On this Cape Coral home we added a new sub panel on the outside wall for future circuits and set up a second sub panel out on the dock for a spa that is planned for a few months from now.
- Location: Cape Coral, Florida
- Service: sub panel installation and dock electrical
- Equipment: new exterior sub panel, LB conduit body and conduit into the garage, dock sub panel on a piling
The house sub panel
The new panel sits on the exterior wall directly above the home’s existing generator inlet, next to the electric meter and the existing larger panel. We fed it with conduit and an LB conduit body that goes straight through into the back side of the garage. Its circuit labels already show where it is headed: the dock sub panel, a garage mini split and an auxiliary heater, with room left for more.
The dock sub panel
Out on the water side we mounted a second sub panel on a dock piling and ran conduit down the piling to the dock. It is there for a spa that will be installed in a few months. The spa is not part of this finished work yet, and we will add it to this project when it is done.
Why add a sub panel instead of replacing the main panel
When a main panel is full, or when a new load is a long way from it, a sub panel gives you breaker spaces right where you need them without replacing the main. It is a common fit for garage mini splits, spas, saunas, sheds and docks. See our panel upgrade and dock wiring pages, or ask us what makes sense for your property.