New build. Comments, ideas, criticism please

[TheRealMcCory1]

Been reading info here for a while in anticipation of my new garage/shop build...

Construction is now underway...

I plan to use the space for woodworking as well as general DIY stuff.

The contractor who built my house is building it unfinished up through electrical. Until this past Friday I was going to do the wiring myself (my cousin is an electrician) on my own schedule. Suddenly I need to give them details on what I need, where, etc.

These are some quick notes I jotted down Friday...

More detals/clarification:
*100A box in SE corner
*wiring for 4 fluorescent lights
*20A outlet outside garage with GFI *INSIDE* garage
*3-way switch for 2 fluorescent lights in attic
*50A on West wall.

Please, ALL comment, criticisms and suggestions are welcomed to help improve my space.


Thanks.
Cory

 

[theoldwizard1]

100A seems like overkill for that size of a garage, unless you plan on doing some heavy welding. I think 60A would be adequate even including your mini-split, unless you just want a lot of space for possible future expansion.

Remember the size of the box has little to do with the size of the wire from the house to the garage or the size of the breaker in the house. A 90A breaker in the house would allow you to run MHF cable to the garage.

What equipment do you have, especially big things that would be run at the same time (dust collector and table saw) If you have a good sized compressor as well as your mini-split and they all kicked on (not necessarily simultaneously) I still think 60A would cover you.

• All 120V circuits in a garage have to be protected by a GFCI (refrigerators are the exception).
• I think receptacle height code for garages is 48" off the floor.
• Do you want you fluorescent lights on the forst floor wired as 1 bank or 2 ? Swiitch by the entrance or are you going to use the breaker ?
• So you want a bunch of receptacle along one wall. How many different circuits ?
• Pay the extra and buy REAL 20A receptacles. They will last longer. (Most of my cheapies have chips in the plastic.)

 

[TheRealMcCory1]

100A seems like overkill for that size of a garage, unless you plan on doing some heavy welding. I think 60A would be adequate even including your mini-split, unless you just want a lot of space for possible future expansion.

Remember the size of the box has little to do with the size of the wire from the house to the garage or the size of the breaker in the house. A 90A breaker in the house would allow you to run MHF cable to the garage.

What equipment do you have, especially big things that would be run at the same time (dust collector and table saw) If you have a good sized compressor as well as your mini-split and they all kicked on (not necessarily simultaneously) I still think 60A would cover you.

• All 120V circuits in a garage have to be protected by a GFCI (refrigerators are the exception).
• I think receptacle height code for garages is 48" off the floor.
• Do you want you fluorescent lights on the forst floor wired as 1 bank or 2 ? Swiitch by the entrance or are you going to use the breaker ?
• So you want a bunch of receptacle along one wall. How many different circuits ?
• Pay the extra and buy REAL 20A receptacles. They will last longer. (Most of my cheapies have chips in the plastic.)

Thanks for the resp onse wizard. These are all great questions, comments. I'll try to address each one. I thought I would have more time to figure this stuff out since I would be working with my cousin at our pace. (so please be patient with me) OK, here we go...

Cousin suggested 100A based on what was available from my house and to allow, as you point out, for a TON of expansion.

The scenario of dust collector, table saw, heat pump is pretty much dead on. Also a small refrigerator.

Understand the GFI requirement.

Understand the height code. Thank you.

Plan to have 3 way light switches at doors. 1 circuit for the 4 overhead fluorescent.

As I have sketched right now I have ~a dozen outlets along the walls, probably qty 3,4,5 along the 3 walls. Not sure how many circuits. Perhaps you can recommend?

Not familiar with "real" 20A vs something else.


Again, this is a steep learning curve for me that would've been over a longer amount of time. But since my contractor is doing the work, I don't have to know as much,but I'd like to know enough to get exactly what I want.

Thanks again.
Cory

 

[Mustang51js]

I also think an outlet every 3 studs is a little overkill, you could do every 6-8 feet and still have a decent amount of outlets. 100 amps is a lot and will cost more for the price of wire. If you do decide to do outlets every 3 1/2 feet then maybe do each wall as a separate circuit.

 

[TheRealMcCory1]

Some important info I left out... I can pretty much dictate what I want with no price impact. (there are limits of course). The reason is that the builder poured foundation and driveway for a 10x8 door instead of a 12x8 door. Originally the plan was for them to leave the garage completely unfinished and I would do electrical later. But as consideration for the wrong size door, I told them they could do my electrical instead of redoing a bunch of concrete and reframe the front wall. Anyway, I told them what I wanted to do (many specifics, some generalities) and they agreed to it.

 

[TheRealMcCory1]

Checked out your album. Awesome. Thanks ducksface. Lots of good ideas.