Help me plan my electrical and lightning for the motorcycle shop

[brijesh600]

We are finally building our “forever home” and our house is currently getting built as we speak. We will have 2 two car garages, the one shown in the pic will be my garage for my motorcycles. I can safel say at any point of time I will probably have about 3 bikes in there. Having said that, I am trying to figure out the lighting set up, best locations for outlets , I want to have atleast three 220 outlets for compressor, welder and an additional one for any other pur pose and as many 110 as possible. I have a shop table that I built in my previous house which I hope to use here, which is about 5’ long x 3’deep ( I will have to remeasure that to make sure) trying to figure out what would be the best way to lay out the floor and provision for the outlets. I have taken several pointers from other shop layouts here. Any more pointers for me?

 

[DynoDave]

My electrical is still in the planning stages, too. I have drawn in special considerations for lighting in the attic, exterior lighting, exterior outlets, an emergency exit light above the door, switched outlets for overhead door openers, at least one 20A 110V outlet for a vacuum I have, 220s as you mentioned, and an outlet in the ceiling for a lift and drop light. Perhaps a few others I'm not recalling at the moment.

 

[ronr80]

When I did mine I wired all the outlets 3 feet from the floor , so you don't have to reach behind benches or desk to plug something in, I have 2 220 outlets that I share with a hoist,compressor and 2 stick welders, furnace , the idea was that the furnace is seasonal and the welders are not used that often, even the hoist once the car is up , I put outlets about every 5 feet and 2 of them are 20amps circuit for a small mig welder, pressure washer. Ron

 

[dirttracker18]

All of my recepticles are 20 amp and I wired them with 3 wire so that every second recept is on a different circuit. So outlet 1 is on circuit one, outlet 2 is on circuit 2 outlet 23 is back on circuit 1, etc. This means I can run a couple of heavy draw tools close to each other without popping a breaker, especially at 20 amps. The extra cost was minimal. This was suggested by my electrician buddies. Mine are at 4 feet to clear everything and have easy access. Seemed to be a good idea without any drawbacks so I ran with it. I ran two plugs in my ceiling, one where my opener would be and another thrid down the way. I also set up for two ceiling fans with a speed controller at my switches. I have two sets of switched lgiths where I thought I might have a work bench and a another work area for extra lighting. Finally I wired up a switched outlet up high at the back for an exhaust fan.

As for your 220 circuits, plan well ahead for where your equipment will be and drop one on each wall for your welder. I only have two and now wish I had run more.

I also ran a 30 amp RV outlet to the exterior of my garage and one inside (we have a travel trailer and visitors with one can now plug in) and I wish I had run an outdoor 220 plug.

In addition I ran soffit lights on every side of my garage on seperate switches. I can not go outside all around my shop at night and have good lighting anywhere I need it. Each box has two flood lights on it for good lighting in all directions with the front one being a security light. I love this idea and have used these lights many times now for varying reasons.

Also outside, each side has an outlet at the center, just in case. Using long extention cords ***** and most cannot draw well when demand is high. Also a good idea, I actually needed power once at the back of my garage and didnt have to run a cord all the way around!

Interior lights, I went with overkill but have no shadows anywhere. I have 20 double T8 lights with every second row on another switch. Rows 1 3 and 5 are on one switch and 2 and 4 are on the other. seemed like a good idea at the time but I have found little use for only turing on one set.

 

[brijesh600]

wow dirttracker, that is really well thought out! thankyou for all the pointers guys, you have defintley sold me on adding some 20amp switches and i might also do the other switches at 4feet. I know i will end up with a lot of stuff lying around on the floor and it will be easy to get to the switches at that height!
I tihnk the biggest problem i have right now is that there is a wish list of tools (just live everyone else on here ) but for certain i will have a motorcycle lift bench, an air compressor and a little down the lane, a TIG welder. the problem is planning this out with out them is proving to be a hassle (or an excuse). I am also contemplating if the compressor should go outside, or in the second garage and just have it plumbed to my garage? decisions! decisions! can you guys post some pics of your light layout on this thread too if you can?

 

[911mike]

I agree about the dual circuits. I did that and it works out really nice. Why would you even think about a 15 amp circuit in a shop? 20 amp of every thing!!!! I would also suggest a table designated to dirty work. I have a engine tear down table with a drain built into it and then a nice stainless counter area for clean assembly. This way you don't have to clean up from one operation to the next. It's not uncommon for me to have a motor all torn down in pieces waiting for parts and I can just leave it and work on the teardown bench.

Install lots of light, air line drops everywhere, if you plan on a lift most require air so a drop from the ceiling over the lift is nice. I have a air gun on mine and use it all the time.

Good luck

 

[Jinks]

You'll never get it right the first time, it's a law of nature. But a lot of planning can go a long way. I put in lots of cabinetry so I'd have clean storage. The wall cabinets over the bench get in the way of tall work projects, I had to build a moveable work bench to solve that. A problem that turned into a good solution.

All my outlets are at three feet, a very convenient height. I did manage to plan where the compressor would sit & where a couple of the bikes would sit. In those areas I put in two gang outlets. Battery tenders, transformers, etc. for things that don't move take up outlets in locations that you use often. Having 4 or more outlets available in high use areas makes life easier.

Wire for ceiling fans! While you're at it plan for heat/air. I used a mini-split & had to come up with a solution for running the lines after the shop was completed. It worked out, but could have been simpler. Consider setting the compressor outside & wiring the switch & drain inside. It'll be quieter & you don't have to go outside to start/stop it.

Good luck, have fun & keep us in the loop as your build goes forward.

 

[tylernt]

Put a 40-space, 100A sub-panel in your garage! Having a sub-panel means you can add things in the future FAR more easily than running wires back to your main house panel, which is going to be jam-packed.

Another thing to consider is using surface-mounted conduit for all of the garage electrical. Ugly? Yes. But it's a garage, who cares? Surface-mount is so much easier to change and expand down the road.

 

[CNGsaves]

Put a 40-space, 100A sub-panel in your garage! Having a sub-panel means you can add things in the future FAR more easily than running wires back to your main house panel, which is going to be jam-packed.

Another thing to consider is using surface-mounted conduit for all of the garage electrical. Ugly? Yes. But it's a garage, who cares? Surface-mount is so much easier to change and expand down the road.

No way in HELL would I want surface mounted electrical in brand new garage that is still in planning stages !!!

Plan out where you will want stuff, and do it right installing in wall. Lots of great garages here on GJ for you to follow as example. If you're in super cold environment, see the Canada install where they even put air infiltration bags around each electrical box to prevent air losses. Saw a recent home improvement show where they used adhesive glue on all studs behind sheetrock to further air-seal the wall and cut down on number of sheetrock screws needed.

Agree with the oversize panel for future expansion. Along those lines, I would install OSB on that section of wall so it can be removed later if needed. Also good idea to leave extra conduit pre-installed up through top plate so you can easily pull new wires into the attic (ie plan ahead for future expansion of lighting, etc).

Good luck with planning, and have fun building it how you want it. Later, of course we'll need pics!!

 

[tylernt]

No way in HELL would I want surface mounted electrical in brand new garage that is still in planning stages !!!

LOL. I guess 'garage' means different things to different people. For me, it's function over form.

Also good idea to leave extra conduit pre-installed up through top plate

Yes but make sure your electrician follows code. With a few exceptions, Romex is not allowed to be run in conduit. You can do it, but with a lot of specific restrictions.

 

[brijesh600]

here is what i am thinking for the layout of outlets.. what do you guys think?

 

[brijesh600]

thinking about going with the griliots garage 6 tube, 4' light fixture (big purple rectangles) which will go over the work table on the top right side and over a welding table on the top left side, the orange rectangle light fixture is where i hope to have a bike lift, the air compressor will sit in the main garage next to the stairs, (sorry cant put it outside, my HOA wont permit that!) figured i could run hard lines to the bike shop and flex line if i need it for simple duties in the main garage.


thoughts for the bigger garage (i know i should have gone 24' deep) but we are already over stretching our budget so that was not an option. do you think i should run the lighting horizontally (as in the picture) or vertically?

 

[tylernt]

I'd change those 15A outlets to all be 20A.

Will you be conditioning the garage (heating or cooling)? Code won't let you use the house HVAC system for that -- garage has to be separate. Consider where you might put a mini-split or through-the-wall A/C / heat pump or natural gas heater etc. Be aware that many of those options require a dedicated 240V outlet.

If your 240V receptacle is for an air compressor, consider if you want to take up welding. You'll need another receptacle for a welder.

I'd add receptacles to either side of the garage roll-up door.

And at every outlet location, I'd put two duplex (i.e., "quad") receptacles.

If this is your "forever" home, you don't want to be forever wishing you'd installed more receptacles.

 

[brijesh600]

i dont plan on conditioning the garage, Gerorgia heat doesnt bother me, even if it does a fan is all i need, i mostly work on my projects later at night anyways. And it hardly gets cold enough that i would need a heater (i made do with a keorsene heater through some cold kansas winters before) . i plan on each of the 220v outlets in the garage to be dedicated lines, woldnt that take care of the welder/aircompressor issue? Sorry my understanding on the electrical needs are very elementary so please pardon my stupid questions.
what is the advantage of runing 20A in all the outlets? Woldnt that be overkill. i have really been able to get by just fine with 15A outelts till now, the only reason i am even considering a couple of 20A was a "just in case" situation.

 

[tylernt]

Ah I see what's going on here. The room labeled "gameroom" is for your motorcycles, and the "garage" is just for parking cars? I was just looking at the garage and ignoring the gameroom, but now I see that was a mistake.

Ok, yeah, your "gameroom" has plenty of power. Forget most of what I said then.

 

[brijesh600]

Ah I see what's going on here. The room labeled "gameroom" is for your motorcycles, and the "garage" is just for parking cars? I was just looking at the garage and ignoring the gameroom, but now I see that was a mistake.

Ok, yeah, your "gameroom" has plenty of power. Forget most of what I said then.

lol! yeah the builder wanted to label it game room for some reason, when really the whole excerise was so i have my dedicated bike space, no non-bike related items are allowed in here.. lol!

 

[DCarr]

I put an duplex outlet every 32" with every 5th one a quad and each of those runs on its own circuit. Mine are about 42" off the ground, just above work bench height.

 

[Lkdelta]

I put a couple of stacked duplex recepticles instead of the 4 in a box.

Lots of things in a garage getting plugged in have the plugs too big to all fit in that small an area.

Top to bottom,
The flourescent light above the garage door that's only effective when door is shut
The cordless phone base
110 V air compressor
A flourescent "cool drop light"

And I have plenty of bike related activities going on in here too

 

[brijesh600]

talk to me about amperage for the 220volts needed for the TIG welder? what would i run? is 60amps enough, or should i go higher?

 

[Motofixxer]

Additional switched outlets in the ceiling allow you to flip on any kind of lighting you can think of plugging in. Also helpful are switched outlets high on the wall for your wall art, neon signs, stereos etc


I would recommend 20a receptacles also. Many modern saws and compressors etc pull a steady 13-14a. That's way too much for an average load in the long run. I can't stand seeing dimming lights when I turn something on.

Also run a gas line, 240v circuit and a 120v receptacle to a location for heat/ a/c. You never know when you will change your mind and want it. Or a buddy says here I don't use this shop heater anymore or found at a garage sale etc. Run a line for a Tstat in a central location.

Run some coax for tv/sat and multiple cat6 runs to be used for phone/data/security sensors and cameras. Make home runs from your source in house etc to a location in garage. Mine for example terminate in a tall cabinet. Then make runs from that point to the flat panel TV location. Wire for some in wall/ceiling speakers.

Even if you don't plan on using all of the stuff. You still have it in the wall and ready if you need it. It's much quicker and easier to wire now and prep it then to add it later.

Run wiring for the overhead door sensors and buttons. Also for the deadbolt use on Liftmaster 3800.

Be sure to label wiring you run to make it easier later.

If you need more exact info or suggestions let me know.

 

[larry_g]

For my shop I put switched outlets near where I thought the lights should be. Gives the flexablilty to move the lights some and add a second fixture near the outlet as changes dictate. Also consider having outlets on the front of the workbench.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[brijesh600]

So i got my sticker shock yesterday after the builder came back with the quotes from the electrician,
1) $75.00 Dedicated circuit for Garage Freezer

2) $350.00 Wiring for welder

3) $150.00 Install 5 Extra lights in 2 garages

4) $450.00 Wire for 2 air compressors

5) $150.00 One circuit for 2 ceiling receptacles

6) $375.00 3 Circuits with 3 receptacle on each one

7) $200.00 2 Circuits for 2 20amp 110 outlets

8) $150.00 1 Circuit for 4 extra receptacles in garage

9) $292.00 Service cable to run from power meter to panel box to accommodate extra electrical service

$2192!!!!
some of them seemed excessive, but he gave me a quote in the afternoon and he told me they were pulling wiring right then.. so it was not like i had a choice to change anything or tell him to hold off on any of the outlets, so the deed is done. thankfully the wife is very supportive and wants me to have the garage that i want (love that woman!) we might have to try to stay within budget on the rest of the house as far as upgrades go..