basic garage circuit questions

[redline9k]

moved into a new house and there are no garage wall outlets and only a ceiling outlet for garage door opener/single light bulb.

I have 1 20A breaker open in the panel that i was going to run to the garage for outlets. I mapped the overhead circuit to find its only lightly loaded so im going to put 4-6 T8 fixtures on that branch to handle lighting.

Anyway, am I shooting myself in the foot by only running a single 20A line for 4-6 outlets to the garage at this point? All i have to max it out is a miter saw and hand power tools (router, circ saw, jig saw, etc) and a small compressor.

I imagine once I finally get my table saw, etc, ill have to run a dedicated 240v line or subpanel anyway, so at this point, thinking I might be ok with this single 20a outlet branch for now....

I have a few options if this is consistently going to be triping, but of course, more work, more money, less workshop buildling...

 

[redline9k]

i think i answered my own question...

miter saw = 15A@120v
shop vac = 10A@120v

that should trip one 20A circuit...oh well, ill put two in for now.

 

[Sokoloff]

Is this attached or detached? If it's detached, I don't think you are ALLOWED (by NEC) to run 2 20 A circuits. You have to run a subpanel at that point. (The feed from the main building to the garage must be a single circuit, though that circuit can be 240V and sized to feed a subpanel if you want.)

 

[redline9k]

attached...

 

[kbs2244]

You may be required to make it GFI.

 

[redline9k]

yes, is necessary by NEC for garage-type structures.

 

[Nostraquedeo]

Of course it is always best to have more circuits. However, keep in mind that you can most likely only use one, maybe two tools at a time. Having additional locations will be handy and possibly serve your needs.

 

[juicegoose]

My opinion would be to run a sub panel to the garage instead of simply running the single 20A circuit. This way you'll be able to run anything else in the future. Another good idea for your circuit problem (if you install a sub panel) is to run all your circuits in 12-3. Running 12-3 to each receptacle and using say the black wire for the top receptacle and the red for the bottom will give you two seperate circuits at each duplex receptacle box. Just make sure of two things.
1. That you isolate each receptacle from the other in the duplex box. Basically the receptacle has a little tab that binds the top and bottom to one another. you'll want to snap this bond essentially making each the top plug sepearte from the bottom.
2. Make sure that in your sub panel you put the red receptacle wire to it's own 20 amp breaker and the same with the black. Don't ask I've seen it done wrong.

Doing this will eliminate the need to plug in that miter saw on another duplex receptacle across the room or down the wall.

 

[Rickster55]

Please........please......don't ask which way to install the outlets!!!

 

[jvitez]

i think i answered my own question...

miter saw = 15A@120v
shop vac = 10A@120v

that should trip one 20A circuit...oh well, ill put two in for now.

Always a good idea to have lighting on a different circuit than receptacles. If you overload a receptacle circuit (eg. table saw+ electric heater), you're not left in the dark holding a piece of wood in a still spinning blade if your lights are on the same circuit.

FWIW, I'm planning on a subpanel for my garage. A bit more work and minor expense upfront, but easier to add circuits later, and then I can just work in the garage without having to shut power off to the whole house.

 

[dirt t]

There are breakers available that put 2 brakers in the same space as one regular breaker.
check at your local big box builders supply.

 

[dan76]

Gotta ask......is this a newly constructed house or a "new to you" house" I ask since it's a requirement to wire a attached garage for wall outlets. However I'm open to input if I'm recalling incorrectly as I haven't yet opened the book to check.