I've looked through many threads and noticed a lot of questions regarding wiring up your new garages. I've posted a few replys regarding this but thought I'd add my own suggestions so here it goes..... Whether your wiring your own or having it done save yourself some frustrations later by adding ceiling fan brackets and have them wired to a different switch. I had my contractor do this and then I added ceiling fans after we got moved in. I picked up some fans at Menards for $12. Cheap? Yes but no problems with them for 2 years now. I also had a phone jack and cable tv jacks installed as well. My garage is 870 or so sq. ft 3 car attached. My third stall I added about 13ft depth and have my work bench, storage cabinets, table saw, etc back there. I'm more of a hobby woodworker than a mechanic. Another thing I had done was raised the outlets along the walls up to waist high. You'll think thats a good idea as you get older, trust me! Also we upgraded to 9ft ceilings in the house so the garage ceiling height is roughly 10 ft plus. So there is no clearance issues with the fans. Right now I heat with a reedy heater 55,000 btu torpedo heater, it's knids loud but warms the garage up nice and the fans help push the warm air back down where you need it. Later I plan on getting a hanging heating unit. Hope this helps some of you out when trying to decide about wiring. Theres a lot to consider when your building, paint, floor finished, etc..... Good Luck!!!!
If your building new, read this
- Thread starter sjsfire
- Start date
6t7gto
Well-known member
the outlets in my garage addition were installed a 4' off the floor. same as the original side of the garage.
david
david
REFLEXX
Well-known member
That's great info and I'll add my 2c to this thread. I'm notorious for overthinking everything I do.
I'm putting in:
1. Several switched receptacles on or near the ceiling. For adding IR heaters, ceiling fans, vent fans, drop-down power cords, etc...
2. Phone/LAN wiring from the house. For phone (obviously) to avoid any interference and for PC use. Having a PC in the garage is handy, if you're working on something and need help from the net, it's nice to have it right there. An old PC will set you back $200.
3. Speakers or just speaker wiring in the walls.
4. Cable/Sat Coax from the house. Nowadays you can get radio stations (with no static!) and have TV while you work!
5. I put my receptacles 24" off the ground, but I wlll add powerstrips at waist high where necessary.
I'm putting in:
1. Several switched receptacles on or near the ceiling. For adding IR heaters, ceiling fans, vent fans, drop-down power cords, etc...
2. Phone/LAN wiring from the house. For phone (obviously) to avoid any interference and for PC use. Having a PC in the garage is handy, if you're working on something and need help from the net, it's nice to have it right there. An old PC will set you back $200.
3. Speakers or just speaker wiring in the walls.
4. Cable/Sat Coax from the house. Nowadays you can get radio stations (with no static!) and have TV while you work!
5. I put my receptacles 24" off the ground, but I wlll add powerstrips at waist high where necessary.
I installed all of my outlets 50" from the floor. Perfect height between bench and cabinets.
Please consider areas you may wish to mount things to the wall in the future. Driving screws and nails can find your wiring in a hurry, so run the lines out of the way of potential hazards like these. Use nail guards where necessary.
Please consider areas you may wish to mount things to the wall in the future. Driving screws and nails can find your wiring in a hurry, so run the lines out of the way of potential hazards like these. Use nail guards where necessary.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
If you're using your garage for woodworking, installing the receptacles at 50" has another benefit: when you store 4x8 sheets of plywood up against the wall, they won't block the receptacles.
Craig Balzer
Well-known member
Sinse we are offering "good ideas" on the wiring aspect of garages, let me pile on:
Most of us are talking about multiple circuits for all the power outlets, lights, tools, etc. When wiring your outlet circuits use different colored plastic outlet to denote the various circuits. For example, I am planning at least three different circuits (one along each wall of the garage) for my eventual garage. I plan to use black, white and brown or red to remind me which circuit each outlet is on. This will allow, at a glance, to tell how many outlets per circuit are being used and may prevent a blown fuse/popped circuit breaker.
The plastic outlets are only a couple of buck each and come in various colors from your favorite Home Repair Supplies store.
Craig
Most of us are talking about multiple circuits for all the power outlets, lights, tools, etc. When wiring your outlet circuits use different colored plastic outlet to denote the various circuits. For example, I am planning at least three different circuits (one along each wall of the garage) for my eventual garage. I plan to use black, white and brown or red to remind me which circuit each outlet is on. This will allow, at a glance, to tell how many outlets per circuit are being used and may prevent a blown fuse/popped circuit breaker.
The plastic outlets are only a couple of buck each and come in various colors from your favorite Home Repair Supplies store.
Craig
BoostAddiction
Well-known member
Craig Balzer said:
Another, less obtrusive way would be to use the same color outlet everywhere, and use different color tape strips on the outlet covers.
The "problem" with the different colored outlets is that the colors have a specific meaning that is not followed in your garage. This would be confusing to an electrician who might assume that your outlets were following the standard.
It's a great idea to mark the outlets somehow to know which circuits they are on!
-Will
sberry
Banned
On thing yous guys are missing is wiring for alarms.
I went a little over board on wiring, my garage is 960 sqft and just for electrical wire alone I have over 1/4 mile already. I am using 12/2 also.
I have it wired for alarm, CCTV cameras on the outside, LAN, phone, a couple spare cat 5's by the door for access control, door bell if I need it, a couple extra coaxs going to the house, speakers in the ceiling with volume controls on the walls. After doing all that I still put a pipe in the wall to pull wire to the middle of the garage for whatever type of wire they invent next.
As for electrical I have dedicated lines going to lifts, a lathe, compressor, welder and an extra for a mill or something plus the 50 something regular outlets on the walls
I went a little over board on wiring, my garage is 960 sqft and just for electrical wire alone I have over 1/4 mile already. I am using 12/2 also.
I have it wired for alarm, CCTV cameras on the outside, LAN, phone, a couple spare cat 5's by the door for access control, door bell if I need it, a couple extra coaxs going to the house, speakers in the ceiling with volume controls on the walls. After doing all that I still put a pipe in the wall to pull wire to the middle of the garage for whatever type of wire they invent next.
As for electrical I have dedicated lines going to lifts, a lathe, compressor, welder and an extra for a mill or something plus the 50 something regular outlets on the walls
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Good point. I have my garage wired into my home security system, both for intrusion and fire detection.
Tinker
New member
There seem to be varying opinions on receptacle height. I deal with it the easy way. All outlets in my shop except those for my welders and compressor are at ceiling height. Where ever I need an outlet within reach, I have a power bar mounted to the wall.
I also have all of my lighting wired through receptacles. This way I can change or add lighting where & when I need.
I also have all of my lighting wired through receptacles. This way I can change or add lighting where & when I need.
europeanplates
Member
Alarm was mentioned but if you are doing an alarm most alarms allow partitions. This means you can have it armed at all times, as well see who is coming and going.
Tyler
Tyler