New home, not enough outlets in garage...

[Canoman]

We just moved into a new-construction home. It has a 3-car garage, and there is a grand total of 2 wall outlets. One is consumed by my FiOS internet connection gear (they put a power strip in) and my sprinkler controls.

The other is in the back wall of the garage, and it'll be used by a refrigerator and a deep freeze. Only way I'll get tools plugged in is with extension cords and power strips/splitters.

There is an outlet in the ceiling for each of 2 garage door openers, but how useful can those be mounted in the ceiling?

Is this the norm? I guess since it's not living space, they don't have to adhere to the interior 12-ft spacing. True?

I've never done any home wiring that's not low-voltage (speaker wire, etc), so this will be new territory if I'm going to install some new outlets.

 

[pattenp]

This is normal electrical in garages for new construction.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

If this is gonna be your first time doing electrical, I suggest picking up a basic home wiring book. Are the walls finished or open?

 

[rsanter]

Save yourself the trouble. First get yourself some good quality drop reel cords and hang them from the ceiling. 90% of the stuff I plug in for on the spot use will get plugged into them.
If you have a specific machine or something that will remain in one location then run power to that spot.
Is your electrical panel on the side of the garage?
Is there attic space above the garage?
If so then you are on easy street

What about for larger items that need 220 electric? If your electrical panel is on the side of the garage then is that wall a good spot for your welder ot larger stuff? If so you are again on easy street and you can put an outlet right under the panel but on the inside ofnthe garage

Bob

 

[Stuart in MN]

There is an outlet in the ceiling for each of 2 garage door openers, but how useful can those be mounted in the ceiling?

Assuming they installed regular duplex outlets in the ceiling, a lot of people will plug in a trouble light or extension cord on a retractable reel in the spare receptacle.

Is this the norm? I guess since it's not living space, they don't have to adhere to the interior 12-ft spacing. True?

Correct.

 

[Tone-NY]

Yes it is. I'm having a house built and paid additional for extra outlets for a TV and a treadmill. I'll figure out what additional outlets we will need once we are in the house and configure the space as needed.

 

[Olliecampbell]

I've just moved into a 'new to me' house with single garage. It has one electrical point. Damn English builders!

 

[Canoman]

If this is gonna be your first time doing electrical, I suggest picking up a basic home wiring book. Are the walls finished or open?

Got the book about a year ago for "someday" work in the previous house. So I'm good on that front.

Save yourself the trouble. First get yourself some good quality drop reel cords and hang them from the ceiling. 90% of the stuff I plug in for on the spot use will get plugged into them.

Assuming they installed regular duplex outlets in the ceiling, a lot of people will plug in a trouble light or extension cord on a retractable reel in the spare receptacle.

I like this idea. Got any "good quality" choices to recommend?

Is your electrical panel on the side of the garage?

Panel is on the inside of an exterior garage wall.

Is there attic space above the garage?
If so then you are on easy street

Yes, there is attic space above the garage. Wiring-wise, it's perfect for this, as there is no decking and no insulation blown yet. There should be a junction box in the attic near the wall opposite the panel, as there is an exterior outlet for the patio on that wall.

What about for larger items that need 220 electric? If your electrical panel is on the side of the garage then is that wall a good spot for your welder ot larger stuff? If so you are again on easy street and you can put an outlet right under the panel but on the inside ofnthe garage

Bob

I currently don't have the need for any 220. I don't have a welder or know how to weld. My compressor doesn't require 220. But yes, the panel is in a good spot for this.

Thanks for all the replies/suggestions so far.

 

[Jack Olsen]

A ceiling reel is much more useful than a wall outlet. You want both, ultimately -- but I find myself using the reel for just about anything that isn't sitting on a bench.

 

[rsanter]

My main reel came from lowes or home depo several years back. $30 with a metal outer case. To get the same quality now you may have to go to an industrial supply place.

About a year ago I saw sears had a nice looking one that was a cord reel that came with a drop light to attach to the end of the cord. I think it was around $50 on sale. I thought about it but didn't need one so I passed

Bob

 

[fstbusa]

I feel lucky with 3 outlets in my new construction home. Lol

 

[ChargedUp!]

By reading enough on here, I am making sure to add more to the house the wife and I are building. Extra outlets are $40 each so I'm adding quite a few at that price.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

40 each is a STEAL if they are dedicated outlets (non-GFCI)!!! Take that to the bank!!!

 

[StaggeringGoat]

My 40x60 shop only has four outlets, and they're all on the same circuit. (which is also shared with the gas heater) In my old shop I had a big 10ga cord plugged into a 30A twist lock outlet on the ceiling, I loved that. Long enough to reach anywhere in the shop, and even a 120v welder won't blow the breaker. Now that I think about it I need to get something like that hooked up again...

 

[jimmyz_garage]

By reading enough on here, I am making sure to add more to the house the wife and I are building. Extra outlets are $40 each so I'm adding quite a few at that price.

You should consider adding a 240 volt outlet for things like a large compressor or a stick welder. I added one to my garage to accommodate my 60 gallon air compressor.

 

[rodm1]

You could do like many guys hear have flush mount outlets with EMT.

 

[Gary S]

New construction will have a lot of corners cut unless you build it yourself and get it right. I built my own garage. I have 30 receptacles and 10 lights.

 

[Mickey O]

From your location I'm guessing if it's an attached garage the breaker box is in the garage? If not I'd put a sub-panel in the garage and add tons of outlets and lights. If it is in the garage add a pile of outlets. If the outlet you're going to use for the refrigerator and deep freeze is GFCI protected (either by a GFCI outlet or powered from a GFCI outlet), swap it out for a standard outlet.

A ceiling reel is much more useful than a wall outlet. You want both, ultimately -- but I find myself using the reel for just about anything that isn't sitting on a bench.

Those reels are quite handy, mines currently wall mounted and I use it all the time, probably my most used receptacle.

 

[pattenp]

From your location I'm guessing if it's an attached garage the breaker box is in the garage? If not I'd put a sub-panel in the garage and add tons of outlets and lights. If it is in the garage add a pile of outlets. If the outlet you're going to use for the refrigerator and deep freeze is GFCI protected (either by a GFCI outlet or powered from a GFCI outlet), swap it out for a standard outlet.




Those reels are quite handy, mines currently wall mounted and I use it all the time, probably my most used receptacle.

So... just how many outlets and lights make up a ton? And is a pile more or less than a ton?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

lOl, pattenp.

 

[madosta]

Made me chuckle a bunch... lol

 

[Canoman]

New construction will have a lot of corners cut unless you build it yourself and get it right. I built my own garage. I have 30 receptacles and 10 lights.

I suppose you're right. However, this was a "spec home" that was built months before we were looking to buy a house here. We didn't have time to custom-build something.

From your location I'm guessing if it's an attached garage the breaker box is in the garage? If not I'd put a sub-panel in the garage and add tons of outlets and lights. If it is in the garage add a pile of outlets. If the outlet you're going to use for the refrigerator and deep freeze is GFCI protected (either by a GFCI outlet or powered from a GFCI outlet), swap it out for a standard outlet.

Yes, the panel is inside the garage. I'm not sure if the refrigerator and deep freeze are on a GFCI. I'll have to check tonight. Good thought, though. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Oldbear]

It also depends what you do in your garage. Mine is a welding/model building/motorbike fixing/wood-working/electronics repairing/TV watching/pipe smoking/whiskey drinking shop... I've been adding lots of plugs. Mine also only came with one outlet and one light