Detached garage and outlets for openers.

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I have just built a 1000sf, four car garage/race shop with three doors for vehicles; one 16x8 and two 8x8.

I have a Liftmaster 8500 installed on the large door and plan on putting 8500's on the other two down the road.

What are the requirements for garage opener outlets according to the NEC?

1. Can I put all three garage door outlets on the same circuit?

2. Do the outlets have to be GFCI protected? They will be high off the floor.

3. Can any other outlets be on the same circuit as the openers?

Thanks!

 

[xyster101]

I'm not an electrician but considering building grade homes have one circuit in the whole garage, I don't see why you can't put them all on the same circuit. I would still do the GFCI on the outlets. Only need the first one to be that and it will protect them all.
I would put more then one circuit in your garage. You can definitely add more outlets on the garage circuit but I would not run a compressor or saw at the same time the door is opening. I have 4 outlet circuits in my 1200sq/ft garage. More circuits=less stress on the circuits.

 

[dw1]

I have just built a 1000sf, four car garage/race shop with three doors for vehicles; one 16x8 and two 8x8.

I have a Liftmaster 8500 installed on the large door and plan on putting 8500's on the other two down the road.

What are the requirements for garage opener outlets according to the NEC?

1. Can I put all three garage door outlets on the same circuit?

2. Do the outlets have to be GFCI protected? They will be high off the floor.

3. Can any other outlets be on the same circuit as the openers?

Thanks!

I just installed my LF8500 on one of my PB doors today. They draw 1.0 amps, so "Yes" it can be on a shared circuit, I actually fed a GFI outlet and then fed three more receptacles off of it, one of them being the LF8500 up on the trusses. They need to be GFI protected, you can put all three on the same circuit, If you were to run a circuit to a GFI outlet (Line side), then run the load side to feed the other garage doors, make sure you put the GFI where it is accessible (You can reach it)

 

[Mustang51js]

I never put garage doors on gfi's,but that's just me.

 

[Norcal]

I never put garage doors on gfi's,but that's just me.

Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to the requirement for GFCI's in a garage anymore, whether you or I like it or not.

 

[LB-1911]

I thought the question sounded familiar -

Stuart what do you conclude? Thanks!

This is a detached accessory building, not an attached garage. I should have said that from the beginning ... my mistake.

What I would like to do is have a 20amp dedicated circuit for the three garage door openers with one GFCI outlet at waist level so it is easy to reset. The only thing on the 20amp circuit would be the GFCI outlet, three Liftmaster 8500 openers, and the associated three lights.

Would that configuration meet the current NEC?

That's not how I read it.

The last sentence in G) talks about separate receptacles but doesn't say anything about separate circuits. However, if that's the way your local inspector interprets the paragraph, then you're stuck either fighting them about it or providing a separate circuit.

I did look up the Liftmaster 8500 owner's manual, and as Blk88GT said they are listed as only using 1 amp - it's on page 4: https://www.liftmaster.com/CatalogResourcesV3/en-us/shared/files/tucmanuals/114A4565.pdf

I build new homes in MD. Our electrician installs a single GFI in the attached garage. This GFI feeds the two overhead lights and the two outlets for each future garage door opener.

 

[Mustang51js]

Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to the requirement for GFCI's in a garage anymore, whether you or I like it or not.

I will just keep doing the way I've been until told otherwise. I've always been told they are not readily accessible,so don't need a gfi. I also don't put them on with anything else.

 

[dw1]

I will just keep doing the way I've been until told otherwise. I've always been told they are not readily accessible,so don't need a gfi. I also don't put them on with anything else.

Just feed the GFI with a circuit, have it down low (Accessible) run the load side up to you garage doors, you can have these on the same circuit. It is enforced around here that garage/pole barn receptacles have GFI protection.
The LM8500 draws 1 amp.

 

[pattenp]

You can hardwire the LM8500 openers on their own circuit without GFCI.

 

[dw1]

You can hardwire the LM8500 openers on their own circuit without GFCI.

Yes, but you still need a receptacle close by to plug the remote light in, I think it had about a 5' cord on it.

 

[pattenp]

Yes, but you still need a receptacle close by to plug the remote light in, I think it had about a 5' cord on it.

Close by what? A receptacle for the remote light (if used) does not need to be close by the opener if that's what you're suggesting. The receptacle used for the light can be where ever you want. You can mount the light on a wall above a wall outlet if you want to.

I'm just pointing out that the opener can be hardwired without GFCI.

 

[dw1]

Yes, I know it can be hardwired and not be GFI protected, I was just making a statement about the light. I actually put my light between my O.H. Door and the man door (So I can see to turn all the lights on, if needed). I still need to set my limits (I am still waiting for the power company to tie in my service to my pole barn, they said up to 8 weeks?? The 8500 looks like a pretty good opener, I just wanted to try it out before I put one on my second door.