Garage Needs More Juice!

[BuickBoy]

Hi all,

I'll admit that the way I installed my three big 7 foot fluorescent lights is very shotty and potentially unsafe. We won't go into detail, but know I did so temporarily until I can get a second circuit ran. They aren't on very often and I'm mindful of them.

My garage is on the complete opposite side of the house from the breaker box. The garage had 3 or 4 duplex outlets, the opener, and a single 65w bulb before I added the bigger lights.

I recently heard that code now calls out that outlets and lights are required to be on separate circuits. Is this true?

I would like to break the lights and opener off of the wall outlet circuit. The wiring isn't the tough part for me, the tough part is getting the wires back to the electrical cabinet without having to break down drywall. Obviously I plan to follow the current wiring to add the new, but I'm not confident that it is accessible without opening walls.

I'm doing this for two reasons. I want to break out the lighting and opener to make it legitimate and safe. Second, I plan to run a compressor, vacuum, or other high draw items off the wall outlets and don't want to be blowing the 15A breaker all the time.

What are my options?


Thank you in advance!

 

[Jagmandave]

I'd run 12 ga wire and use 20 amp receptacles, especially for the compressor or if you want to use a lift or welder in there.

When you ask what your options are, what exactly do you want to know?

It sounds like your garage is attached, if you have a basement and it's unfinished or you can get to the joists, you can simply string new wire from the breaker box to the garage. Do you have capacity in your box to add some more breakers for the new circuits?

We're going to need a lot more info about your situation to give any specific answers....your location helps too, code is different in different parts of the world.

In general, it's a good idea to have the lights separate from other high draw circuits, so if you pop the breaker you can still see.

 

[BuickBoy]

Garage is attached. Box and garage are on the unfinished side of the basement. The box has much room for more circuits.

I'm just unclear how the wires are routed from the garage to the basement. They leave the garage above the man door. The garage is 20x20 and there isn't an entry door to the house. You step on the front porch then immediately into the house.

I will have to take a closer look at the routing. It may be super simple...

I wouldn't know what size breaker and wiring I would need so that's good info.

I didn't know if running a separate meter to the garage was a worthwhile option. I don't think it would be.

 

[bczygan]

Some questions...

Size and layout of garage.

Height of ceiling and ceiling and wall material.

Garage heated and insulated? Will it be? Insulated doors? Type and R value of insulation.

Location and size of windows?

List of all eventual machines and equipment it will have.

What uses and functions will you have? Auto repair? Workshop? Storage?

Then.....Decide on required lighting levels for various areas and layout lights.
Distribute lights on more than one circuit.

Then....Figure out the loads for each piece of machinery and equipment.

Then.....Add at least a couple of 20A power circuits for general power receptacles.

Total the loads and find a breaker panel that will accommodate all the breakers, with a few spares. Make sure the main breaker is adequate for the loads.

Size and install wiring from the sub panel to the main panel, sized properly and install a matching breaker in the main panel.

 

[James-W]

I would run a heavy gauge wire (the wire gauge would depend on how much power you want in the garage) from the house breaker panel to the garage and have a sub-panel out in the garage.

 

[bczygan]

The above is if you want to plan for future uses.

If you just want to make sure you can separate the lights and power so using a tool won't trip the breaker and leave you in the dark, then just add a circuit from your existing basement panel.

20A and #12 wire for power. Use the existing 15A circuit for lighting. Read up on how many lights or outlets you can put on a circuit and what things need their own circuit.

Bill

 

[Stuart in MN]

It would also help to know where in the world you're located - if you're in the US, tell us what state. Code requirements vary.