Prep work for AC

“Line voltage electrical to condenser by owners electrician.”

Guess I better get to work then! Since the AC compressor is contained within the condenser outside I needed to install an AC disconnect panel outside on the back wall of the shop and feed it 240v power. This presented an immediate problem: The inception shed sub panel is the old 6 pole panel that was in the old garage. With 240v to the air compressor, 240v to the 4 post lifts, 120v to the heater, and 120v for the inception shed outlets and lights all 6 poles were used.

Because I needed to add another 240v double pole breaker, I couldn’t even get tricky with the double circuit breakers. The largest panel I could fit in the space has 8 poles, which is just enough to add 240v for AC. So the first part of the work was to swap out the 6 pole panel for a new 8 pole panel.

The next step was to get the run the new wire and mount the AC disconnect box. I spent a lot of time looking at old pictures and measuring to make sure beyond a reasonable doubt that all the holes I needed to drill would land in the right spot. Ultimately I decided I would mount the disconnect box at the top of the wainscot so the top of the panel was tight against the trim to help hold it in place. This would permit one construction screw to bite into the 2*6 grit to hold the panel tight against the wall. Then the wire would run safely through the sharp steel into the wall through short 3/4″ EMT conduit. Using the conduit as a drill guide, I would drill a 1/2″ hole through the OSB from outside in.

Done with more than week to spare! Now to wait for AC install day…