Circuit question
Circuit question My wife and I are in the process of building a new house, complete with a three car garage. We'll be meeting with the builder in a couple weeks, to decide things like where we want phone and cable jacks, as well as any other "special needs". While I have the chance, I'd like to get the garage wired up the right way.
The plan is this:
Bay 1: Toolbox, workbench.
Bay 2: Camaro, possibly a two-post lift (eventually)
Bay 3: Wife's parking spot.
I've currently got a 120V compressor (2hp oil-free Craftsman). The only way I can use it at my house now is if I unplug the washing machine, since it's on a dedicated circuit. Otherwise, I trip the breaker immediately.
So, the question is, what size circuits do I run and how many? 20 amp? 30 amp? Realistically, even if I get the lift, the times when I'll need to run the lift and the compressor actively at the same time would be pretty infrequent.
Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
-Mike
The plan is this:
Bay 1: Toolbox, workbench.
Bay 2: Camaro, possibly a two-post lift (eventually)
Bay 3: Wife's parking spot.
I've currently got a 120V compressor (2hp oil-free Craftsman). The only way I can use it at my house now is if I unplug the washing machine, since it's on a dedicated circuit. Otherwise, I trip the breaker immediately.
So, the question is, what size circuits do I run and how many? 20 amp? 30 amp? Realistically, even if I get the lift, the times when I'll need to run the lift and the compressor actively at the same time would be pretty infrequent.
Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
-Mike
For some panels, like Square D "QO" line, breakers
are dirt cheap and all you'd see is copper and
labor. Have the builder locate the panel in the garage
on your "shop wall" and then it's real easy to add
more branches, breakers and armored wiring to feed
your power jones, on your own, at your leisure.
I've tapped off range circuit when living alone and
not cooking much (for sure, not cooking whilst in
the garage) and the dryer is another candidate.
But like I said, breakers under $10 makes adding a
dedicted branch a big "so what" for cost. If you
happen to have rolls of 10-ga wire and a bunch of
metal conduit & fittings laying about already.
I'd damn sure rather do that work myself than pay
electricians' rates.
are dirt cheap and all you'd see is copper and
labor. Have the builder locate the panel in the garage
on your "shop wall" and then it's real easy to add
more branches, breakers and armored wiring to feed
your power jones, on your own, at your leisure.
I've tapped off range circuit when living alone and
not cooking much (for sure, not cooking whilst in
the garage) and the dryer is another candidate.
But like I said, breakers under $10 makes adding a
dedicted branch a big "so what" for cost. If you
happen to have rolls of 10-ga wire and a bunch of
metal conduit & fittings laying about already.
I'd damn sure rather do that work myself than pay
electricians' rates.
Run at least 3 branches in your garage if you plan on doing any work. One dedicated line for half the lights/half the general use outlets, one branch for the other half of each (when you throw a breaker, you still can see!). One 20A for heavy single use item (compressor, welder, etc.) If you have enough slots avaiable, it is best to have two 15A branches for general use outlets (staggered around shop), a 15A for door openers, a 15A for general lighting (with a few lights on a different branch such as the openors), a dedicated 20 or 30A line for your welder (depends on what it is, you may need 220), and a dedicated 20A line for your compressor (which you may also want to have ready to go to 220 if you buy a bigger compressor). If you can leave a double slot avaialble for a future lift, that would be ideal. This setup would be overkill, but then again, it will be reliable. I also added one 15A circuit to a box on the ceiling which has a drop reel for a three plug outlet (30 feet long) and a drop down shop-light. That is the BEST thing we ever did in the garage. If you place it between the stalls, you can easily use both on either vehicle.
Originally Posted by 72ChevelleConv.LS1
I run 60Apm Pnl. at the bars and have a 7HP compressor 2 Post hoist, 32 welders and a plasmma cutter. works great!
