danwolfgang
Well-known member
We bought a house three months ago and it's got a huge basement that I can turn into a shop space, so here's part one of that journey.
First problem: six bare-bulb lights in the whole basement made for very dark conditions. Second problem: exactly *one* outlet in the entire basement (for the washer). There's a light switch on the west end of the basement (by the door) but that only controls the light in that corner. There's another light switch at the top of the basement stairs, but that only controls one light in the other corner.
I focused on the north side of the basement and put up a total of 12 four-foot fluorescent fixtures, and installed three-way switches in the two existing light switch locations, so now we can turn all the lights on/off from either spot. (Who would have thought, that is useful!?) I got the breaker for the lights installed last week and saw them working, and it's a great improvement.
I also added two new 20-amp circuits for outlets in the basement. I've mapped out a total of 22 outlets (11 on each circuit), but currently only have 8 of them wired and powered. I used white outlets for one circuit and almond (or ivory?) for the other circuit, so I can plug the miter saw into one and the shop vac into the other (or whatever high-drain device) and not have trouble with tripping circuits. The outlets are (mostly) on the ceiling -- a stretch to reach, but a lot faster and easier to get installed than needing to frame in walls, and I'm nervous about drilling into concrete to hold conduit.
Some before and after photos below. I've got a few sheets of pegboard to get up to bring more organization. After the remaining outlets are wired I'll get on that.
First problem: six bare-bulb lights in the whole basement made for very dark conditions. Second problem: exactly *one* outlet in the entire basement (for the washer). There's a light switch on the west end of the basement (by the door) but that only controls the light in that corner. There's another light switch at the top of the basement stairs, but that only controls one light in the other corner.
I focused on the north side of the basement and put up a total of 12 four-foot fluorescent fixtures, and installed three-way switches in the two existing light switch locations, so now we can turn all the lights on/off from either spot. (Who would have thought, that is useful!?) I got the breaker for the lights installed last week and saw them working, and it's a great improvement.
I also added two new 20-amp circuits for outlets in the basement. I've mapped out a total of 22 outlets (11 on each circuit), but currently only have 8 of them wired and powered. I used white outlets for one circuit and almond (or ivory?) for the other circuit, so I can plug the miter saw into one and the shop vac into the other (or whatever high-drain device) and not have trouble with tripping circuits. The outlets are (mostly) on the ceiling -- a stretch to reach, but a lot faster and easier to get installed than needing to frame in walls, and I'm nervous about drilling into concrete to hold conduit.
Some before and after photos below. I've got a few sheets of pegboard to get up to bring more organization. After the remaining outlets are wired I'll get on that.
