Question wiring recepticles

[Skdrcr23]

I'm wiring up the recepticles in my shop. I'm running
#12 thhn wire in 1/2 inch emt. The emt runs from the
breaker box to junction boxes, then down to each
recepticle box. My question is do I need 6 wires going
to from the junction box to the recepticles. 2 hot, 2 neutral, and 2 ground in order to wire them all on the
same circuit? Or can I just have 3 going in to the j box,
3 going down to the recepticles, and 3 exiting from the
j box to the next one and just use wire nuts?
Here is a pic of the layout. Thx for input.

 

[Junkman]

I know nothing about the code. I would be to break the wires at the T junction above the box, and drop down to the receptacle box with the 3 wires. In the junction box, you would have the 3 wires (black, black, black) wire nut together going to the next junction box. The same with the neutral white wire. You don't need a ground wire, since the EMT will act as a ground, if you install it correctly. That is the way that my electrician did it in my shop back in the 1980's, and I do know that codes change, so just take this advise with a grain of salt, and wait for the code guys to weigh in.

 

[Falcon67]

What you said last. Drop 3 from the boxes to the recepticals. Youll use a lot more wire doing it tge way you have it, but thats your call

 

[Mustang51js]

If its all one curcuit and all emt you only need a black and white,you can use the emt as ground. And just one set of wires down with splices in the j box

 

[matt_i]

Wire 3 from panel to first outlet box, wire 3 from first outlet box to second outlet box. 3 conductors from second to third, etc, etc, etc. The important step is that you "pigtail" the outlets and do NOT use the removable tab on the outlet as a current-carrying part of the circuit. Translation, use wirenuts to connect the black, white, green groups together in each outlet box. In each wirenut include a short length of same color wire (the pigtail) which then goes and terminates at the screws on the outlet itself. The green/ground group also has an extra wire as I install a ground wire that goes to the back of the metal box (buy the 4" square box with stamped "bump-in" for a pre-tapped hole). Pigtailing is of course extra work but worth it as now you have a current-carrying path that's "full sized" going down. If the break-off tab on the outlet has been used somewhere in the chain, I have seen it in person, it can burn off due to being undersized for the ampacity, and leave you with several problems...an overheated conductor, having to go back and redo all the outlets properly, etc, etc, etc.

I would not use the EMT as an equipment grounding conductor. Pull a green wire for that.

 

[Skdrcr23]

awesome, thx for the help guys.

 

[sberry]

In mine its 2 wires and a pipe.

 

[justsam]

Where is required GFCI?

If using a GFCI receptacle than you must run two sets of wires down to the first receptacle from the panel. From there you can use the junction boxes. All down stream receptacles will be on LOAD side of GFCI.

If using GFCI breaker, no need for two wire sets on first box, you are protected from panel out, and no chance of GFCI receptacle reset getting buried behind projects or cabinets.

 

[bjcouche]

You can do it either way, junction in the junction box, or junction in the outlet box. As JustSam said though, your first outlet needs to be through the GFCI outlet.
As to the need for the ground wire, or using the conduit for the ground.... I'd run the ground wire, that's just me, I look at ti like this:
If your state does not have a motorcycle helmet law, does that mean it's not a good idea to wear one?

Brian

 

[Falcon67]

Where is required GFCI?

If using a GFCI receptacle than you must run two sets of wires down to the first receptacle from the panel. From there you can use the junction boxes. All down stream receptacles will be on LOAD side of GFCI.

This is why I ran one drop to the start of a run, then went down the wall through the studs for the rest of the outlets. Most are quads, first of each plug run is a GFCI and a regular outlet on the load side, then on down the row with regular outlets. Less cable for sure.