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Questions on adding outlets

melliott28

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2010
Messages
181
Location
Plano, TX
I would like to add some outlets in my 2-car attached garage. Currently, there are 2 outlets in the garage. One is a GFCI on the wall that is connected to 2 outlets in the master bathroom and an outside outlet (on a 15amp breaker). The other is on the ceiling for the garage door opener and is also wired to a light in the garage attic, the garage overhead light, an overhead light & outlet in the laundry room, and the downstairs hall light (also on a 15 amp breaker). It seems to me the best outlet to add to would be the the GFCI. I briefly looked at the electrical code for my city, but it isn't clear to me what is and is not legal for adding outlets. I'm hoping some of the GJ electrical gurus can help me out. My questions are:

- I would like the existing GFCI outlet to protect the non-garage outlets and add a second GFCI to protect the new outlets. Would it be acceptable to "Y" the line (use wire nuts to connect pigtails from the outlets) coming from the breaker and add a second GFCI? Is a connection like this something that could fail an inspection?

- I've used google to do some research on this, but it isn't clear what the maximum number of outlets you can have on a 15 amp circuit. From what I've read online, it is either 8 or 10. Does anyone have a definitive answer? (I would like to add as many as is permitted)

- I plan on using surface mount outlets and metal conduit. I've read that using NM cable inside conduit is not recommended, except to protect the cable. But, I have about 30 feet of 14-2 cable that is leftover from a lighting project and I don't want to purchase new wire. I plan on having 2-3 short runs (less than 5 feet of conduit per section), all of which are straight. Any issues with using NM cable in this instance? Also, do you think an inspector would fail the work if NM is used?
 
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Falcon67

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
18,371
Location
Merkel, TX
I would just come off the existing GFCI for your outlets if you are not running a new circuit. The garage GFCI is likely only protecting the outside outlet and not the bedroom units. Hit the TEST key on the GFCI and you can test what's still hot. Most GFCIs have provisions for clamping two sets of feed and load wires.

I don't think there is a code issue with NM in conduit, but for what you're doing - really, so what. Pigtail grounds to your boxes where the outlets are placed and don't depend on the conduit its self for a ground path. I've done this, makes for a easy to re-configure outlet setup. I would not both to call for an inspection on it, anyway.
 
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