Plug ins on light circut question.

[White 99]

I am going to install an electric cord reel from the ceiling of my garage. My original plan was to use a circuit already in the ceiling that has 3 duplex plug-ins used to run the electric garage door openers. To run the wire for another box to plug the reel into is getting to be a bigger project than I want.

Another option is wiring another box from a circuit that is switched and will run 4 more florescent light fixtures someday. Both circuits are 20 amps.

Will I have any problems running the reel with the normal things plugged into it on a light circuit?

 

[ibedayank]

Problem with running off the light ciruit is if you pop the breaker then your in the dark....
Kind of a safety issue to me. JMHO

 

[nehog]

Safety wise, other than leaving you potentially in the dark if the breaker trips (but I get the impression you have two lighting circuits, one unused right now), it would be relatively safe, if:

1. The breaker is properly sized for the existing wiring, and
2. There is a GFI on the circuit (may not be if we're talking a circuit that is currently only lights, no general outlets...) But that is easy to fix.

 

[Berserker]

I was thinking of this myself. I was going to add another GFI off the outlet for the garage door opener. You could even do a portable GFI on the reel.

Houses have had lights and outlets mixed forever.

For my garage I have other lighting circuits, though obviously I may not have them on. Just be careful about what you plug in. No heaters.

 

[ibedayank]

Houses yes have and have had mixed curcuits but in a house you don't have machines that can cut off fingers or tear your arm off. A machine will not ask your permission to hurt you it just does it. JMHO But i will run mine seperately. I have enough scars i do not want anymore.

 

[Berserker]

I am not planning on putting any big tools on a drop cord from the ceiling, I don't think many people want a big *** saw in the middle of the garage right under the opener.

I was either going to do an outlet overhead or a drop light. Drop light would probably be what I used it for.

 

[porschedude996TT]

You may want to test and see if you get a visible voltage drop with the tools you plan to use. Nothing bothers me more than dimming lighrs.

 

[White 99]

Thanks for the answers. I didn't think of the GFI. I suppose I should have one of them. Can I add one to the circut at the sub panel? Does GFI interfer with lights? I could put one in at the outlet but no one would think to look up there to see if it had poped.