Make my OCD feel better

[perrykw]

Getting ready to redo the garage and I'm overthinking (maybe) the electrical. Here's my situation: I do all my own maintenance on my motorcycle and my wife's motorcycle, and some light woodworking, but I'm not doing any industrial stuff.

Current electrical setup is (3) 15 amp circuits.

Circuit 1: (2) garage door openers, (3) outlets, (1) 4 foot fluorescent fixture
Circuit 2: (1) Upright freezer (6) barebulb fixtures in the attic with CFL bulbs, and (1) outlet used to power a television
Circuit 3: (1) craftsman air compressor, (1) outlet, (1) bare bulb fixture with cfl

I am adding a 240 volt circuit in preparation for a mini split install. While doing the remodel, I am going to replace the 4 foot fixture in the main garage area with recessed lighting - at least (6) cans with either CFL or LED bulbs. Are the 120 volt circuits good at 15 amps each or should I change to 20 amp circuits? Now would be the time to do it as right now the wire is in conduit, but in the remodel will be run in the wall. Much better to change out wire now if I am overloading circuits.

 

[American Locomotive]

15A is fine for lighting. However all your circuits seem to be powring both outlets and lights. I recommend putting the lighting on its own circuit, and then running 20A circuits for the outlets.

 

[6768rogues]

If I were going to wire everything I would buy a big roll of 12 gauge wire and do it all from that roll, allowing for 20 amps. For simple jobs, I like to only have one roll of wire.

 

[ard]

15A is fine for lighting. However all your circuits seem to be powring both outlets and lights. I recommend putting the lighting on its own circuit, and then running 20A circuits for the outlets.

How about two circuits for lights so if one goes it isn't dark? Overkill.

Also, maybe the freezer on the light circuit- if the lights don't work, you can save the freezer full of food. Would depend on current draws, etc.

 

[American Locomotive]

How about two circuits for lights so if one goes it isn't dark? Overkill.

Also, maybe the freezer on the light circuit- if the lights don't work, you can save the freezer full of food. Would depend on current draws, etc.

Nothing wrong with have two separate lighting circuits. I just like to keep my outlets and lights separate, that way if I pop a breaker being a bonehead, I don't have to fumble around in the dark.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

15A is fine for lighting. However all your circuits seem to be powring both outlets and lights. I recommend putting the lighting on its own circuit, and then running 20A circuits for the outlets.

 

[DCarr2]

dont forget your GFCI's!

 

[perrykw]

Sounds like I'm gonna be replacing all that 14 gauge I ran a couple years ago with 12 gauge. I guess it's better to realize it now than after I redo sheetrock and texture, etc. The only sucky part is having to slide through the attic (yes slide) to feed the wire to the breaker panel, but all it'll cost me is the cost of the wire. And yes, I'll be adding GFCI protection since I've read it a couple hundred times.

Thanks for all the suggestions

 

[matt_i]

Also important to check whether your locality requires -TR tamper resistant receptacles for new, inspected work. Mine does.

 

[perrykw]

Ok,

So after reading all these replies, I am resigning myself to the fact that I need to rerun the outlets with 12/2 and upgrade to 20 amp circuits, as well as add a fourth circuit. Here's my thoughts now:

Circuit A: (20A) Air compressor and one other outlet in storage room
Circuit B: (20A) Freezer and lawn sprinkler controller
Circuit C: (20A) Remainder of outlets in garage (6 including the garage doors)
Circuit D: (15A) Lighting

All outlets GFCI protected (first outlet on the circuit GFCI) and tamper resistant.

Seems overkill, but I'm gonna have the walls open, so I guess now is the time to do it.

What do the experts think?

 

[Marctrees]

Sounds like I'm gonna be replacing all that 14 gauge I ran a couple years ago with 12 gauge. I guess it's better to realize it now than after I redo sheetrock and texture, etc. The only sucky part is having to slide through the attic (yes slide) to feed the wire to the breaker panel, but all it'll cost me is the cost of the wire. And yes, I'll be adding GFCI protection since I've read it a couple hundred times.

Thanks for all the suggestions

DO NOT put freezer on a GFI, I don't care what Code says.

Unless you want to come out there and find yer steaks rotting someday.

It WILL happen...... someday.

If you want, put a SINGLE, not Duplex outlet BEHIND the freezer so some ***** in future does not plug into it.

All other recepts, and sprinkler on GFI.



You probably do not need to "slide" in the attic like a snake all the way to wall.

Push a steel fishtape through a hole in your top plate, run it in so it rubs under your roof sheathing towards the center of your garage... grab it there, and pull wire back down.

Two Guy job.

Or, after you break totally loose an old 14 ga, COMPACTLY and properly ( a whole experience thing in itself) tie a #12 cable to that, and pull back to panel through top plate hole.

Still, best two Guy job. Marc

 

[perrykw]

Wishful thinking on the fishtape, but my breaker panel is located on the opposite end of the house, and whatever genius installed the air handler did so in a manner that leaves a very confined area to get to the top plate over the breaker box