I want to put a 100A sub-panel out in the garage approx 50 wire-feet away from my service panel. 200A service panel; I used the "Mike Holt" spreadsheet for my house (without sub-panel) and it says I have 125A of demand right now. 100A sub-panel will source: [LIST] [*] 7.5A 230V air compressor 31A motor plate, on a 50A breaker [*] Small welder 115V on a 20A breaker [*] 6-8 general 115V outlets [*] 10 flourscent light fixtures with 3 tubes each [/LIST] I know the 100A panel is overkill but wanted to leave room for future. Does this plan make sense: [LIST] [*]#3/4 copper from the service panel to the sub-panel [*]#6/3 copper from the sub-panel 50A breaker, to the compressor [*]local disconnect switch at compressor, since it's in a different room, underneath the garage [/LIST] Questions: 1. Someone told me I need a dedicated earth ground at the sub-panel. Is that true, and does it mean I simply run #6 bare stranded copper from the sub-panel to a copper rod into the earth, outside the house? 2. The service panel will have a 100A breaker in it, to source the sub-panel. Do I also need a "main breaker" in the sub-panel? It seems odd to me if not, but it also seems odd to have another 100A breaker at the sub-panel when there is already one in the service panel. 3. For the 6-8 general outlets, I want them to be able to run fairly significant loads - bench grinder, maybe a 2HP tablesaw, heat gun, etc. I'm not really sure yet what would be expected of them. Do I put each on a dedicated 20A breaker? Or put them in pairs on a 20A breaker? Not sure how to determine this. Maybe the 100A sub is not overkill, after all? I really want to avoid having to put a separate service entrance to the garage.

we have a plastic compactor in our warehouse that is a lease. it blew up the start/stop button and we called them in to fix it. we believe a surge hit it and it fried. a surge protector on the line is recommended but the plug is 125 volt 30 amp twistlock. i need to install this myself so does anyone have any ideas on what to use. i use granger as a supplyer. do i need to hardwire a suppressor inline ?? please help any insight would be appreciated tom