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Main Power Distribution:
 Bottom
line, it all starts with power. After all, nothing will work unless I have the
proper power supplied to the display. But, running this many amps needs to
be done correctly and safely. No corners were cut, and everything done
properly and according to code. Though, I am not a license electrician,
one was consulted during the design of this project. I do have an advanced
knowledge of electricity and I am degreed in Electronic Engineer Technology, and I understand the importance of connecting
everything up correctly. Any concerns I had were discussed with a License
Electrician. I do not suggest doing anything like this on your own unless
you have a working knowledge of electricity. If you don't know the
difference between AC and DC, you don't know the difference between Wattage and
Amps or if you don't know if Voltage or Amps can kill you. Then, it
probably isn't a good idea to attempt something like this. Electricity is very unforgiving and it
can cause serious injury and even death.
If you look at the above picture, you can see my main supply coming in from Edison. I have a
total of 200 Amps @ 240volts, which is equivalent to 400 Amps at 120 volts
(common household voltage and what the display runs off of). The panel was
upgraded from the 100 Amp Panel back in 2004.
 This is the basic concept drawing of the
Sub-Panels that I want to installed. It shows a 125 Amp sub-panels which
can supply up to 250 Amps @ 120 Volts to the display. I don't think that I
will ever need more than this. (Probably, should never say ever) The
only difference between what I actually installed is rather than using #4 wire,
I decided to upgrade to #2 wire. This allowed me to pull then entire 250
Amp (@120 volts) from my main panel. (It wasn't that much more than #4
wire)
 The
Sub-Panel was installed about 8 feet from the Main Panel. I wanted to get
the box down the house a ways, but didn't want to run it all the way down.
This would have been costly.
1.25" conduit was ran between the
main panel and the sub panel. This will house 3 - #2, 1 - #6 wire and 3 -
12 Gage wire (from previously installation).
 Inside
the Main-Sub panel, a new 125 Amps dual breaker needed to be installed. To
get this installed was required that I do some reconfiguration of the Main
Panel. All the previous breakers were single spaced breakers. A dual
20 Amp breaker was installed, then the new 125 Amp Dual breaker as installed in
the new space. It actually worked out quite nicely.
 Two sets of conduit was ran down the length
of the house. I used 1/2 inch PVC conduit so that I could run a total of
four separate 20 Amps circuits. I chose to keep the main panel closer to
the rear of the house for two reasons. One, being that it will look better
and two, it is cheaper to run 4 circuits of 12 gage wire than 4 wires of #2.
Project is still currently being installed,
check back regularly to see the progress of the project.
Below are more pictures of the project.
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