Amp and AWG recommendation

[skon1212]

I posted a while back about wiring new receptacles in my garage. Well I am finally getting ready to do it but need to know if 20Amp and 12 AWG wire is enough. Basically there will be 4 new duplex outlets. 2 will be dedicated to a fridge and upright freezer. The other 2 will be used to charge batteries for tools maybe some corded tools and possible a 110V welder from time to time. Do you thing 20Amp is enough?

 

[Hivolts]

Are you running 2 20 amp circuits from the panel in house?

 

[Hivolts]

I'd run a single 20 Amp to the fridge/freezer on same circuit. The other 2 outlets I'd run another 20 Amp circuit. But remember the first in the 2 outlets needs to be a GFCI.

 

[Hivolts]

Yes 12 Awg is good for 20 Amp max... Recommend 2 feeders.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'd run a single 20 Amp to the fridge/freezer on same circuit. The other 2 outlets I'd run another 20 Amp circuit. But remember the first in the 2 outlets needs to be a GFCI.

There is an exception to the GFCI rule in garages if the outlet and circuit is dedicated to refrigerator/freeze.

 

[pattenp]

There is an exception to the GFCI rule in garages if the outlet and circuit is dedicated to refrigerator/freeze.

There is no exception under the NEC. All 120V outlets in a garage are to be GFCI protected.

 

[teamextreme]

There is an exception to the GFCI rule in garages if the outlet and circuit is dedicated to refrigerator/freeze.

There USED to be an exception, not any more. I still call BS on this and it's one of the NEC rules I routinely violate (in my house).

20 amp and 12 AWG is the largest you can run for general purpose receptacles (well, you could run larger wire, but that would be unnecessary). You can run additional 20 amp circuits to get more capacity, but you can't increase to 30 amp.

Edit: pattenp with the lightning fast fingers!!!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Attached or detached garage?

 

[Norcal]

There is an exception to the GFCI rule in garages if the outlet and circuit is dedicated to refrigerator/freeze.

Only place you will find that exception is the Urban Legend Code, won't find it in recent editions of the NEC.

 

[mmelton005]

as long as it it downstream from a gfci...isn't he in the clear?

 

[skon1212]

Attached garage.

 

[toyotadriver]

You should never put a refrigerator or freezer on a GFCI. I don't care what the NEC says. A refrigerator or a freezer on a GFCI is asking for a thawed freezer of food.

I am building a house and I am going to have a deep freeze in the garage. It's not on a GFCI and it'll be fine.

 

[ddawg16]

I just passed my final inspection yesterday on the house.....of course he looked at my load center....confirmed I had AFCI's.....

Afterwards he mentioned most contractors pull them (the AFCI's) to use on the next job.

So, as far as GFCI's in the garage....vs putting a freezer or fridge on the GFCI? I see both sides. I don't have a freezer in the garage so I'm not worried about it.

 

[Norcal]

You should never put a refrigerator or freezer on a GFCI. I don't care what the NEC says. A refrigerator or a freezer on a GFCI is asking for a thawed freezer of food.

I am building a house and I am going to have a deep freeze in the garage. It's not on a GFCI and it'll be fine.

If a GFCI trips, it just tells you there is a electrical defect with the appliance.


If you don't care what the NEC says, please do the world a favor and forget wiring the house, you will do just fine with gas lighting and refrigeration.

 

[toyotadriver]

If a GFCI trips, it just tells you there is a electrical defect with the appliance.


If you don't care what the NEC says, please do the world a favor and forget wiring the house, you will do just fine with gas lighting and refrigeration.

I will continue to wire the house but thanks for your concern.

GFCIs can trip for all kinds of reasons. You do NOT want a refrigerator or a deep freeze on a GFCI because you WILL eventually have a trip and if you don't catch it in time, you'll have a freezer of wasted food.

Remember, professionals built the Titanic and amateurs built the ark

 

[pattenp]

..... You do NOT want a refrigerator or a deep freeze on a GFCI because you WILL eventually have a trip and if you don't catch it in time, you'll have a freezer of wasted food.

I have had a freezer on a GFCI protected circuit in two different garages over 20 years and never had a problem with the GFCI tripping leaving my freezer unpowered. I've had more instances of the power going off to the whole house than I've had for any of my GFCI's tripping.

 

[Dagny]

You can get a gfci with an alarm.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I will continue to wire the house but thanks for your concern.

GFCIs can trip for all kinds of reasons. You do NOT want a refrigerator or a deep freeze on a GFCI because you WILL eventually have a trip and if you don't catch it in time, you'll have a freezer of wasted food.

Remember, professionals built the Titanic and amateurs built the ark

As Norcal pointed out, if the GFCI trips when an appliance is plugged in, it means theres an issue with the aplliance.

A lot of times it ends up being a broken defroster bulb