Re: Wiring Garage/shop


"John Grabowski" <jgrabows1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4aa70088$0$4988$607ed4bc@xxxxxxxxx

As you know I am working on wiring a detached garage/shop. I am a
newbie. I have attached a link to my work thus far. I am having a
little trouble figuring out how to route everything. Any helpful
advice is appreciated.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42254706@N03/

*I usually use metal boxes in garages due to the firewall
requirement.
You
should not install your wiring devices until after the drywall is
installed.
The routing of the cable seems fine except that Romex cannot extend
over
four feet without being supported. If the space above the ceiling is
going
to be an accessible attic space you will need to install running
boards
along side of your cables. Throw in a couple of nailplates in the
corners
to protect the cable from nails.

I see that you are using 12/2 for lighting. It sounds like overkill.
Did
you actually figure out what your lighting load is going to be?
There is
no
need for a GFCI circuit breaker for your outdoor lighting however
your
garage receptacles are required to be GFCI protected including the
one
on
the ceiling. A GFCI receptacle is cheaper than a GFCI circuit
breaker
and
can protect receptacles downstream.

Since you seem to be using all 12/2 be mindful of the cubic inch
capacity
of
your boxes. Each wiring device uses the equivalent of two conductors
and
must be considered when calculating your total number of wires in a
box.

Since this probably a subpanel your ground wires in the circuit
breaker
panel need to go onto the ground bar and not the neutral bar.
Grounds
and
neutrals are kept separate in a subpanel. You will need to run four
conductors to feed your subpanel. Remove the green bonding screw
from
the
neutral bar. I think that a main breaker is required in the panel
for
this
installation, but I would need to look it up to be sure. If that two
pole
breaker in the lower left is going to be your main it will need to
be
held
down with a screw or clamp. Check the panel labeling for the part
number
for this.

My panel is "upside down" The instructions said to mount it this way
if the panel will be "bottom fed". Which mine will. SO the ground buss
is on the left and the neutral bus is on the right.

*The neutral buss is on each side and you currently have your ground
wires
connected to the left side neutral bar. You are supposed to connect
each
neutral below the corresponding circuit breaker for easy
identification.
The ground bar is that small little screw terminal strip on the left
set
back from the neutral bar. You can probably install at least two wires
under
each screw on the ground bar which is why it is so small. The panel
labeling will tell you the number of wires per screw allowed. The
label
may
also have a diagram of the interior of the panel confirming the
neutral
bar
on each side.

Please tell me that you will be having this work inspected.- Hide
quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

I will double check but the bank on the right says "neutral" and the
one on the left says "ground". I plan on using this as a garage and
hobby shop. I was told I could have a maximum of 13 outlets on one
circuit so I figured 11 was ok. I figured it would be rare to run more
than one thing at a time.

Sounds like your adviser is mistaking commercial outlet requirements for
residential outlet requirements. There is no minimum or maximum amount
of
outlets per circuit. As John Grabowski points out, there is something
peculiar about the neutral buss. I recognize the panel as a GE brand,
and
there should be a bridge connecting the two neutral busses, which I
don't
see.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The person that advised me was the electrical inspector. He said to
figure 1.5 amps per outlet. 1.5 x 13 = 19.5 amps. (all mine are 20 amp
circuts.

i will double check when I get home but I really belive I only have
one neutral buss and the other is ground. This is a 100 amp GE panel
with 100 amp main breaker. Bought at Lowes.

It would be odd, for the panel to be built with a ground buss off to the
side, as yours is, and another ground "only" buss set on insulators, as
yours is. As I said, that panel comes with a bridge, that connects both
sides of the neutral buss together. It's entirely possible that it was
tampered with. Your electrical inspectors recommendation of figuring 1.5
amps per receptacle is fine, and I would figure fewer outlets per circuit
in your situation, however that is a commercial calculation, not
residential.


*Roy I looked again at the photo and I noticed this before and thought it
odd, but now it makes sense. There are two lugs on the right neutral bar
and one on the left neutral bar. There may have been an accessory piece
for the installer to connect the two bars, but the OP left it off. Or
maybe a piece of wire is to be used if the neutral bar on both sides was
needed. In that case the OP is correct in using the left side as a ground
bar and the green screw should be installed. I've used the GE panels
before and have never seen this. Maybe it is something new. This
probably is a 12/24 panel that can also be used for service entrance hence
the reason for being convertible.

I think you hit the nail on the head. I wouldn't be surprised if these
panels are specially built for places like HD and Lowes. The OP's
description sounds perfectly legitimate, yet I've never seen one that came
that way, straight out of the box


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Wiring Garage/shop
    ... >> panel need to go onto the ground bar and not the neutral bar. ... >> neutrals are kept separate in a subpanel. ... > *The neutral buss is on each side and you currently have your ground> wires ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Wiring Garage/shop
    ... A GFCI receptacle is cheaper than a GFCI circuit breaker ... panel need to go onto the ground bar and not the neutral bar. ... neutrals are kept separate in a subpanel. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Wiring Garage/shop
    ... panel need to go onto the ground bar and not the neutral bar. ... neutrals are kept separate in a subpanel. ... Remove the green bonding screw from ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Wiring Garage/shop
    ... A GFCI receptacle is cheaper than a GFCI circuit breaker ... panel need to go onto the ground bar and not the neutral bar. ... neutrals are kept separate in a subpanel. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
    ... It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, ... bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. ... (which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral). ... don't like grounds and neutrals on the same bus. ...
    (alt.home.repair)