 2017

• replaced cute little 8-breaker subpanel with a 24-breaker main panel
  • hired an electrician to do the panel swap
• reasons:
  • Even with dual breakers, I had filled the little subpanel
  • I had additional circuits I wanted to remove from the main and clean up the corner of disaster
  • the subpanel box didn't have sufficient horizontal space for combination AFCI/GFCI breakers
  • code now requires AFCI breakers in some rooms