Adding circuits in my garage..thoughts

[Sticks McGee]

Here is what I have:

24x24 attached garage. 10' ceiling. Currently the garage is finished. Insulated and drywalled and painted. Standing in the opening for the over head door looking straight back I have one outlet center of the wall. It is at 48" height. To the left is nothing until you get to the corner. To the right the wall runs to the service door that goes out to the back deck. To the right of that is my panel. After the panel about 4' to the corner. The right wall has the door into the house then about 6-8' of wall before a small cabinet/workbench is laid out. In the center of that wall is another outlet. The wall continues to the front wall. The left wall is just wall with one outlet in the center. So I have three outlets. All at 48" height and centered on the walls. The first outlet in the run is GFI (back wall). Originally there were two light bulbs. One in each fixture in the ceiling. Just an incandesant 75 or 100 watt bulbs. I switched those to the large LED version and I really love the light they put out. These are out about 6' from the back wall. I plan two add two more just like them spaced about the same distance from the front wall. Between the current light fixtures and the back wall is a ceiling fan. I thought about putting another one in towards the front. The outlets now are all on one circuit by themselves. The ceiling fan and opener are on a circuit. I have several open spaces in the box and the box is a 200 amp box. The garage will be used by me mainly for small projects (working on my two bikes and some wood working stuff) I currently have nothing that runs on 220 v.

I want to add outlets to the back wall and the left wall. I have attic access and the whole house is romex. I figured I would run up inside the wall from my panel into the attic and then run over and drop down the back wall to my first outlet. From that outlet I would run the wires in the wall at about that 48" height by cutting a strip of drywall all along the back and left walls. I will put at least two outlets on each of those two walls on either side of the existing (the three outlets would be spaced evenly apart allowing staggering of the outlets between the two circuits). I plan to put my compressor in the corner of the back and left wall. It is a 110v compressor but if I ever upgrade I will most likely get a larger 220v two stage. I would like to put and outlet for the 220 near that corner. I figured I would run the wires for that and make sure they are large enough to handle the largest 220 load I would most likely need. I would tuck them into the box and into the panel until I decide down the road what breaker I would need. I know the first outlet of the run needs to be GFI and I plan to run 12/3 wire to heavy duty outlets. One of the first things I do after the electrical is paint so I figured I could cut and patch the drywall.

Does this sound like a sound plan?

thanks

Sticks

 

[matt_i]

240vac needs its own separate square box in my opinion, even if blank-coverplated over until needed. Heavy wires and large receptacle need room to work.

Adding, the mechanical pull on the receptacle and box combo to seat and unseat the plug is pretty large for an "old work box" (blue plastic) attached to drywall only. A Metal box which is side-screwed into a stud would be a better choice imo.

 

[driftpin]

I suggest you have two 220 v outlets so you can run two appliances at once, your to be bought air compressor, and a saw for instance, or a welder. Height of 48" is good for access above any workbench. I spaced my outlets @ 3 ft intervals around all three sides and two duplex outlets between the single OH doors. I actually have three 220 v outlets inside the garage and still have a bit of space in the 200 amp branch panel. I also added a 220 v plug off the main outside panel which the electric meter is off-of. It's a 2 car garage.

 

[Sticks McGee]

240vac needs its own separate square box in my opinion, even if blank-coverplated over until needed. Heavy wires and large receptacle need room to work.

Adding, the mechanical pull on the receptacle and box combo to seat and unseat the plug is pretty large for an "old work box" (blue plastic) attached to drywall only. A Metal box which is side-screwed into a stud would be a better choice imo.

Yes the 220 will have its own box. Since I am opening up the drywall I'm going to use metal boxes that will be attached to studs.

Thanks.

 

[Sticks McGee]

I suggest you have two 220 v outlets so you can run two appliances at once, your to be bought air compressor, and a saw for instance, or a welder. Height of 48" is good for access above any workbench. I spaced my outlets @ 3 ft intervals around all three sides and two duplex outlets between the single OH doors. I actually have three 220 v outlets inside the garage and still have a bit of space in the 200 amp branch panel. I also added a 220 v plug off the main outside panel which the electric meter is off-of. It's a 2 car garage.

Good suggestions. What size wire should I use?

 

[pattenp]

If running Romex, why 12/3? Are you doing multiwire branch circuits. And what do yo mean by heavy duty outlets?

 

[Sticks McGee]

I am going to get the outlets that have screw posts on the sides versus the push in style. Sorry. I meant 12/2 not 12/3.

 

[pattenp]

I like the commercial grade receptacles with the side clamping screw back connections. You don't have to hook the wire around the screw.