Broconne's Wiring Adventure
- Thread starter broconne
- Start date
AceCannon
Active Member
I've thought about it. . I would think future proofing would entail running big enough Romex to allow 220 at high current. That would of course cover 110 or 220. You could even leave it behind the drywall until you decided it was needed. Leave the head end unterminated, also.
Would you put it on each side wall? I guess the issue I am seeing is, if you put it on the side walls and the hookup is on the other side then you have an extension cord issue. So, I think to be really safe you would want 4. Two to the middle, and one on each side. Of course, that will more than likely be pretty expensive. I wonder if code allows them to just sit in the wall and not be terminated on either end? That would be something I could finish up myself when needed.
I hope plugin hybrids disable starting the car when it is still plugged in. I could see a few "oops" and things being ripped out of the walls if these cars are used in the future.
icellama21
Active Member
I'd run at least 8/3 romex to the garage, car location, etc. You don't need to terminate it at either end, but who knows what the requirement will be in the future. I'd imagine for compatibility it will be a standard 15amp 110V outlet, but better be safe than sorry. If you are buying the wire from a distributor it is pretty cheap.
It is the electrician charge, not the wire charge that will get me.
Running it afterwards will be very tough, no access from below, and drywalled/trimmed out.
icellama21
Active Member
In that case I'd tell the electrician to put the garage outlets on a 20A circuit if they are not already. Usually there is kind of a "shop" circuit for future appliances that has its own dedicated outlet or two. That could end up being your car circuit in the future. An electrician will charge you a fortune to run heavier wire, don't know why, just standard practice. I'm sure any future car charging circuits will be aware of what most people have(i.e. extension cords).
felixrosbergen
Senior Member
I realized too late that i don't have any outlet in the garage...so defintely somethign to consider...workhop will be in the basement,...but still nice to be able to hook up a power washer or something..
As somebody already said...whatever is developed they must take into account that it would be a serious sales damper if you had to get a electrician to bring in new power to your garage...so i would suspect a couple of well place 110V / 20A outlets would do the trick..maybe have each side on a seperate circuit so you can charge 2 cars.. If you want to be carefull have them pre-wire it as 240V -2 phase, but then terminate as regular 110v /20A if thats allowed by code.
You cannot have unterminatad wires in the walls, but a if the wires end with a wirenut in a box with a blank cover plate i believe that is acceptable..
As somebody already said...whatever is developed they must take into account that it would be a serious sales damper if you had to get a electrician to bring in new power to your garage...so i would suspect a couple of well place 110V / 20A outlets would do the trick..maybe have each side on a seperate circuit so you can charge 2 cars.. If you want to be carefull have them pre-wire it as 240V -2 phase, but then terminate as regular 110v /20A if thats allowed by code.
You cannot have unterminatad wires in the walls, but a if the wires end with a wirenut in a box with a blank cover plate i believe that is acceptable..
AceCannon
Active Member
Just my thoughts - but I would not be surprised if future electric cars had the ability to charge via 110 or 220, allowing for a quicker charge with 220. If I was doing this in my new home, I would use really heavy-gauge wire and not terminate it on either end. And I'd get the Romex myself and run the wire, not involve the sparky. I suspect the eventual circuit breaker would be bigger than 20A, also.
mustangcoupe
Senior Member
as a minimum I'd add a piece of empty 2 inch conduit, terminating into a box then you could add wire later for whatever is needed
I cannot see the layouts since I am at work and our tech dept blocks a lot of stuff. But definitely have good electrical outlets in the garage. Many times the extra freezer or frig gets placed in the garage. You also want to be able to plug in work lights and power equipment for projects or working on the car, a blower for the driveway, etc.
I'm amazed how few outlets are generally put in the garage and how many times you need more than what is installed. At every house I've bought, I've had to retrofit the garage for more outlets.
I'm amazed how few outlets are generally put in the garage and how many times you need more than what is installed. At every house I've bought, I've had to retrofit the garage for more outlets.
beelzerob
Senior Member
Ditto. I added 3 outlets, together on their own 20 amp breaker, just because I know some of the woodworking equipment I had was right at 15 amps, so it would have probably tripped a normal breaker.
Of course, right now, those outlets only run an extra fridge and freezer...
but absolutely, you'll want plugs in the garage. Of course, assuming you've got wired power for the garage door openers, you can always just tap into those...
Of course, right now, those outlets only run an extra fridge and freezer...
but absolutely, you'll want plugs in the garage. Of course, assuming you've got wired power for the garage door openers, you can always just tap into those...
Neurorad
Senior Member
Refrigerators, by code, require a dedicated circuit, I think.
I have 2 in my garage - one is not on a dedicated circuit, but it only holds 'beverages'.
If you can, add some exterior outlets as well - car vacuum, hedgeclippers.
I had a spigot added to the outside of my house last fall. The only spigot near my garage was inside the garage, surrounded by [peeling, damaged] drywall. I had a plumber add a valve along the supply line to that spigot, so I could shut it off during the winter. The spigot is located on an exterior wall, between 2 garage bays, and subject to freezing.
Add a spigot at the back of your house?
Have you considered irrigation/sprinklers, and where the controller might be located? Wire runs to the controller?
I have 2 in my garage - one is not on a dedicated circuit, but it only holds 'beverages'.
If you can, add some exterior outlets as well - car vacuum, hedgeclippers.
I had a spigot added to the outside of my house last fall. The only spigot near my garage was inside the garage, surrounded by [peeling, damaged] drywall. I had a plumber add a valve along the supply line to that spigot, so I could shut it off during the winter. The spigot is located on an exterior wall, between 2 garage bays, and subject to freezing.
Add a spigot at the back of your house?
Have you considered irrigation/sprinklers, and where the controller might be located? Wire runs to the controller?
Ditto. I added 3 outlets, together on their own 20 amp breaker, just because I know some of the woodworking equipment I had was right at 15 amps, so it would have probably tripped a normal breaker.
Of course, right now, those outlets only run an extra fridge and freezer...
I went into one of the models today and they only had two outlets in the garage.. *gulp*. One at the front and one at the rear. I am paying for a fridge outlet and water hookup for an ice maker out there so that will get me three. I want at least one more in the rear and if they move the other one over to where the workbench will be, that should be sufficient. On the workbench I can setup a power strip.
Time to find out from the builder what I can do to prep for plugin hybrids I am hoping just conduit.
