Thoughts wanted about adding outlets to finished garge

[isuhunter]

I am wanting to add a couple outlets to my garage. I've searched and found some good threads about the same topic and I am still wanting some guidance about supplies and my approach. The current outlets are in the front of the garage and I have a need for others at the rear for Xmas lights, dog kennel (heat lamp/heater) and pluggin in tools when working.

So, my plan is to add what I would consider to be surface mounted boxes that stick out from the wall and run wire too them.

I was hoping people who have more electrical experience could chime in. Do I run metal conduit, plastic conduit, or just Romex wire and plastic wire staples? If I run conduit, what type of wire should I run in it? 12 ga? GFCI or standard outlets? Any specific brands?

 

[rsanter]

just me but wall space is too valuable to me and is often covered with toolboxes and shelves...
if you have a piece of equipment or a workbench that stays in place then fine, put an outlet there.
otherwise I prefer the drop down power reels. I use them 95% of the time for what do

bob

 

[vhol5]

A little more info on the type of walls, finish, ect. How far are the other outlets you want to tap from?

 

[p_mori7]

Plastic conduit is fine. If you can run the extra wire up in the attic first, then that will minimize the conduit appearing in the garage (you'll see from the cieling to the added box.

Wire size will depend on how much breaker you put on the circuit. 15A = 14ga. 20A = 12ga. i think 20A circuits also need a special outlet (not sure on that one).

 

[isuhunter]

A little more info on the type of walls, finish, ect. How far are the other outlets you want to tap from?

Current walls are unfinished sheet-rock with wood paneling over it. There are 3 current outlets in the garage. One is approx. 12 ft of wall distance to where I would like it. The other is 20 to closest oulet and 10 ft from bank of switches (just got thinking, I could tie in there, couldn't I?)

the circle is where an outlet is and I want to run to the "X" by the garage door

I want an outlet on the left side (red arrow) of the window. I have a switch at the new door I put in this weekend.

 

[vhol5]

Do you have access into the attic? If you do, it would be fairly simple to run romex in THOUGH the wall and up to the attic, to get to your next outlet.
Running exposed, emt looks much better than other methods. Only problem with that is that you need a bender, and a little practice. While they DO sell 90s and 45s pre-bent, making for an easy install, the look of it is HORRIBLE!

Let us know your preference, and we'll take it from there.

 

[Falcon67]

What I did was use an open back "Handy" box over an existing outlet, then ran conduit away from that to other outlet boxes. I could assemble the setup on the bench, mount to the wall, secure the handy box, tie in the wires and cover the box. If I didn't like the arrangement after a while, I could pull it off, reconfigure and put up the new layout. I ran what I thought were enough outlets when I built that shop but after trying to add a run behind an OSB covered wall, I went to the "stub out" and surface mount arrangement. I used EMT just because I wanted to, and it makes for a good stiff assembly. Stiff is good.

 

[bczygan]

Unless you have a block wall I think of exposed wiring as a lazy way to go. It's not that hard to drill and fish. It does take a fish tape and some long drills. Makes for a lot neater install. Things won't get caught on exposed boxes and conduit.

Now the funny part.........I have exposed plastic conduit and exterior plastic boxes!
I do have a double wythe solid brick wall though...

 

[jtshusker]

I would look at the amperage on your breaker 15 amp is 14 gauge wire and 20 amp is 12 gauge wire. most of the time outlets in a garage are fed down stream from a GFCI receptical, unless you have a GFCI Breaker. which is entirely different, where everything on that circuit is GFCI. You can add up to five electrical outlets to a circuit with a GFCI receptacle. And you don't ever need or want to add more than one GFCI receptacle to a circuit/

 

[darb21]

You can add up to five electrical outlets to a circuit with a GFCI receptacle.

Is this a code issue or something? It shouldn't matter how many outlets are after a GFCI box... Wouldn't the real issue be current draw? Shouldn't matter if there are 1 or 10 outlets after a GFCI... as long as the total current draw doesn't exceed what the GFCI is rated for you should be fine.