Polebarn to shop, romex or run exposed conduit

[brownsmustang]

Guys as some of you may have seen in my other thread, I am under contract for a property that has a 30x40 pole shed on it. It is wired for electric, but it's just lights and an outlet or two as they just used it for parking. My plans are to turn this into a workshop for my automotive hobby. I am going to remove the asphalt, pour a slab and insulate and finish the walls and ceiling.

I am looking into the electric situation and am looking for pros and cons of just running romex inside the walls, or running the electric in exposed conduit.

 

[sberry]

It doesnt all have to be the same.

 

[Kaizen]

I surface mounted everything so I can change easily in future as needs change


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[brownsmustang]

I surface mounted everything so I can change easily in future as needs change


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I'm thinking of that very thing. It'll cost more but may be worth it in the long run.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I'll add another vote for air sealing, insulating, and finishing the walls - then surface mount your electrical.

 

[nadogail]

I'll add another vote for air sealing, insulating, and finishing the walls - then surface mount your electrical.

Repeat after me, "It's a shop, not a showroom"

 

[Kaizen]

Repeat after me, "It's a shop, not a showroom"

But my shop is nicer then my house and more comfortable because it was built right. I’m really embracing the air sealing and envelope ways of doing things after living in century old houses my whole life


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[Kaizen]

I'm thinking of that very thing. It'll cost more but may be worth it in the long run.

I honestly didn’t price the differences. But I really love it. I laid it out in my head and then in paper so it looks nice. Used a laser. I just miscalculated some boxes by a foot as I changed some cabinets. No problem. Took 30 min to bend a new piece and rerun. The 3rd pic all will be above the ceiling except for one piece between lights. All wire will be accessible after ceiling is up and done.






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[Noltz]

I am surface mounting in my attached 2 car garage.

Plan all your outlet locations including garage door openers. How many different lighting circuits do you want? Dimmable? I like having a beer with the door open and don't need 3000 watts shining down. But if I'm working on car I want lots of light. Anything needing 240? where does that live? I like the look of a 3/4" conduit (mine is 8" off the ground) and using T shaped conduit boxes to bring the outlets up to working height single gang. Its neat and tidy. I'm using PVC because its easy to handle and I had access to leftovers. Do you want a compressor? Where does that live? Are you going to build a sound enclosure? Mine is in a lean-to shed outside, with a switched outlet letting me turn it on and off from in the garage.

If you're not sure where things might land, add extra T boxes along the conduit and break your feeder line. Then you can add an outlet there at a later time with minimal fuss.

 

[larry_g]

I have both. I planned 'chases' out of my panel so that I can remove a few covers and then run wires into the panel and get up above so that I can make the run. Then drop into a conduit to come down. It works for me.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Stuart in MN]

It is possible to install the receptacles where you want them in the first place...I built my garage nearly 30 years ago and I haven't felt the need to move one yet.

 

[bad_idea]

Do you want to spend your money ON the shop or IN the shop? Do you want flat walls to hang things on wherever desired, or do you want to locate items around the conduit?

I built my 30x40x12 two years ago, doing a lot of the work myself. To include the electrical. My shop is 2x6 wood studded. I ran romex through the studs. The walls are still open with no insulation. I ran a very basic electrical setup to support basic work. As I set the shop up and refine where I want things I am running electrical as needed. Cheaper and easier.

I left myself plenty of room to grow. I ran a 90 amp service into the garage with a large sub panel with plenty of breaker slots. With the walls open it is very easy to run a new circuit when needed.

Maybe in ten years I will finish the walls and I should have the shop layout sorted by then.

 

[brownsmustang]

I am surface mounting in my attached 2 car garage.

Plan all your outlet locations including garage door openers. How many different lighting circuits do you want? Dimmable? I like having a beer with the door open and don't need 3000 watts shining down. But if I'm working on car I want lots of light. Anything needing 240? where does that live? I like the look of a 3/4" conduit (mine is 8" off the ground) and using T shaped conduit boxes to bring the outlets up to working height single gang. Its neat and tidy. I'm using PVC because its easy to handle and I had access to leftovers. Do you want a compressor? Where does that live? Are you going to build a sound enclosure? Mine is in a lean-to shed outside, with a switched outlet letting me turn it on and off from in the garage.

If you're not sure where things might land, add extra T boxes along the conduit and break your feeder line. Then you can add an outlet there at a later time with minimal fuss.

Yes on the 240, I have welders, plasma cutters air compressor etc... my compressor will be in an enclosure in the lean to section, controlled by contactor thats wired into my light circuit, lights off compressor off. Great idea on the tee junctions.