Single 15A options

[fantasygoat]

Right now I am fixing up an old 1920's single car garage that has a single wire coming from the house to provide one 15A 120v circuit.

Ideally I'd like to run multiple circuits to run all kinds of things but it's currently cost prohibitive.

I'd like to run a compressor for painting and other tools out there but I'm obviously restricted to 120v.

What are my options here?

 

[rslaback]

There really aren't any options. If that line goes back to the panel you could probably put a couple more outlets on it (are your lights on it too?) but beyond that you are going to need to run a few more circuits out there. My personal suggestion would be to run a subpanel out there.

 

[over40pirate]

My barn shop is 20 x 24, and has a single 15 amp circuit.
I've used it for 12 years. I do have a "few" power strips. 5 as I recall.
I run a 1hp Unisaw, 1 1/2hp planer, 3/4hp jointer and some other machines that draw less juice. The ts, planer and other machines are plugged into quad outlets. The power strips are mainly for lights, and hand power tools.
Unisaw would blow circuit breaker on power strip, with a load.
I put a small breaker box, with a 15 amp breaker, in the shop, so I wouldn't have to go into the rental house garage to reset. Yes they know they pay for my shop elec.!
I have no problems as I only use 1 tool at a time.

 

[pattenp]

Is the garage attached to the house or detached? This will make a big difference as to what you can do.

Also this post belongs in the Electrical forum.

 

[fantasygoat]

It's fully detached and across the yard.

 

[pattenp]

Because of being detached there can only be one power feed circuit to the garage. Your only option for more power is to run a new feeder from the main panel to the garage. The existing wire could be re-purposed as a switch loop with power supplied at the garage to operate some lights at the garage from the house.

 

[Norcal]

Only one circuit is permitted out to a structure by the NEC, a multiwire (common neutral & two hot conductors) counts as one circuit or a feeder for a panel in the garage are the only options other then leaving it as-is.

 

[fantasygoat]

Could I run 240v out to the garage and split it into two 120v circuits? I mean, it's still technically one circuit but it could support more amperage.

 

[Beemer533]

Could I run 240v out to the garage and split it into two 120v circuits? I mean, it's still technically one circuit but it could support more amperage.

That would be the point of a sub panel.

You would provide, lets say a 60A 240v feed to the garage into a small sub panel. From the sub panel you would install breakers to feed various 120V (or 240v) circuits in the garage.

Is the current cable in a conduit?

 

[fantasygoat]

No, it's conduit until it gets outside then it's outdoor, exposed wires to the garage with a separate ground wire.

 

[pattenp]

I assume right now you have a cable with 3 wires. To provide a feed that serves as 120/240V you need to have 4 wires.

 

[Beemer533]

You mean a separate ground back to the panel? Or something different?

 

[fantasygoat]

There's a 2-pair wire running, plus someone added a separate ground wire sometime in the distant past.

 

[Beemer533]

Yeah, that will need to be replaced...

 

[fantasygoat]

How much do you think that work would cost to get a pro electrician to do?

Run new wire, subpanel, etc?

Just wondering on ballpark whether to even pursue it or just stick to limited power for now.

 

[rslaback]

If this is a 1920's garage and my visualization of what you have in place for wiring is correct, I would consider replacing the feed line before I did much more than turn on the lights.

 

[rslaback]

How far away is it? Are you willing to dig the trench?

 

[fantasygoat]

The wiring is overhead. No buried wires in my area.

 

[pattenp]

What part of the country do you live in. You may need to check with your local building department to see what's required if doing a new feeder.

Edit: If redoing overhead you should be able to use Quadruplex Service Drop.

http://www.southwire.com/ProductCatalog/XTEInterfaceServlet?contentKey=prodcatsheet35



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[fantasygoat]

I'm in Canada. Toronto, specifically.

 

[pattenp]

I'm in Canada. Toronto, specifically.

That's makes a big difference because the info I'm giving is based on US electrical code.

 

[fantasygoat]

Sure, but even in the US the codes vary by city and I'm sure it's similar.

 

[Voi]

I'd like to run a compressor for painting and other tools out there but I'm obviously restricted to 120v.

What are my options here?

When we bought our house the entire three car garage was on one 15 amp circuit, including all three garage door openers, the lights and the few outlets it had.

It was just poured concrete walls and I wanted to add insulation and electric so I had to run saws and compressors to get that done.

I found out it can be done but you have to be careful and educate your wife or any other helpers you may have. She learned quick that if the compressor was running to not open the garage door.