New garage/shop wiring methods

[sasquatching]

I’m building a 30x40 garage/shop with a 100A 240/120V feed from my house panel .
I’m trying to decide whether to run emt conduit surface mount on top of the walls or romex through the studs .
It is a pole barn frame with 2x6 studs between the 6’ posts.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
I don’t want to drill through the posts so I m leaning towards emt conduit .

 

[BrandonV]

I prefer EMT. It's mostly cost & aesthetics with NM-B in the walls and I like the industrial look with all the benefits you gain with conduit.

 

[strength_and_power]

I’ll be watching this thread as I’m about to start wiring up my shop and was having similar thoughts.
What are you finishing the walls in?
How good are your conduit bending skills?
Conduit may give you more flexibility if you think your outlet layout may need to change.
Behind the walls would give a cleaner look.
What is the “theme” of your shop? It sounds kinda silly but your shop is an expression of you, which one is a better fit?
I started looking on FB marketplace and scored some ridiculous deals on 12/2mc cable,

 

[u2slow]

I'm keeping my electrical outside the walls because I'm always changing/tweaking it. If you're doing that, plan to surface-mount your panel on an interior wall. I wasn't able to decide what equipment and benches would be where until I'd used my space for a few years.

 

[Sumboodie]

Romex. If down the road you change something up and it's not practical to go in the walls, then conduit then.

 

[Metal-Marc]

I'm keeping my electrical outside the walls because I'm always changing/tweaking it.

This.

That's what I'm doing.

 

[75gmck25]

The idea I've been considering is to run large diameter EMT (2"?) from the panel around near the top of the walls, and include junction boxes to facilitate running vertical EMT drops from there down to receptacles and switches mounted at about 50" height. This would make it easier to change/add wiring, and provide access without going into any walls. It should also mean I can do a very effective job insulating and sealing the walls, which would reduce heat and A/C requirements.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Romex. If down the road you change something up and it's not practical to go in the walls, then conduit then.

From post #1
"I don’t want to drill through the posts"

 

[Crazyjake8493]

If I ever do it again, I'd run everything in EMT. Air seal and insulate the walls, seal it up really tight, and then surface mount all the electrical. Better building envelope for heating/cooling, and if you run it inside the wall you'll end up adding on anyway and you'll have half in the wall and half surface mounted anyway.

 

[Kezorm]

The idea I've been considering is to run large diameter EMT (2"?) from the panel around near the top of the walls,...

Note that you need to start derating as soon as you exceed 3 current carrying conductors, regardless the size of conduit.

 

[PopcornSutton]

Running conduit exposed may look better than exposed romex, but the cost would be much higher. And I would think making a change would be cheaper as well.

IMO.

 

[Joemctag]

The idea I've been considering is to run large diameter EMT (2"?) from the panel around near the top of the walls, and include junction boxes to facilitate running vertical EMT drops from there down to receptacles and switches mounted at about 50" height. This would make it easier to change/add wiring, and provide access without going into any walls. It should also mean I can do a very effective job insulating and sealing the walls, which would reduce heat and A/C requirements.

Yeah, 50” to 54” receptacle height. It’s to work in. It’s not a bedroom or living room. Surface-mount EMT looks good. You won’t be happy with PVC grey conduit. Won’t be straight enough. Good luck.

 

[Sumboodie]

From post #1
"I don’t want to drill through the posts"

Yeah... post is confusing for sure... didn't see that part but this:

"I’m trying to decide whether to run emt conduit surface mount on top of the walls or romex through the studs"

 

[Yankeefarmer]

Yeah, 50” to 54” receptacle height. It’s to work in. It’s not a bedroom or living room. Surface-mount EMT looks good. You won’t be happy with PVC grey conduit. Won’t be straight enough. Good luck.

Some people think this. My shop has lots of gray PVC conduit. I installed it straight, anchored it to code, and it’s still straight. In my old shop, EMT started to develop rust. I didn’t want that.

 

[LopezBart]

I'll be going surface mounted EMT; when I worked in an industrial metal building building custom robotic cells 40 years ago, they'd change the wiring every year as our current project's requirements changed. It was fast and simple; the electricians had stuff working really quick. Having ended up adding surface mounted panel and conduit to our finished garage in CA to run my tools (the whole thing plugs into a single 120-240V/50A outlet), I'll just wire the whole shop that way. Besides, burying Romex in spray foam in the walls seems like it's just asking for problems later on.

 

[nadogail]

Is Wire Mold an option?

 

[Norcal]

Is Wire Mold an option?

Not a good option.

 

[acer66]

Yeah... post is confusing for sure... didn't see that part but this:

"I’m trying to decide whether to run emt conduit surface mount on top of the walls or romex through the studs"

OP has only one post which might explain things.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

OP has only one post which might explain things.

and hasnt been back in 2 weeks

 

[bronc076]

I saw the guys on the Amish electricians forum recommended something about a staple gun and lamp cord so I'm sure he has it sorted by now!