New house build, what do I need for garage electrics?

[C6Z]

We're thinking about having a new production house built. It would have a 3-car garage, plus a 12x16 "tandem" bay that would be used as a workshop. I want to be able to run a lift or maybe two, an air compressor, the usual. Nothing too heavy or fancy. Maybe a small MIG, or a small milling machine.

Since I'm having it built, I can ask for extra stuff in the way of electrics, and of course it's cheaper to do it now rather than add it later. Standard is a 200 A service for the whole 2440 sqft house. I'd like to have 220 VAC for the garage, as it makes selecting some tools easier.

So what do I ask for? Sorry for the seemingly dumb question, but I honestly don't know.

 

[JC23]

It's not dumb, you're just asking. And you're on the right track.

Figure out what tools you'll want to use - and don't forget any heat/AC/water heater use - and that should give you an idea of what you'll need. Lots of outlets are always good. Lights, too.

Have them put a seperate box out there in a spot that won't be in your way later. That means you'll need to do your rough layout now, too.

Start looking over these pages for layouts that you A. like, and B. that will fit your footprint realistically. Just about everything you'll need is on these pages.

And welcome aboard! We want pics!

 

[Stuart in MN]

Since the house and garage will both be new, you also need to look at the entire electrical load - will the house have electric heat, electric stove, air conditioning, hot tub or other things that require a lot of electricity? A 200 amp main service, with a 60 amp or 100 amp subpanel for the garage, will probably work but you need to take everything into account first to know for sure.

 

[tfi racing]

Make a quick sketch and layout the equipment you would like to have one day,once that is done you will have a better idea of how many receptacles and circuits will be necessary.Also tell us your location and how the house and garage is heated,the more info you can share,the better the advice...

 

[larry_g]

We're thinking about having a new production house built. It would have a 3-car garage, plus a 12x16 "tandem" bay that would be used as a workshop. I want to be able to run a lift or maybe two, an air compressor, the usual. Nothing too heavy or fancy. Maybe a small MIG, or a small milling machine.

Since I'm having it built, I can ask for extra stuff in the way of electrics, and of course it's cheaper to do it now rather than add it later. Standard is a 200 A service for the whole 2440 sqft house. I'd like to have 220 VAC for the garage, as it makes selecting some tools easier.

So what do I ask for? Sorry for the seemingly dumb question, but I honestly don't know.

Is a production house like a manufactured home? Is the garage attached to the house? If like my mfg home and seperate shop I put in a 400A panel and then sent 200A to the house and 200A to the shop with its own seperate panel. You can see it in my build thread.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[C6Z]

Thanks all for the replies. As it turns out, I can't really make any significant changes with this builder anyways. It'll have to wait until after move-in.

 

[dipper]

well from the sounds of it you'll probably want at least a 200A main and run a 100amp subpanel out to the garage. You would save alot of money if they at least upgrade to a 200amp main from the get-go, that will save you $$$ in the future. Then all you have to do later on is install the subpanel.
The 200amp main quite possibly could be included in your build package.

 

[brownfoot]

at least ask about 400 amp service, 200 for house and 200 for garage, two seperate main panels to be installed at the build, one of them in the garage
getting additional amperage needed after the fact will more expensive and maybe impossible

when I built there was no additional charge for 400A service, only adder was the additional 200A main and all is on residential rate, if I had added a seperate 200A later it would be a commercial (higher) rate