For those that have been there... How would you wire?

[tolken4]

If it were your garage how and what would you run?

Ok, 19*35 attached garage. See pics. It is already dry walled but woefully under powered/wired, the entire garage is on one shared 15 amp with the kitchen and part of downstairs

I have read many threads on here and have some ideas about what I need. Plugs every so many feet on all walls, some drop plugs, lights T8s 6-8 I think.

I am running a 200 amp subpanel (already had it, figure why not.) My questions are...


1. For the actual wire, what type/method would you do? Do I run it in conduit on the outside, or should I go ahead and bury it in the walls? Pipe and EMT?

2. Size? 12-2 all around with 20 amps (gonna have plenty of room in the panel)? or 14-2 for the lights(15amp) and 12-2 for the plugs and other stuff.

3. Lights on two switches, another switch for the compressor? and then a third for the other power?

4. Anything else you would add?


Also, any links to posts that cover this is fine too. Maybe some of you have already bookmarked your all time wire config and howto articles in here?

 

[35mastr]

Well you only got 2 options.Either open up the sheetrock or run the conduit.

I personally would cut out the sheet rock along the walls up to where you are going to install the plugs.Then you could access the interior wall alot easier and just use old work boxes in the sheetrock for plugs and switches.

I like 12-2.I always try to overkill on the wire.20 amps for the plugs and use 15 for the lights if you like.

I would also put in a 50 amp plug in a couple of good spots for a compressor upgrade or be able to run a welder or plasma of your choice down the road.

 

[nadogail]

You can fish romex with minimal drywall damage.

 

[tolken4]

35mastr
Great point on the 50 amps, what wire is generally used for those?

nodogail:
Drywall is actually something I am really comfortable with, so I am thinking I will go that way. It is alot more appealing then thinking of piping.

Any input on the best methods from running wire along walls? meaning thru studs. Do I just cut squares out every two studs and drill left and right? then move over two more and drill left and right again?


Great replies, keep em coming.

 

[Aceman]

Pipe is the easiest but romex would be the cleanest. If your not afraid of drywall work, the easiest I've found is to cut a strip out. Find your common recep/switch height and cut a 16"-24" strip all the way around at that height. If your going to patch sheetrock you might as well make it easy on yourself. To answer your questions:

1. See above
2. 12-2 receps, 14-2 lights
3. Sounds ok. Your compressor can definitely run through a switch as long as you can find a switch with a HP rating large enough to handle it.
4. ??

Also, just because you have a 200 amp panel doesn't mean you necessarily need to feed it with 200 amp wire. Just as easy to feed it with a 60, 80, 100 amp breaker etc from your house.

 

[nadogail]

Having looked closely at the nice pictures, I wonder if you have considered Wiremold?


A lot of DIY wiring on remodels is never inspected, and staples are often not used behind
existing walls.

 

[35mastr]

35mastr
Great point on the 50 amps, what wire is generally used for those?

nodogail:
Drywall is actually something I am really comfortable with, so I am thinking I will go that way. It is alot more appealing then thinking of piping.

Any input on the best methods from running wire along walls? meaning thru studs. Do I just cut squares out every two studs and drill left and right? then move over two more and drill left and right again?

If your buying the romex in rolls.Might as well just do it all in 12/2 for lights and plugs.

Great replies, keep em coming.

I used 6/3 on mine.Right from the breaker to the plugs.

I dont like to have any voltage drop when welding.

Drops in the duty cycle are not good for welding nor is it good for the machine.

I did the same for my compressor also.

 

[inurface]

I just started finishing my drywall. Now I'm wondering if I should put a few more outlets in mine. I have 2 wall outlets total . Ill have to see if i can easily run wire from the main box in the basement to the garage. If I could get 1 to 2 more outlets it would be useful.

 

[nadogail]

Inurface
When you consider the cost of the materials for adding an outlet; and compare it to the value of the convience (sp?) of having to do without, I will bet you add some more outlets.

 

[inurface]

Inurface
When you consider the cost of the materials for adding an outlet; and compare it to the value of the convience (sp?) of having to do without, I will bet you add some more outlets.

ya, done =)

I added 2 more outlets (one on each wall that didn't have one)

 

[inurface]

wired in the 2 new gfci's, i'm so happy already. i can't believe it took me 4 years to do it! I also found out that one of the walls was uninsulated, it's otherside is the porch but still...

 

[nate379]

I would put outlets every 4 feet, about 4 feet off the floor. 12-2 for sure. I'd run the wiring in the walls for sure. Even if you pulled down some of the rock, it's not that much work to throw some rock and mud on the wall and paint. Looks like your garage could use some paint anyhow.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I ran mine in conduit, but I second putting lots of outlets in. I have a 19x23 with 4-240 volt plugs, 2-3' power strips, 3-4 outlet boxes, and 6-2 outlet boxes.

 

[sberry]

My personal take is that I see a lot of arbitrary figures, every 5 ft etc and I never really know how everything is going to turn out till I get there. There are some places where some outlets down walls are fine but up in bench areas and places that become congested I like surface where I can tune the outlet locations as I go as needed. So many parasitic items these days, chargers, TV radio, etc that its nice to be able to customize a little bit.
Probably 20 devices in this one area, some places one installs outlets they never get used.

 

[twostory]

My wife worked in the 1,000 sqft wood shop for a few months, before we installed in dry wall.

We ended up adding several more outlet to our orginal plan. We have 9 big windows. Initially we only had one outlet between the windows. Now we have 2 or 3 outlets between the window.

My suggestion: Install many outlets now, before the drywall if possible. Getting rid of extension cord is a wonderful thing.

 

[cdent]

sberry27 has the right idea. You may not need an outlet burried behind a shelf, but you may want many more in a high use area. In those high use areas, you may want two or more circuits so you can run more than one high draw tool at once. Conduit is a lot easier to make adjustments if you change your mind on how you want things set up.