Clueless to wired garage

[mkelee]

Hello All,
These are really cool forums full of good stuff!

I have just bought a Condo That was built in 1992.

The garages are housed 4 to a building.
Each garage has 2 lights, 1 light switch, 2 wall outlets and one ceiling outlet for the garage door opener. On the outside of this building the are 4 lights and one GFCI outlet.

I am at one end of the garages and a panel with a a/c style direct pull disconnect is at the other end. Pull the disconnect and there are three 20 amp fuses on the end of it.

The garage owner at the end with the panel will not let me look at the wiring in his garage. the two in between his and mine seem to be wired the same.

On the side of my garage that is connected to my neighbor, I have 4 romex 12/2 lines coming in.

1 line goes to the outside light
1 line goes to the 1st wall outlet
1 line goes to the light switch( note there is only one line hooked up in the switch box but at the top of the wall there is another romex line coming out and going to the first light)
1 line goes to the first light.

at the first light:
1 romex from the hole in the wall
1 romex from the light switch (?)
1 romex going to the ceiling outlet
1 romex going to the 2nd light

next in the line: the ceiling outlet( for the garage door opener)
1 romex coming in from the 1st light
1 romex going out to the 2nd light

at the 2nd light:
1 romex coming in from the 2nd light
1 romex from the ceiling outlet.

the 2nd wall outlet is on the back wall and is drywalled up I cannot find where the romex is coming from , not the ceiling,

the fall wall that is not connected to a neighbor is where I am putting a work bench. I am installing to outlets and a light switch.
I am installing 4 flourescent lights ( 3 bulbs each ) in the ceiling.
I want to operate the left and right side of the garage lighting seperately.

I just do not know what is on what circuit.
Could all the outlets on the back wall be on a circuit and all the lights and the ceiling outlet be on a circuit and the outside lights on a circuit?

Any Ideas???
Thank You,

 

[FordsnFishin]

A few photos my help visualize it a bit better. But you say you're wanting to add two receptacles and a switch? You plan on cutting these boxes into the wall, and ripping out the drywall where needed? Or are you planning on running conduit? Whats your thoughts?

You say your panel has 3-20 amp breakers already in it. If you plan on just putting in your typical 4' shop lights you should have no problem putting all the lighting load on one breaker.

You can pretty easily trace down what is on what circuit by just flipping the breaker and seeing what shuts off. Use a voltage tester or multi meter and test what receptacles are being turned off.

What do you plan on putting in the garage? Compresser, saws...ect?

Figure out what circuits going to what and what your plans on the garage are and we can help suit what you need better.

 

[CoopVA]

Are you saying that the panel that feeds all 4 garages is in someone else's garage? Does each garage have it's own disconnect?


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[mkelee]

There is just the one disconect with the 3 20 amp breakers for all of the garages. All of the garages uses the same power. no sub panels or breakers.

 

[FordsnFishin]

Eeeekkk, the panel in your garage is feeding everyones garage? Is there any unused spots in the panel left? Sounds like you have just one 20 amp circuit feeding your whole setup? Going to be stretched pretty tight.

 

[CoopVA]

I think he said the panel was in the garage at the other end... Man, you are basically screwed... I wonder if you are even "allowed" to make any changes to the electrical in the garage or even in your condo for that matter... things get real fuzzy in multi family dwellings. Is this garage in a separate building from the condos?

What you probably have going on there is one circuit for the lights, one for the outlets and one for the openers... but then again, from what you're saying, it could be any combination of that
Wow, three circuits for four garages, someone definitely took the easy way out on this one.

 

[JoeFin]

I think you better check the CRCs governing your Townhome

You could be opening up a legal can of worms that could even cost you your property. There is most likely a "Home Owners Association" you are legally bound to the decisions there of. Mostly likely governed by a board of Old Fart Cronies that have been in the Town Homes since they were first built. You would need their blessing on any thing you want to do to that garage.

Additionally the electric meter for the garage is paid from the CRC dues which creates yet another hornet's nest of **** for this situation

 

[nehog]

Uh, who's paying for this shared power? If not you, invest in a rechargable car!!!