How many electrical outlets do you have

[ekimneirbo]

When I built my shop, I took quite a bit of ribbing because of all the outlets I installed. Basically I put outlets on "almost" every stud about 4' off the floor.
I didn't care if I ended up with a cabinet in front of some outlets, only that I had an outlet available close to any place I ever needed one.

It has worked out well for my needs........

If you install your own wiring, the cost of doing such a thing is minimal and takes a couple days of spare time. I continually try to tell people that they will have a much more efficient shop if they put plenty of outlets in. Its much harder to add them later.

So, How many people out there wish they had more outlets now that their shop is built?

 

[ItsNemo]

Every stud? on 16" centers? That's excessive...and you do need to be mindful of code requirements depending on how many circuits you put them on.

Every 4-6 feet is plenty.

In my attached 2 car garage I have 2 singles on the left wall, 2 singles on the right wall, 2 double's on the back wall, and 2 more singles, one of which is 20amp instead of the standard 15 amp, at the sub panel on the back wall. Plus the heater has it's own circuit, the lights have their own circuit, and also have a welder outlet at the panel. There's also another circuit not off the sub panel (from the main panel in the basement) that does one set of lights, the opener, and one more outlet on the left wall...this way if I need to do work in the sub panel I still have power in the garage for some lights/tools.

 

[yeldogt]

I like to use Wiremould or the Hubell strips for the 110v around the benches. Nice to have outlets near the doors. Strategic works well for me .. I don't plug much in any more.

 

[kbs2244]

I think residential code is no more than 10 feet in between outlets.
Since EMT comes in 10-foot sticks that is easy.

 

[u2slow]

I could not wrap my head around how to use the space in my shop effectively at the design stage. Nor could I afford to wire it to the teeth. My 20x37' shop got built to lockup without power; except for a home-made 2-circuit extension cord from the main house.

As I started moving into the shop and using the space I have added what I want, where I want, (temporary if I like.) All surface mounted. Shooting toward EMT as much as I can, but some AC and NMD with be unavoidable.

Still not finished... but I currently have 60amps to the shop. Four 240v/20A receptacles (compressor, welders, and 2-post lift.) Four 120v/15A. Two 120v/20A. Also a couple extension cords with built-in tri-taps that I move around, and to reach outside.

 

[bob15]

I'd be curious as what it looks like, with all those outlets. Have any pictures?

 

[BigGarage]

When I built my shop, I took quite a bit of ribbing because of all the outlets I installed. Basically I put outlets on "almost" every stud about 4' off the floor.
I didn't care if I ended up with a cabinet in front of some outlets, only that I had an outlet available close to any place I ever needed one.

It has worked out well for my needs........

If you install your own wiring, the cost of doing such a thing is minimal and takes a couple days of spare time. I continually try to tell people that they will have a much more efficient shop if they put plenty of outlets in. Its much harder to add them later.

So, How many people out there wish they had more outlets now that their shop is built?

I just went out and counted. I have 20 dual outlets around 3 walls plus 2 duals in-between the roll-up doors for a retractable extension cord giving me 44 places to plug things in. I have used every one of them in the last several years.

I also have one dual outlet on the ceiling for the garage door opener.

You cannot have too many outlets. Do the work once and you'll be happy forever.

Dennis

 

[burlybrute]

When I wired my garage, I put a outlet about every 4 feet. Plus 3 50A outlets for my welder. Its nice having a welder outlet at every corner. I also put a couple outlets up high on the wall that are switched. So I can plug in lighted signs or whatever else. Where my work bench went I put round boxes on the wall so I could have a dedicated light source directly above where I'm working.

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[Stuart in MN]

I mounted them every 10 feet, plus a couple doubles over the workbench. It's worked fine for me. Having more of them is fine, but unless the things you're plugging in have really short power cords I don't see the need.

 

[Nlped]

36’x46’x14’ shop. I did 2 double outlets (on separate circuits) every 8’. Just in case I had 2 big draw 110 tools going at the same time. Then I also have 2 30’ extension cord reels with 3 plugs hanging from the ceiling. One by the lifts & one near the main drive-in door & man door. Then I also have 2 LED droplight reels by them that also have a single plug. I think I have 78 110 plugs total and a bunch of separate circuits. Also 3x 240 welder plugs strategically placed. I’ve used 90% of them in the last 2 years.


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[dutchgray]

Built a shed for a customer, we put power sockets every 4' to 6' depending on what part of the shed it was, was about a 600 square foot shed, plenty of sockets and works well, it has 3 phase power as well but thats another story.

My house was built in the 70's, it has 12 sockets in the whole place, its really not enough for today.

 

[jetnow1]

24 by 30 garage, 2 double outlets on separate circuits every 4 feet on both 30 foot walls plus a 220 outlet on each one. Back has 4 outlets plus a 220 for the compressor. There are also separate circuits in the ceiling for the lighting and two for garage door openers. Plus additional circuits upstairs in the attic.Also have two duplex outlets on the lolly columns.

 

[CraigStu]

I did one every 4 feet at 48 inches off the floor. I could use two more in one area but I just get one of those things that make a double outlet into a 6 outlet. I don't run more than a couple things at a time so it works out.

 

[Busted Knucles]

Never enough.

 

[Shadowdog500]

In my shop I have 110v 20A outlet every 10 to 15 feet in strategic locations as well as four 30’ cord reels to plug things in anywhere in my shop. 110v 30A and 220v is only run where needed. Chris

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

My main Work Bench Wall, and Tool area will have a double duplex every 5'4" (1/2 stick of EMT). The storage wall is every 10'4" (full stick of 10' EMT).

https://scontent-dfw5-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69516066_3083740335030762_2668903389382836224_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_oc=AQniU-PRkSwYJ8XDmcLJW6VCcoLKAOgVWObtBDbrF7eQ4M8wH1k44VJVeBOqKoy-Cn8&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.**&oh=c91b4bd82bead334288aa19bbf9177a5&oe=5DFA1F95

 

[sberry]

Got somewhere around 100 circuits.

 

[jaygill]

I have two room/areas in my shop. Dual outlets, each on a separate 20 amp circuit, indicated by different colored outlets every 4’ both high and low (18” & 4’)I didn’t know where different machines were going to end up. This also kept me at the 10 outlet max per the NEC. Dual circuits are for the power tool and separate vacuum/dust extraction. Also put in 3 240v outlets. Lastly there is a 3rd circuit that goes to the storage area and where the bench is with 2 dual receptacles for a battery charging station.








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[alfredeneuman]

This also kept me at the 10 outlet max per the NEC.

How did you arrive at that figure?
There is no NEC limit to the number of receptacles per circuit for residential wiring.

In other than residential, the figure is 180va per receptacle. 13 on a 20A circuit.
Are you in a commercial space and using 15A circuits?

 

[Aaron_W]

When I built my shop, I took quite a bit of ribbing because of all the outlets I installed. Basically I put outlets on "almost" every stud about 4' off the floor.
I didn't care if I ended up with a cabinet in front of some outlets, only that I had an outlet available close to any place I ever needed one.

It has worked out well for my needs........

If you install your own wiring, the cost of doing such a thing is minimal and takes a couple days of spare time. I continually try to tell people that they will have a much more efficient shop if they put plenty of outlets in. Its much harder to add them later.

So, How many people out there wish they had more outlets now that their shop is built?

While I suppose "too many" outlets is possible, "too many outlets" is not an issue I've ever had.

The first house I bought, had been built as company housing by the local electric company when they built a dam and hydro-electric plant. They clearly wanted the occupants using electric power as there were 2 outlets per wall in just about every room. That may not sound like much, but it was a 650 square foot 2 bedroom house. It is the only house I've lived in where I never pined for more outlets.

 

[ekimneirbo]

I'd be curious as what it looks like, with all those outlets. Have any pictures?

The thing now is that I have my "pole barn" pretty full and you can't see many of the plugs because they are behind cabinets.....but everywhere I need a plug, I have one available. When building a shop, most people don't know what they might end up with to put in the shop. I go to auctions and buy things and then convert them to suit my needs. I've reorganized the shop a few times too as I have acquired something I wanted more than something I already had. If I have some outlets that go unused, thats ok, they were cheap.
Later I built a lean to on the back of the barn. Really a cheap way to gain space, because I don't need high ceilings. Can store tools that I only use on occassion....roll them out to the shop. Its really handy. Picked up a "thin" workbench at an auction. Resold the stuff that was with it....for a profit. Got nothing in it. Great for tools like a chop saw,drill sharpener, brake lathe (which I later sold), hose making machine (resold) and whatever else I buy.
There are always outlets for me to line these things up beside each other.


I have a few pictures of the leanto showing the outlets. Picture 3 shows the thin bench. Sandblasters were moved to another small building later. The thin bench has had an assortment of tools on it over the years.

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

It's been a while since I studied the NEC, but it was I believe 12' min on outlet spacing and 80% max draw, or 12A on a 15A breaker, and 16A on a 20A.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I believe 12' min on outlet spacing and 80% max draw, or 12A on a 15A breaker, and 16A on a 20A.

Correct on the 12', only on the interior portions of usable wallspace.
That doesn't apply to garages or shops.
A load has to be running continually for 3 or more hours for the 80% max draw reg to be in effect.
(edit: Lighting is always figured at 80%)

 

[pbon]

I really thought out my carriage house renovation. I had done one before so I learned from mistakes on that one. Despite thorough planning, I have managed to put 2 cabinets over outlets. Fortunately, I have a bunch more outlets.

 

[MikeF2316]

I put 2 duplex outlets every 12 feet of wall, each duplex on a different circuit. Except there are 6 duplex outlets over my 9 foot workbench. The 6 over the bench are just enough. The 2 per 12 feet of wall are not.

 

[vcforlife15]

How did you arrive at that figure?
There is no NEC limit to the number of receptacles per circuit for residential wiring.

In other than residential, the figure is 180va per receptacle. 13 on a 20A circuit.
Are you in a commercial space and using 15A circuits?

Right on the money! Also technically only need one outlet per garage bay.

 

[pbon]

It’s sort of like size. No one ever says, I built my garage too big. Put 1 every 4’ and you should have enough.

 

[exranger06]

I have a small 20x22 attached garage. When I moved in, there were only 2 outlets in there: one on the back wall, and one on the ceiling for the door opener. Needless to say, that was terribly inadequate. I scraped by with that setup for about 3 years before I finally finished all of the electrical work. I think my frustration with that made me go all-out and maybe a little overboard. I installed a 100 amp subpanel (the main panel is in my finished basement, flush-mounted with drywall all around it, and it's a pain to add circuits to) in the garage, and ran some more circuits in surface-mount EMT. I now have about 4 or 5 outlets on the side walls, every 5 ft or so. I have two double outlets and two single outlets on the back wall. And I have a few strategically placed outlets mounted up high for specific purposes, such as plugging in light fixtures. Each wall of outlets has it's own circuit; three 20 amp circuits. I also added a 20A 240V circuit for an electric heater, a 240V circuit for my 60 gallon compressor, and a 120V 20 amp circuit for a new outlet in the basement.

 

[DirtBound]

In my 40x48 "warehouse" I have 23 outlets evenly spaced, every 4 outlets have their own 20 amp beaker.
But this shop area is only used for storage and a few computers were and there.

The welding shop I have 4 outlets pretty much every 6-8 ft.

 

[ekimneirbo]

I'm going to write this BIG, because I think its the point most people don't think about , and I want people to think before they build.

I started this off by saying I put a lot of outlets in my shop because they make everything convenient. By doing so, as my shop evolved and I got different cabinets and shelves and tools, I end up with many of them being unusable.
The point is that each outlet only cost me about $2 to install .....so if some of them end up being unusable....big deal.

The reverse of that is that I don't have to try to organize my shop so that I can have access to only a few existing plugs. The outlet locations control the location of everything. Virtually no one knows exactly how their shop is going to be organized......even if you do, you will probably want to change some things later. If you put 2 outlets in and they are 20 ft apart, you still have to run the connecting wire 20 ft. Why not add 3 more outlets in between and spend about $10 for the parts? If you have lots of outlets, you can reorganize any way you want....or need.

Don't worry about unused outlets, spend another $100 and put plenty of plugs everywhere. You won't regret it!

 

[Nlped]

I'm going to write this BIG, because I think its the point most people don't think about , and I want people to think before they build.



I started this off by saying I put a lot of outlets in my shop because they make everything convenient. By doing so, as my shop evolved and I got different cabinets and shelves and tools, I end up with many of them being unusable.

The point is that each outlet only cost me about $2 to install .....so if some of them end up being unusable....big deal.



The reverse of that is that I don't have to try to organize my shop so that I can have access to only a few existing plugs. The outlet locations control the location of everything. Virtually no one knows exactly how their shop is going to be organized......even if you do, you will probably want to change some things later. If you put 2 outlets in and they are 20 ft apart, you still have to run the connecting wire 20 ft. Why not add 3 more outlets in between and spend about $10 for the parts? If you have lots of outlets, you can reorganize any way you want....or need.



Don't worry about unused outlets, spend another $100 and put plenty of plugs everywhere. You won't regret it!

My philosophy precisely!!!


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[exranger06]

If you run surface mount conduit everywhere, you can change things pretty easily and just add outlets and boxes where you need them at a later date. Probably easier and less expensive than adding tons of outlets where you may or may not need them. There have been a few times where my plans changed and I added more circuits or outlets. It mostly involved adding a new section of conduit to an existing box and pulling a few more conductors through an existing conduit, and through the new section of conduit. A couple of times I had to remove a section of existing conduit and cut it in half, so I could add another junction box in the middle of the run. It's still less work than installing all of the unnecessary outlets. I'm in the middle of adding another light fixture right now, and I'm utilizing existing conduit and conductors that's been there for a few years, and I didn't have to cut or remove any existing conduit this time. I just had to run one more conductor (switched hot) through the existing conduit, and add a few small sections of new conduit and conductors to the switch and fixture.

 

[Tduby]

I went 2 duplex every half stick of conduit plus a 4x4 box with left and right outlet on different circuits so I can run a shop vac and a saw at the same time and not trip a breaker.

 

[casmurbax]

When I built my 18'x24' garage, I installed 20 amp outlets every 4ft at 48" off the floor, 2 outlets per a circuit, it was overkill, though I don't regret it one bit.

I only installed 2 220v outlets, that I do regret I should have installed more and and put in some outlets on the outside.

I knew the compressor was going in one corner, tv in another corner and I wanted a 220v by the garage door in case I ever bought a bigger mig welder, those were the only things that were set in stone on where they were going.

I even made provisions for garage door opener, either a jackshaft or over head. I also ran thermostat wiring and an outlet in ceiling for a heater down the road.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I installed 4x4 deep boxes with outlets every 10 feet (conduit length), with two separate circuits run through the 3/4 EMT. I figured If I need 4 places in one box at some point, I'd just change the cover and add another outlet. So far I've only thought about doing that twice in one place. The enclosed part of the shop is 44x62x16.

 

[PhantomEB]

Every other stud on all walls, every stud above my work bench. Even my beer fridge and stereo have a dedicated outlet. Now with my work bench being extended to incorporate my box and a half under, that every stud plan has gone to ****!

 

[aka Larry]

My shop is 40'x40' and I installed 4"x4" deep boxes with duplex outlets connected with EMT every 10' (on two circuits) along three of the four walls, plus another one on the front wall near the overhead door, and yet another mounted on a lift post. Some are in continuous use of course, but every single one has been used one time or another. Surface mounted EMT sure made it easy in my case.

 

[Brandon_oma#692]

4 and a ridiculous amount of cords. Talking to the bank about getting a new place. If that does not happen in the next year I will be adding a sub panel in the garage.

 

[jeepxj]

Someday a guy is just gona build the whole shop out of 2 gang boxes.

 

[u2slow]

My shop is 40'x40' and I installed 4"x4" deep boxes with duplex outlets connected with EMT every 10' (on two circuits).... Surface mounted EMT sure made it easy in my case.

^ I like your 10' 2cct surface program. Will do that in my next revision.