I have a 100amp subpanel in my attached garage that is currently a 3-wire feed without separate ground. The neutral and ground are bonded on the same bars (which I understand was OK when this house was built, but no longer current code). I'd like to add a grounding wire and separate the neutral/ground in the subpanel. Feed from main panel to subpanel (shown coming up from bottom of picture) is run through 1-1/4 conduit, #4 wire, about 60 feet distance.
My plan is:
- run separate #8 copper ground wire alongside conduit (is an insulated black wire better than bare copper, or does it matter?), as I don't imagine it would be fun to pull another wire through existing conduit. Ground wires can be run separately, correct?
- add two ground bars to either side of the subpanel box to separate all existing grounds from the neutral bars
- add (redundant) ground wire to connect the two ground bars
- swap out 70 amp breaker for a 50 amp breaker (it's an electric range) and run separate ground wire to the receptacle so I can replace with proper 4-wire receptacle and plug. OK to retain existing #4 wire feed, which is overkill for a 50amp appliance circuit?
Criticisms/suggestions are welcome here. Seems pretty straightforward and well within my skill set, but would like confirmation before I apply for permit and start the work.
TIA for your advice!
My plan is:
- run separate #8 copper ground wire alongside conduit (is an insulated black wire better than bare copper, or does it matter?), as I don't imagine it would be fun to pull another wire through existing conduit. Ground wires can be run separately, correct?
- add two ground bars to either side of the subpanel box to separate all existing grounds from the neutral bars
- add (redundant) ground wire to connect the two ground bars
- swap out 70 amp breaker for a 50 amp breaker (it's an electric range) and run separate ground wire to the receptacle so I can replace with proper 4-wire receptacle and plug. OK to retain existing #4 wire feed, which is overkill for a 50amp appliance circuit?
Criticisms/suggestions are welcome here. Seems pretty straightforward and well within my skill set, but would like confirmation before I apply for permit and start the work.
TIA for your advice!