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How many electrical outlets do you have

Dneel81

Active member
Joined
Sep 23, 2018
Messages
35
Location
arcadia, ok
I have a 50x55 shop. I have 32 outlets. I have 6 220v because the welder is mobile, I have a plasma cutter, a compressor, and maybe a lift someday. I have 8 ceiling outlets for drop down "spooled" lights or anything else I might need. I have a lean-to on the south of the shop for the tractor to live in. I have 3 outlets out there too with one being 220 in case I need to weld on the tractor out there. I overbuilt the shop i realize but I'd like to retire here and not move anymore. I figure cry once now and not have to do it again later.
 
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rd65

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Sep 29, 2017
Messages
2,738
Location
Granite Falls, WA
In my 32x28 pole building I have 6 per side. Each side is its own 20 amp circuit. It started out as 5 per side but as I have been outfitting the shop I have added 1 more per side. They are about 4.5' apart down the back wall and forward down the side walls. I have a double up in ceiling for possible future garage door opener w/ a drop down cord using one of those outlets. So 14 outlets total. Finally one 220v for future use. The 2 outlet circuits are on GFCI breakers.
 

TractorJeff

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Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
3,309
Location
Elkhorn, WI
Only read the first page, then HAD to comment!
I had it "ALL" figured out.
Got my drawing, started down each wall PERFECTLY!
Well 6 months later while trimming out a Window that an Outlet box ended up next to the window instead of on the Stud away from it!
LOL!
Too late now with insulation and sheetrock already installed!
Now in the wood rim around the Window will probably be a slight cutout for an outlet!
Sometimes, multiple circuits and well laid out plans just don't make sense!
 

wes73

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
218
Location
South Central PA
I have 36 duplex outlets in my 30X40. 4 feet apart at the most and all are at least 54" off the floor. The only extension cord I ever us is a single cord reel from the center of the ceiling and that is very infrequent. And with mobile devices being more of our life I installed 4 duplex outlets with USB ports.
 
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hess77

New member
Joined
Aug 28, 2012
Messages
4
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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would love to see how you have these laid out more specifically. What you said makes perfect sense, but a picture/diagram is worth 1k words. It sounds very similar to what I'd like to do in a 40x60x14 build.
 

Jim greengo

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Joined
Sep 3, 2018
Messages
7,415
Location
Behind my house
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
I'd say skipping every other box and using 4sq 's with 2gang old work covers would of been more than enough,but what ever makes you happy.:spit:
 

Jim greengo

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Joined
Sep 3, 2018
Messages
7,415
Location
Behind my house
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!
You cant just bury outlets/ junction boxes behind cabinets.
 

b-boy

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Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
2,155
Location
Buffalo NY
I have a 30x40 pole barn.

I have an outlet every 4 feet. I also have 4 switched outlets about 10 ft up on 2 walls. I use these for lighting, neon signs, etc. I have 2 exterior outlets under the lean-to.

I have 3-30A/2-50A outlets for window A/C units, welder, compressor, shop saws, and any future needs. They are distributed around the shop for easy access.
 
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bergheger3

Active member
Joined
Oct 9, 2018
Messages
27
Location
Missouri
my shop has 120V 20A duplex receptacles every 4 to 6 feet. I have dedicated receptacles for larger equipment. I also scattered some 250V 20A receptacles through out the shop about 2 per wall. I didn't make those dedicated but wanted the option to move some large equipment around depending on what I was doing where.

I also put a 250V 50A 4W receptacle on each wall. I think made custom extension cords for different welders. A 50A 4W plug on 1 end and whatever is needed on the other.
 

alfredeneuman

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Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
4,580
Location
Fullerton, CA
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


Unless you live in North Korea, Cuba, or Belize you don't have 220 and 110.
If you live in the US or Canada you have 240 and 120
 

checkthisout

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Joined
Sep 5, 2008
Messages
5,232
I thought "Countertop" spacing is reasonable with the addition of making them dual gang boxes.

So boxes every 4' with 4 outlets per box. This seems to be about right. For a shop that gets frequent use. It's what I did in my own garage.

Now my new shop at work, they spaced the outlets every 8' feet and it's not enough. Powerstrips help but it's just a lot easier to have already installed without having to plug anything extra in.
 

BigGarage

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Joined
Jun 5, 2019
Messages
2,344
Location
Just south of Detroit, MI.
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

I'd say skipping every other box and using 4sq 's with 2gang old work covers would of been more than enough,but what ever makes you happy.:spit:

By the time I connected the wires and the grounds to the metal boxes (for duals) I could be wiring the next box, that's one reason I did it like that. Along the right side and back walls the outlets are 30" apart and I do like it like that. The only time I've ever used an extension cord in the garage was when I used a handheld router. Eliminating extension cords in the main benefit to me for the many outlets I have. I do still have to mount an outlet in the attic for my electric hoist. That is the other thing I've used an extension cord for.

Dennis
 

Bopbop

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Joined
May 25, 2016
Messages
180
Location
Savannah,Ga
I thought I had a lot but looking at some of these I don't have enough.
In my 30 by 60 I have the following: (12) 120 volt (2 recpt. per circuit), 20 amp receptacles, (3) 50 amp 220 for the welder, (1) 220 30 amp. I also have a 30 amp circuit for the lift and 60 for the air compressor, both 220.
But I have room to expand. I have a 200 amp service with a 42 circuit panel. with 4 extra 220 circuits and 18 or 20 120 extra circuits.
 

MattN03

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Messages
601
Location
KY
I mounted a duplex outlet on every 8' post on my 32' x 64 post frame shop. I'm going to be adding a separate 20 amp double gang box at my work benches. So far, this has proven fine for me.
 

PhantomEB

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
6,707
Location
Medicine Hat, AB, Canuckistan
27 in my 24x24 and now I extending my work bench.... there’s already a 8 outlet power cord on the workbench I will put another on the extension as it’s also way more closer to the project side of the garage.
 

bullnerd

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Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
5,690
Location
Jersey
I did about every 5' too, It works out good with the raised metal panel liner and uses half a stick of conduit.
 
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