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30x60 Auto Hobby Electrical Tips/Ideas

pgoldston

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2008
Messages
23
I am about to have a metal 30x60 Auto Hobby shop built on my property. I am just wondering if anyone has any tips or ideas they wish they thought of prior to finishing their electrical stuff.

Right now I have the following ideas:
Outlets every 6 feet around the shop
(4) 220v outlets (Compressor, Welding station, Lift, Dyno)
Required Lighting

I feel like this is to easy and I am forgetting something. Thanks for the help.
 
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ard

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Feb 16, 2015
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4,391
Location
Sierra Foothills... California
LOL...my thought as well.

OP- is this going to be in surface mount EMT? If so, less concern about 'future proofing'...can easily add.

Any need for power in the 'middles'? Overhead drops, etc?
 

Milton Shaw

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Joined
Feb 11, 2011
Messages
4,835
Put up some drop light reels and maybe a drop cord w/12 gauge for 20 amp. You will need a battery charger sometime in the middle of the shop and extension cords really do get in the way and become drip hazards. Also some outlets outside the shop big door as you in a years time will have it to full to pull in a car for a quick charge. In a 30c60 you will need several drop cords from ceiling.
 

matt_i

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Mar 14, 2008
Messages
10,724
Location
SE Michigan
Outside outlets are a nice idea when you want to do something dusty like cutting a piece of plywood outdoors. Also nice if you store/park cars outside with a battery minder hooked up.

I pre-wired for external lights as well, two flood light/yard light for the "corners" and already have the under-soffit lights.

A friend had a remote metal building and had great big halogen floodlights for the parking lot, these were also on motion sensors. Problem is the dirtbags who eventually came around either broke out the lights with rocks or BBs. It probably could have used a lexan lens or outer protector...

As far as low voltage, I have plans in place for Cat 5, RG6U, 2 conductor for alarm system to each door. Garage door sensors, outlet up high on the sidewall for future jack-shaft opener, outlet up high in the center-ceiling for future traditional chain-style door opener (just wanted flexibility).

I wired the lights as devices which plug into overhead outlets. In case a new technology comes out or my existing lights go belly up I can change them out relatively quickly. Also I wired the lights to 2 switches, each turns on half of the lights. Everything that is switched is wired to 3-way switches so I can do whatever I need from either door. I have wiring in place for a ceiling fan as well. It has all its own switching thru the remote control, not sure if I'll regret that down the road (not switching that circuit)
 

kd3pc

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Joined
Aug 10, 2013
Messages
3,630
Location
Northern Neck
I had at least one outside electrical outlet and one air outlet on each side.

Similarly I added an antenna connection and a 4x4" blank panel to bring solar panel wiring in to the garage, should have done these on the build.
 
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Toomanytools?

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Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Messages
855
Location
Washington
Run some PVC conduit under the slab from where the panel will be to other side or front of shop, makes running wire easier. Nice to have those outlets at 48" for ease of access but also run a few lower 12".
 

cory58

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Dec 23, 2015
Messages
234
Location
Charlotte, NC
Run some PVC conduit under the slab from where the panel will be to other side or front of shop, makes running wire easier.

Great idea. I will add to that - try to bring the main service into the building in the area of main use/consumption. I'm building a 30x50 shop, and brought the 200 amp service in at the closest reasonable point to the utility service.

My main use (lift, compressor, other shop equipment, main air conditioning) will all be on the other side of the shop. I just spent $650+ in materials to run 60' of 1.5" EMT with 100 amp circuit to a sub-panel on the other side of the garage.

Cory
 

Aceman

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Jan 28, 2007
Messages
2,513
Location
Eastern Oregon
Bury pvc underground and stubup at outlet locations. Install subpanel(s) where you'll have equipment in one area.
 

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mrVanagon

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Joined
Jul 21, 2015
Messages
105
Location
Belleville, IL, USA
I'd suggest adding extra 240 outlets. For future-proofing, seems reasonable to plan for electric car charging. This could also allow use of your heavy consumers in places you might not expect to need them- eg. welding on the other end of the shop, etc.
 

Bill_b

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Joined
Nov 23, 2012
Messages
16
When you wire the outlets do every other on a different breaker. It'll be more wire but then you don't have to worry as much about overloading a circuit running equipment
 
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