Single 20amp breaker upgrade?

[mjozefow]

Hello all-

I recently bought my first house and it has a two car garage. The house was built in 1992 and the builder certainly did not plan for anyone doing anything other than parking in the garage. I have a single GFCI outlet in the front on a 20 amp breaker. The breaker box for the whole house is ~3ft away. I am wondering if I could add more outlets (say ten around the garage) and upgrade to a 30amp breaker.

I would of course rewire EVERYTHING on the circuit with heavier gauge wire.

This is not an ideal setup but being a college student I am very fortunate to have a garage at all, and would like to make this a bit more workable than it is for not a ton of cash.

Thanks,
Mitch

 

[sberry]

No and there is no need, the 30A breakers are for specialty circuits, not for general use.

 

[mjozefow]

Ok, then what would be the proper way to add more outlets? The box is full.

I realize that I could add more outlets onto a 20amp breaker w/o issue. However, if my compressor kicks on while I'm grinding something it will trip a 20amp breaker. I am wondering if I can just beef up the entire circuit enough to safely run both.

 

[porschedude996TT]

And why can't you add convenience outlets to this single receptacle 20amp GFI protected circuit?

I have two 20amp circuits in my new shop build that each have 10 duplex 20amp convenience receptacles over the work benches. Each of the two 20amp circuits has an outside receptacle with a weather cover.

You might want to look into a breaker that has two breakers in a single unit module that could be used to increase the quantity of breakers in the panel. The panel schedule may show that you can add doubled breakers that could be used to add a separate circuit for the air compressor.

Don't increase the breaker size. Think of the breaker as a device to protect the wires in the wall. If you have wiring rated at 20amps, and you increase the breaker size, then the wire is not protected. I don't think in a residential building there is a limit to how many convenience receptacles can strung on a 20amp breaker. Some say that there is a maximum of 13 becuase of a figure that is shown in the NEC, but I don't recall the NEC stating that the maximum is ** units. By design the receptacles limit the amp capacity that is plugged into the receptacle because of the prong arrangement. It does not take into consideration a short or failure within the device you have plugged into the receptacle. The breaker will take care of the wiring in the wall and the smoking drill motor that has an over current condition may heat the power cord, but the NEC can't protect for latter issue.

 

[mjozefow]

You might want to look into a breaker that has two breakers in a single unit module that could be used to increase the quantity of breakers in the panel. The panel schedule may show that you can add doubled breakers that could be used to add a separate circuit for the air compressor.

That sounds like a good idea. So I could make 2-20amp circuits on one breaker space?

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

The dual breakers are one way, or removing a couple of the current ones, and placing a larger breaker and subbox with the garage breakers (and the two moved) is another.

 

[porschedude996TT]

That sounds like a good idea. So I could make 2-20amp circuits on one breaker space?

I would and then also think of putting in a 20amp 220v breaker and receptacle for bigger compressor.

It would be easier to comment if we knew the panel size and what the existing system looked like. Model number of panel, existing circuit breaker sizes, etc.