Wiring strategy - Codes

[yeldogt]

I about to start a major remodel of my 2 building 1700sf garage/shop and I'm looking for some strategies to create some flexibility in the wiring. My past experience: Much planning and $$ goes into the outlet placement ....and .... it ends up being wrong .. especially frustrating with floor outlets. Most outlets go unused and you need double in some spots.

The newer of the two buildings is made out of structured insulated panels and was never wired. All the wiring will need to be surface mounted -- for those who have had to surface mount ..........what problems did you run into? I was thinking Emt at around 50" off the floor and branch off from that. I know the spot for the compressor -- so I could run a separate one for that.

The older building needs to be gutted. I am going to replace the concrete floor and have it spray foamed. It currently has a 100amp sub-panel and some electric. My thought was to install 120v outlets/ switches typically and then run wires for the lighting and any wires needed for the newer building prior to installing the walls.

This was my other thought: Install wainscoting around the perimeter of the interior with a 4" shelf at about 50" and either build a chase (preferred) under the shelf for wires or mount Emt and do as I am doing in the other building. What I don't understand is how is that chase treated under the electric code? The chase would allow me to install 220v outlets where I need them and then any higher up 120v outlets that I may need.

Thoughts?

 

[rockwithjason]

it depends on what the chase is made of and how many wires you plan to run in it. if the chase is wood and the wires are in romex or mc cable then you will have to provide some other form of protection to keep the cables 1 1/4" away from any surface where nails or screws could penetrate. if you run emt then the protection is already provided. if you run more than 3 current carrying conductors in the chase then you will need to derate the wire according to article 310. you will also have to allow enough space in the fabricated chase for the wire or cable in question. can it be done? sure, but you will need to meet all of the needed design criteria

 

[yeldogt]

I was thinking of mounting a 1x6 horizontally on the wall and mount the shelf on top with another 1x6 mounted like a crown moulding -- to hold the shelf -- this would also create the chase. It would make a triangle inside.

Or I cold mount the emt to the surface of this angled 1x -- and feed the emt from wires run from the panel prior to drywalling.

 

[Mustang51js]

As long as you keep the wires at 1-1/4 away like stated above and can't be damaged easily you shouldn't have an issue. I would put some short peices of wood front to back every two feet and that will be your supports,and then you could even put plywood strips to cover everything later so it incases the wires