Had to pick between a 10/2 and a 10/3 run for a new garage subpanel

I was wiring a detached garage in a 1970s house here in Spokane, and the owner wanted a 50-amp subpanel for future EV charging. I had to choose between pulling 10/2 NM-B for a 240V-only feed or 10/3 to get a separate neutral. I went with the 10/3, which cost about $0.80 more per foot, because it lets them run 120V circuits out there without a separate ground rod system. Has anyone else found a specific case where the extra conductor was absolutely worth it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_tara1mo ago

You said it was for future EV charging. That's a 240v load. The neutral in that 10/3 is just dead copper for that use. Could have saved the money now. If they ever need 120v out there later, that's a different project with its own permit. They can deal with it then.

spencer_moore391mo ago

Guess @the_tara hates spare copper...