Tank room electrical DIY: subpanel or no subpanel?
 

Anyone have any thoughts on whether to, or whether not to, install an electrical subpanel in a tank room?

For the sake of convenience, I'm tempted to run a 220line from my main breaker to the tank room (which isn't yet built, only just a twinkle in my eye at this point). The reason being that where the tank room will reside and the electrical panel are not really that close to one another.

I spoke to an electrician a while ago about this, and he suggested I not bother, because my main breaker panel "had lots of room in it". The problem I have with that is I'd have to run a line for every circuit in the tank room from one end of the basement to the other. Not really a big deal I guess, but if the rest of the basement eventually gets developed then it becomes a bigger deal to run a new line if needed. Whereas with a localized panel there is more flexibility, and the option might even be there to run some devices at 220 instead of 110 (I'm not sure if there's an advantage to that, but some pumps and some ballasts can be run at 220).

So my thoughts are, it's a good idea to have the subpanel. Are there any reasons not to (besides cost of the panel and so on)?

My Dad was an electrician and he loved to do everything in 220. as I understand it you can end up using less power with 220 than 110 in some situations.

I would also vote big time for the sub panel. This would allow you to use GFCI breakers in place rather than outlets. This way you could pretty easily minimize what else gets shut down when one circut ground faults.

plus then you can say 'I installed an electrical subpanel' which i happen to think sounds like someone who knows what they are doing :)

if you figure the cost of a small panel, and one wire rated to carry the 220, in the long run it would probably be cheaper (as well as easier) than running multiple lines across your house to the main panel.

just my $.02
(coming from the guy who put a sub panel in the same room as the main panel for my tank):redface:

Subpanels are great for localized access. If you have a change to run say a pump on 220v, you would normally tie it right into the breaker. So you would want to be able to switch it off for maintenance w/o going to the main house panel. In my case, it also allows for easy expansion if you need another cct, when your basement is finished and you can't run any more wires.

the power used will be the same but the amprage will be lower on the main run.

Tony here is my sugestion.. figure out how many outlets/circuts you want to have. say if you have 4 lights you want each one on a different circut as well as 4 pumps and 4 heaters for example.. that way if you have a problem with one you will never loose anything. after you get this figured out (remember no more than 12 amps to a circut preferably 10 :mrgreen: ) add 3 or 4 more to it as future add ons.

Once you have this number, lets pretend it is 6, go to home depot and buy a 50 amp 220 pannel package with breakers (or go with a 100 amp if it is cheaper) then you can get a 50 amp GFI breaker for your main pannel and run one proper wire from the main to the sub. this also GFI protects your entire fish room.

Steve

Seems to me like a great idea. I say go big or go home, and since you are home, nothing left to do but go big. :mrgreen: A sub panel is really simple, just use a big double breaker in the main panel and run the correct sized cable to feed the new panel. Then you can wire your fish room to your hearts delight.

Thanks for the suggestions. :)

I did find one wrinkle. At the City of Calgary website, trying to find out what "code" requires, I found this little tidbit:

(It cuts off at that point, they don't finish the sentence .... sure is nice to proofread stuff once in a while! :rolleyes:)

I wonder how easy it would be to pass electrical inspection if it's fairly obvious that it's a tank room. The room will be well ventilated but is that enough? Also by reading between the lines a little, it sounds like enclosing the panel in a cabinet wouldn't be an option.

Guess I'm going to have to do some more homework..

Tony how is the room ? I mean what is on the outside walls of it. you could always put it on a outside wall and make a simple little cabnet for it to dress it up.

Steve

When I was planning my fish room had grand plans for a subpanel.

Similiar to you, had room in my main to allow for the fish circuits and still have spots left to develop basement, so thought why bother. It might have looked cooler to have a sub but electrically, function is the same just using main.

Terminated the receptacles first, run the wires back to the panel, had everything ready so power was probably off less than 1/2hour to install the breakers (couple GFI) and hook up.

I'm still able to turn of circuits separately for maintenance and expansion.