24x44 electrical layout recommendations

[jeopardy98]

Long story short is I'm building a 24x44 shop with a 3BR/2BA living area above it. My builder HIGHLY underestimated my needs for lighting in the garage and I had to completely revamp my plans and I'm having to pay the electrician to run the wire/boxes and hang all those lights.

While I'm already adding the expenses I want to make sure I have everything I might need in the future since the shop will be drywalled.

I know I need at least one 240 for my stick welder and down the line I want to put a mini split in for heating and cooling. Should I run two 240's so that I have an extra down the line for the mini split? What about compressors? Will I need another 240 for that? I also plan to put in a Max Jax when I can get some money but I think they run off 120.

Also I'm curious at what height I should have my outlets for best access and how far I should space them. I want to make sure I have plenty of outlets. Is there anyone out there that might have a mock up of some wiring plans they have previously used?

Is there anything else I should be considering? I want to make sure I don't overlook anything when I talk to the electrician and have the contract revised. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice you all can provide.

 

[Ray916MN]

My shop is 24x48. I put quads 4' high every 8' around the perimeter. 4 rows of 4' 2 lamp T8 strip fixtures (88 tubes) across the ceiling on 3 switches (zoned left bay, center, right bay) a 240 in the middle of the back wall (compressor) and one at the front corner (welder), 2 boxes in the middle of the ceiling over each bay for GDO or ceiling fan. Screwed up, as I went with jack shaft openers. If your ceiling isn't too tall, I'd plan on ceiling outlets for ceiling mounted extension cord reels. I've got one in front of the workbench area and one near the garage doors. Unless you know where the mini-split is going, I'd just leave an empty slot in the box for it.

Follow the link in my sig to see what it looks like.

 

[jeopardy98]

My shop is 24x48. I put quads 4' high every 8' around the perimeter. 4 rows of 4' 2 lamp T8 strip fixtures (88 tubes) across the ceiling on 3 switches (zoned left bay, center, right bay) a 240 in the middle of the back wall (compressor) and one at the front corner (welder), 2 boxes in the middle of the ceiling over each bay for GDO or ceiling fan. Screwed up, as I went with jack shaft openers. If your ceiling isn't too tall, I'd plan on ceiling outlets for ceiling mounted extension cord reels. I've got one in front of the workbench area and one near the garage doors. Unless you know where the mini-split is going, I'd just leave an empty slot in the box for it.

Follow the link in my sig to see what it looks like.

Awesome! Thanks for the reply!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Will this shop have its own service or is it being fed from another structure.

Also, what is the HP rating of the compressor? The HP rating dictates how its wired!

Your best bet is to have conduit installed. That way in the future if u want to change the wiring around, all u have to do is pull out the old wire and pull in new wire....

 

[jeopardy98]

Will this shop have its own service or is it being fed from another structure.

Also, what is the HP rating of the compressor? The HP rating dictates how its wired!

Your best bet is to have conduit installed. That way in the future if u want to change the wiring around, all u have to do is pull out the old wire and pull in new wire....

The living structure and the garage will be the same building so they will both run off the same meter. I would imagine I will have a separate panel for the garage and the house but I don't know that for sure.

I haven't decided on a compressor but I know over 3HP requires hard wiring. I'm just wondering if I should have the wiring for another 240 outlet run. The conduit idea is great. I hadn't even thought about that but if I have conduit run for each of my boxes I can just pull out and switch what I need. I imagine my receptacles will be wired in series with a GFCI breaker so how would I run the feed from the new 240 to the box if I ever decided to switch one?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I would put in 2 subpanels- one for house one for shop!

What size service are u getting? I wouldnt get less than 200a!

U can extend a circuit by splicing in the existing box and running new wire to the additional added on location!

 

[jeopardy98]

I'm certainly hoping for 2 subpanels.

So are you just suggesting I run a few stretches if empty conduit behind the drywall or just pull the old romex and snake new in and add a breaker in the panel if I ever need to upgrade an outlet? Sorry if I seem ignorant but obviously I am

 

[jeopardy98]

Well I got the quote from the electrician for the lights. An extra 850. I also found out I will only have 1 subpanel but it will be 200 amps. We are going to also run a bit of extra romex behind the drywall to the panel box in case I need another 240 later. Anyone have any suggestions for outlet spacing and height? I was thinking 4' off the floor and every 6'?

 

[bjcouche]

I have a 40x64, so a bit bigger, but I didn't know what I was going to put where, so what I did is have a LOT of outlets installed. Several got blocked by cabinets or other equipment, but oh well. I placed a "quad" box every 8'. Meaning 4 plugs / 2 receptacles. I had then wired so the outlet on the left was on one breaker and the one on the right was on a different breaker. This because in some locations I would want to run two tools, say a router, table saw, and shop vac, etc. simultaneously from the same location and want them on different circuits to prevent overloading them. On the plate of each outlet I have a number label indicating the breaker number each outlet is wired to. IF you know where you are going to install teh big tools, like the welder, air comp, etc. you can guess at the wire sizing now, or just have the electrician install conduit now. Later when you get the welder, you can pull the proper wire. For in wall, conduit I'd recommend ENT (Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing) commonly called "smurf" tube because it's smurf color. It's cheap, easy to install, and bends easy. I don't think it can be left exposed though like EMT. Your electrician might have some suggestions too.

 

[jeopardy98]

I have a 40x64, so a bit bigger, but I didn't know what I was going to put where, so what I did is have a LOT of outlets installed. Several got blocked by cabinets or other equipment, but oh well. I placed a "quad" box every 8'. Meaning 4 plugs / 2 receptacles. I had then wired so the outlet on the left was on one breaker and the one on the right was on a different breaker. This because in some locations I would want to run two tools, say a router, table saw, and shop vac, etc. simultaneously from the same location and want them on different circuits to prevent overloading them. On the plate of each outlet I have a number label indicating the breaker number each outlet is wired to. IF you know where you are going to install teh big tools, like the welder, air comp, etc. you can guess at the wire sizing now, or just have the electrician install conduit now. Later when you get the welder, you can pull the proper wire. For in wall, conduit I'd recommend ENT (Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing) commonly called "smurf" tube because it's smurf color. It's cheap, easy to install, and bends easy. I don't think it can be left exposed though like EMT. Your electrician might have some suggestions too.

Thanks! The builder says he will let me know when it comes time to do the electrical and let me be over there before the work is started so I can clarify all of this with the electrician.

I like the idea of the double boxes with separate breakers so you can use to high amperage pieces at the same time.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I'm certainly hoping for 2 subpanels.

So are you just suggesting I run a few stretches if empty conduit behind the drywall or just pull the old romex and snake new in and add a breaker in the panel if I ever need to upgrade an outlet? Sorry if I seem ignorant but obviously I am

Yes put in conduit where u might want a circuit or where a good spot would be for a circuit. And no to the romex. U wouldnt have an easy time pulling the existing stuff out if it was done properly as NM-b wire is suppose to be stapled every 4 1/2' and within 12" of a box.