New electrical in pole garage

[Steve m.]

I just got a 30x40 pole garage put up.the 200 amp service has been installed. I am drywalling the inside.i have a surface mounted panel and am trying to run my wires as clean as possible. I see have read that running romex inside of conduit is a no go.anyone have experience with this.need ideas on how to do this cleanly.thanks in advance. By the way i am super excited about the new garage.side note im not an electrician and have no idea what codes are just trying for safe and clean.

 

[CJseven]

Why worry about using romex, just run all your conduit, then pull the correct wire.

 

[pattenp]

Yes, if using a complete conduit system use THHN single conductors. Romex can be placed in conduit but is a bad practice other than when conduit is used as sleeves for protection.

 

[bamawildcat]

It being a drywalled pole barn, just run NM (romex). I do recommend running a 2" conduit out of the top of the panel up to the roof level on the inside of the barn, so if you need to add 1-3 circuits you have a wireway going all the way up and down the wall without needing to tear up driveway to add circuits. In this situation the conduit is being used as a sleeve.

 

[tapout187]

In my pole barn I installed book shelf girts throughout and ran all romex along that. I think it made for a really clean install. I do plan on all osb for interior walls.

 

[u2slow]

I like to surface mount panels on a sheet of plywood rather than drywall, for fastening all your cables, conduits, etc.

In-wall wiring can be transitioned to the surface in a couple larger junction boxes near the panel. Then short lengths of conduit to connect the jb to the panel. AC/MC cable can be exposed, and even exposed romex may be allowed above a certain height, but the aesthetics and protection of surface EMT are favourable. Check what code(s) apply to you.

 

[Raisedonadeere]

It being a drywalled pole barn, just run NM (romex). I do recommend running a 2" conduit out of the top of the panel up to the roof level on the inside of the barn, so if you need to add 1-3 circuits you have a wireway going all the way up and down the wall without needing to tear up driveway to add circuits. In this situation the conduit is being used as a sleeve.

I hadn’t thought about the sleeve. How many romex is legal through a 2” sleeve through the top plate?

 

[mike93lx]

I hadn’t thought about the sleeve. How many romex is legal through a 2” sleeve through the top plate?

You'll need to check a conduit fill calculator and also have the issue of derating.

 

[Terry D]

If all your wiring is surface mount, then EMT with THWN is the way to go. Especially with drywall to mount it to. Conduit bending is not all that hard once you know the math behind it. You mostly would be using 1/2 or 3/4. Here is a great little book that makes it easy to bend. If you don't already have benders, you will have to borrow or buy them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0872885100/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[u2slow]

I hadn’t thought about the sleeve. How many romex is legal through a 2” sleeve through the top plate?

I don't believe 'conduit fill' applies to a sleeve, because of the extra cable jacketing. I think what applies is cables in contact with each other for 'X' distance (i.e. same as cable bundling).

Forgive my vagueness, NEC is not the code that applies to me.

 

[Raisedonadeere]

Tell me if I need to start a new thread but in a general way this may still apply to this thread. My garage is stick build 10' ceiling with 2x4 top plate. I want to add electrical in a way that makes it easy to add wall plugs and lights as needed in the future.
Easiest clean way I know is to surface mount plug, go up into attic area with conduit through the ceiling and pull nmb wire across attic to the panel. Then down into the panel through a chimney or chase that is open to the attic.

My garage in Alabama had a surface mount panel that had been framed in with 2x4s and drywalled with the framed in part open to the attic above. I ran several different circuits using that "chimney?chase" Justas I described above.

I have no idea what is accepted practice or what the code says about that way of installing the panel.

My motivation is not just to make it easy to add circuits but also to avoid putting so many holes in the structural top plate member and I am sure someone has built in ease of adding circuits in a way that is to code. Hope you have some ideas to share.

 

[mike93lx]

You really would be best to start your own thread. With your post being buried in here, it won't get the same attention.

Also, pics always help.

 

[nadogail]

Have you considered WireMold?