i have a sub 50 amp sub panel that i want to put in a detached maint/gar building. to save money on wire i am going to run two #6's for the lines and one #8 for the neutral(derating the neut)along with a #10 ground. my question is does this sound code compliant, we derate neutrals for the service feeders and this is going to be a feeder so it seems very complicit to me.
am i on the right page? any codes that i am missing which would forbid this derating? thanks guys, h20
By not knowing what your load is, I can't tell you that you can or can't derate the neutral. Also, I would be interested in how you terminate the neutral and ground wires in the sub panel. Where do you connect the Grounding Electrode Conductor in the sub panel?
Hold on. You must ALWAYS install a grounding electrode system for a detached building with more than a single multiwire branch circuit. It doesn't matter if your have three or four wires; with or without an equipment grounding conductor. see 250.32
If your neutral busses are specifically listed at 75C and you use 75C rated wire, then #8 copper is fine for a 50A feeder because that wire is still rated at 50 amps.