How to add garage electrical outlets from existing box....

[LouG]

After searching Google and YouTube, I haven't found what I'm looking for....

I want to add some outlets in my garage where my workbench will be. It's already drywalled, so I plan on surface mounting the outlets. The problem is that I can't find anything that illustrates or discusses how to branch-off my existing outlet that sits at the entry door into the house. Does this outlet need to be changed to a surface mount outlet beforehand? Aside from changing already existing fixtures, outlets, etc, I normally don't like working with electrical (I don't make a habit of working with what I can't see coming.....)

Can anyone guide me as to where I can get a good step-by-step guideline on how to do this? It seems a little too easy for calling in an electrician. In terms of need, I don't have a lift or a generator, or anything aside from general power tools that would require more than normal household voltage.

 

[jonzer12]

run an elbow piece of conduit out of your electrical box to tranistion to the surface and then run your conduit or armored cable to your bench.

 

[nmk_61802]

May want to post this in the electrical forum, and more info is needed on existing box material, but this should be a start.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/RACO-Electrical-Box-1RVU4

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-P...how-to-add-outlets-easily-with-surface-wiring

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-P...to-install-surface-mounted-wiring-and-conduit

Also I good thread in electrical about a similar install:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132133

 

[805gregg]

Buy a basic electrical book, Black and Decker makes one, maybe HD or Lowes or online. The book will walk you through everything. You might want to add a subpanel in your garage, maybe 100 amps for future projects, 220 for welders or compressors etc.

 

[BigJohn20]

It's really simple if you want to use a product like Wiremold Metallic Raceway.

http://www.legrand.us/wiremold/at-h...-raceway/bw5-b5 starter-box.aspx#.T4W9XtVTWko

Use that starter box (BW5), which brings power to the surface mount box from an existing single gang box. From there, you can run THHN/THWN inside of their metallic raceway to the locations that you want power.

It is definitely on the pricier side, but it is a nice product.

Homepage for Wiremold Metallic Raceway:

http://www.legrand.us/wiremold/at-h...al-raceway/mr-metal-raceway.aspx#.T4W-E9VTWko

Click Components and it lists everything you could need.

 

[aandpdan]

You can try something like this, it goes over your existing outlet box so that you can run a surface mounted raceway.

http://www.homedepot.com/Wiremold/Wiremold/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1mqZ1mq/R-100657469/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

 

[Zeke]

Yeah, just an extension box and you can run EMT out of the side and have your outlet in front. Cheaper than Wire Mold.

 

[Steve-oh]

The existing outlet in my garage was only 15 amp so I ran a whole new 20 amp circuit from the breaker box with surface mounted boxes/conduit.

 

[Falcon67]

Yeah, just an extension box and you can run EMT out of the side and have your outlet in front. Cheaper than Wire Mold.

This - I set my new shop circuits up this way. Box in the wall, extension box on top, MC cable runs from there. Easy to arrange as necessary.

 

[buening]

How far away from the existing box are the new ones going? If they are within 4 or 5 feet, you could get one of those flexible boring bits and bore holes through the studs and feed the wire to the next opening in the wall for the box.

 

[Mr.Magoo]

Tapping into an existing outlet box to run to your garage wall will be taxing the breaker, at the most you only have 120v @ 20 amps. It would be best to start with a dedicated breaker or even two as your needs in a shop are going to be greater than what is available on the circuit you are tapping into. Start new and alleviate all your troubles with tripping breakers. Overloading circuits have been a problem since day one. Planning electrical should always include overdoing it by 10 or 20 percent, accounting for future needs, sounds like your underdone like most folks.

 

[nmk_61802]

Tapping into an existing outlet box to run to your garage wall will be taxing the breaker, at the most you only have 120v @ 20 amps. It would be best to start with a dedicated breaker or even two as your needs in a shop are going to be greater than what is available on the circuit you are tapping into. Start new and alleviate all your troubles with tripping breakers. Overloading circuits have been a problem since day one. Planning electrical should always include overdoing it by 10 or 20 percent, accounting for future needs, sounds like your underdone like most folks.

Not saying that you are completely wrong, but stating this as an absolute seems like a little bit of a leap. From his description he already has at least one outlet in the garage and is only looking to extend that to a better location to suite his needs, and add few (1-3) more at his bench, not powering his whole garage from an existing outlet in the house. For all we know the outlet he is tapping into could be the only one (or two) on that circuit.

Your caution does contain merit however and the original poster should verifiy that he is not overloading the existing oulet's circuit.