Wiring an attached garage

[ottoguy]

I am adding a 50amp sub panel to my existing attached garage. The three car garage has one outlet from the home builder. The previous owner had extension cords and power strips everywhere, but I want to do it right.

I have a couple questions that if anyone could answer would be great.

For rough-in inspection, how do you rough-in outdoor outlets, or lights? I don't want to cut the hole in the wall and have the wire sticking out?

I am planning on running the wiring in the attic, and dropping it down through the walls. I will have to cut access holes in the drywall. Am I correct that I still need to staple the wire to the stud every 4'?

Finally am I allowed to run a conduit through a wall to the sub-panel box? The wall with the subpanel already has insulation since it is the wall against the house. I was thinking of running a conduit pipe down from the attic to the sub panel instead of fishing all the wires through the insulation?

Any tips or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Why not consider running surface mounted conduit to and from a surface mounted panel?

 

[wrigh003]

Why not consider running surface mounted conduit to and from a surface mounted panel?

If you want to do it right- this would be the easy way. The hard way to do it right would be to futz with all the drywall removal, run the wire in the stud cavities, staple where needed, etc., then re-drywall.

I'm lazy - I'd go the easy way. If you plan well, you can hide the conduit in corners, etc., then paint it to match the walls so it blends.

 

[ottoguy]

If you want to do it right- this would be the easy way. The hard way to do it right would be to futz with all the drywall removal, run the wire in the stud cavities, staple where needed, etc., then re-drywall.

I'm lazy - I'd go the easy way. If you plan well, you can hide the conduit in corners, etc., then paint it to match the walls so it blends.

I think I am going to do the drywall removal and attach it to the studs and such.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Electricians frequently snake cable (Romex) through existing walls and use remodel boxes that anchor to drywall and plaster. And I am sure they do not staple in the wall cavities.

For rough in inspections the boxes should be in place and the cables run and secured.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Generally, when adding wiring to a finished structure you don't have to worry about removing the drywall to secure the Romex to the studs. Yes, you can run a conduit down through the wall to the subpanel, as long as it's sized appropriately for the wire inside it. However, I don't know if that will make it any easier than just fishing the wire through there (I assume the insulation is fiberglass batt.)

 

[Kevin54]

For rough-in inspection, how do you rough-in outdoor outlets, or lights? I don't want to cut the hole in the wall and have the wire sticking out?

For rough in, you will need your boxes mounted with the wire to the boxes, rolled up in a small coil and tucked into the box. But they like to see how the wire gets there. If you don't want to remove the drywall, but have attic access, you can run the wire in the attic, then drop down into the wall cavity. They make a boxwith a wing on each end that is for remodeling. The wings will let it clamp to the drywall. Then you can get an electricians fish tape to snag your wires. Check this... http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/elect/remodel1/lighting/track2ft/oldworkbox.htm

 

[ottoguy]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I had seen those boxes for low voltage wiring, but will have to look for them for this job.

The question about rough-in for outdoor fixtures was what about rain? I am doing all this work as I have time, so I don't want to cut a hole in the side of the outside wall and leave it open for a few weeks. Guess I'll just have to get it all done except for the hole, and then do that part right before the inspector is coming.

I have fished the wires to power the sub panel, and found where the wires will fish down from the attic. I don't think I will put in a conduit since I think fishing the wires down won't be that bad.