wiring

I have 3 outlets in my garage that are on the same 20 amp breaker. I would like to have them all on separate 20 amp breakers. Is this something a person could do that has no wiring experience?..... Is there a electrical wiring book that I could purchase to help me accomplish this?....... If I need a electrician, is there anything I could do myself to help curb the cost?

 

Could you provide more information? Does the garage have finished walls? Is breaker panel in garage? Will breaker panel support additional breakers? How far from breaker panel to garage? Can you access breaker panel from ceiling? Any other info you might provide would be helpful.

 

My garage is drywalled.... The breaker panel is in the garage..... It has 6 freespaces in it..... Not sure about access from ceiling.

 

Going to give you an answer with a lot of if's. If the breaker panel is in a wall you can access easily sometimes it's possible to fish new wires into the breaker panel thru the ceiling. This requires great care especially if you need to do this while the panel is still hot. If you can access the ceiling for the walls in which you want to add the receptables it is possible to drill thru these walls and then fish wire to cutouts for new plug boxes. If you leave wire long enough to go to box and would rather leave box for electrician this would help cost. Or if you are good enough with sheetrock repairs you might remove sheetrock above breaker panel to ceiling, this would assist in getting wiring into panel, and then replace the sheetrock when wiring is in panel.

 

It's a garage. Tear out enough drywall to do the job and replace it afterwards -- it's pretty easy, drywall is cheap and easy to install, and the finish doesn't need to be perfect since it's just a garage.

The job you are attempting would be relatively easy for a person with previous electrical experience. But working inside the panel is not normally recommended as a first electrical project. I suggest getting some help, either from a pro or a knowledgeable friend. Working inside a panel is more dangerous than your average DIY job, and the consequences of error are more severe (both to you and to your house). It's not rocket science, but there are a number of ways to screw it up.

 

You can use PVC (Plastic Conduit") as the Wiring Method.This is a "surface" Wiring Method with the conduit and boxes set on the "face" of the sheet-rock. This can be done very neatly using factory bends, fittings ,and plenty of straps and a level for plumbing. Every receptacle must be a GFI receptacle and you'll use metal outlet-boxes. I suggest you become familiar with all the PVC fittings available and carefully pre-plan your project.---Good LucK!!!!

 

I agree with John here. It is MUCH easier to rip out the sheet rock especially if you have no experience fishing wires. Even with experience this can be a frustrating experience at times. And it also makes it considerably safer.

 

You should just leave the exisitng circuit as is and install new "dedicated" receptacles where you need them. If possible, install a pop-in box in the wall, run 12-2 romex into the attic (drill hole through top wall plate and "fish" wire down to box location before cutting hole for box), and install GFI receptacle in outlet box. Run separate cable from each of the 3 locations and leave enough of each in the attic above the panel to reach the bottom of panel (8-10 feet). Call in an electrician to fish the cables into the panel and hook them up. This could probably be done (depending on your particulars) on a one-hour service call.

 

I agree with MC,, leave the other as it is and add new. One or 2 might be able to be near or next to the panel and it wouldnt be any big deal. Since it is a sub panel you can shut it off completely to do the installs, this should make it safe and you should be able to see how the other wires are hooked up.

 

I agree with fishing the receptacles, but my understanding is that this is the main panel, not a subpanel in the garage. I would not want a DIYer fishing into a panel that has so much as one hot wire. As MC said, you could hire an electrician for that part, but realistically, if it's just a matter of sheetrock and no tape and bedding as is found in most garages, you can save yourself some money by doing that part of it yourself also.

 

If you decide to do the cut and patch method, the existing sheetrock may be 5/8" to meet firecode.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I think I'm going to go with Mcjunks idea with the new dedicated outlet..... I agree with me not doing the wiring to the main panel and letting an electrician do it also.... This shouldn't be to bad since the walls have no insulation..... How do I choose the right type of GFI outlet?

 

There is no wrong GFCI outlet. Any of them will do in this application.

 

You will need a roll of 12-2 wire, romex staples, a drill (preferably cordless) with a 1/2" wing bit, 18 cu.in. cut-in boxes (plastic) and 15A GFI Receptacles.

Drill a hole through the top plate into the wall where you want to install your receptacles. UNROLL your romex (Don't let it "barberpole") as needed. Straighten out 7-8 feet and let if fall through the hole and make sure it goes down to receptacle location. This won't be a problem since there is no insulation in the wall. If your cable goes down 4-5 feet and hits something then you have a perline across the stud cavity and will either have to cut the receptacle in above the perline or either cut sheetrock to get by the perline or cut in the box below, drill up through the perline, and then fish the wire through the perline (advanced technique). After you determine what you have, hold your cut-in box at the desired location and outline it with a pencil. Cut out the sheetrock with a sheetrock (keyhole) saw. You may want to probe the desired area with a screwdriver before you cut just to make sure your box will fit into the wall. Pull the wire out the box hole and strip 8" of outer insulation. Insert wire into box and install box into hole in wall. Install receptacle. Roll out enough cable for hookup at panel and staple every 4 1/2'.

 

You could mount one if the location would work right under the panel in the same stud bay and not have to do any drywall repair. Actually 2, one each side. Cut the box hole in and then put the romex connector on the wire where its needed and push up to box and then add the nut inside the box. There are several ways to do this job and circuits near the panel are the best for heavy power tools.

 

You're probably right about a panel in a garage (concrete slab). Chances are that most of the circuits exit the panel through the top but each installation is different. I would check inside the panel and make sure there aren't a bunch of wires heading out the bottom. Also, if there is a 200 amp service cable heading out the bottom you wouldn't want to cut a hole under the panel only to have that fat cable in your way.

 

I took sberry27's idea and mounted the 2 outlets below the main panel and then had a electrician wire them up.... Thanks for all your help!......... I'm in business now!