I'm planning to upgrade my garage shop's wiring, as I now have a 5 HP bandsaw, and hope to have a 3-5 HP DC soon. I have to run the main line about 125', fully across my basement. I imagine I'll use #6 wire and a 60a main breaker for the subpanel.

I've read that I can either drill holes in the joists, or use a "runner." I hate the idea of more holes in the joists, but I can't figure out exactly what a "runner" is. My neighbor, a general contractor, says you can use metal or pvc pipe, with the wire inside & the pipe stapled to the bottom of the joists.

Is this so? And it can be PVC? Aluminum? or just steel?

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Also, what about the (small) area where my wire will be running parallel with the joists?


- thanks.