[Jack0314]

At the end of July, I will be moving into a newly built home in Kansas City, MO. The builder has included one 20-amp circuit and a dual 20-amp outlet, high on the garage wall.

I plan on having a shop with a table saw, miter saw, drill press, random orbital sander. etc. In addition, whichever device I am using at any time will be plugged into my shop vac and Dust Right Separator. So, at any point in time, I will have the shop vac and a tool operating. In addition, in winter, I will probably have a space heater going also.

Since I doubt that any of these will be able to reach the outlet high on the wall, what is the best way to get power from the outlet to the tools? Is there such a thing as a 20-amp extension and power strip? I've checked big box store sites and see extension cords, but none that can handle more than one outlet.

Thanks, Jack

 

[Geochurchi]

Why is this outlet so high? If it’s new construction have the contractor install the outlets where you can use them, why Micky Mouse stuff , get it done right to start with.

 

[Jack0314]

Why is this outlet so high? If it’s new construction have the contractor install the outlets where you can use them, why Micky Mouse stuff , get it done right to start with.

I'm not sure how high it is - I've only seen a brief video of out realtor doing a walk around as they are still putting up drywall and it looks like it is around head level.

Even if it is middle of the wall, how would I get power from it to various tools that may be spread out across the back and side walls of the garage?

I probably should have mentioned in the original post, the home is my daughter's and she has been up to see if a few weeks ago - I have not seen it yet, other than the quick video the realtor sent.

Thanks, Geo!

 

[chandler48]

During the construction phase is the time to do it right. One receptacle does not make a shop. Have him install receptacles 40 or so inches off the floor all along the wall spaced about every 3rd stud. Now is also the time to think about higher voltage/amperage tools that you may be dreaming of. All my shop tools run off 240 volts for spool up purposes. Welder. The garage may have two or more circuits depending on your dreams.

Do this even if it costs more. It will cost even more later on, so now is the time to save money.

 

[dcwired]

Normal height is apx. 42" (just above a workbench). Defiantly request (pay extra for) a 2nd circuit as well as for a heater. I would say a 20 amp 240 volt receptacle for a 4000 watt portable heater.

 

[SW Dweller]

I installed a 20 amp outlet at 48" and then ran plug mold that was 6' long 1 on one side and 2 on the other side. Plug mold can be expensive I got lucky and found some used on CL. I then found a short 25' foot 12 gauge extension cord so I could move the table saw and other tools around easily.

Best get a handle on what your going to needs and then approach the builder. They will rape you for this.

 

[C'est Moi]

There are many ways to get power where you want it but it may mean running some raceway or conduit around the garage.

 

[u2slow]

Normal height is apx. 42" (just above a workbench).

Most standing-height workbenches (bar height) are 40-42" tall, so I suggest a bit higher.

Better yet.... get your benches and equipment in place first, and wire receptacles in EMT after.

 

[chandler48]

I've got mine in every 4th bay but I have 4 drop outs at about 7' off the floor. 240 volt receptacles, 1 on each of the 3 walls, separate circuits. Welder separate.

 

[MTVhike]

Assuming the garage walls won't be finished, it is easy to add more receptacles. The low-hanging fruit would be to put a receptacle below each of the high ones (assuming the builder is not willing to move them gratis). You didn't say how many circuits; you definitely need more circuits, especially if you plan to have an electric heater. You don't want to be unplugging tools every time you switch, so you should have enough receptacles to power all the tools you're likely to use at one time. They don't have to be on separate circuits, but they should be not on the lighting or heating circuit. I recently wired up a new workshop in my new unfinished garage. I put a GFCI receptacle on the left end of the work end of the future workbench, a quad receptacle on each of the window, and a third duplex on the right-hand wall. All of these are connected to the load side of the GFCI. Lights are on a different circuit, and I don't plan to have a heater, although it would be easy to add an additional circuit since the subpanel is in the same room.

 

[dcwired]

The #1 thing is getting enough circuits, then relocating via wire mold/plugmold if necessary. Do not stop at minimum during new construction even if some rock has to be removed. When you move into a house with a 30 year mortgage the last thing you want to do is be disappointed.

 

[Missouri Bound]

Is the breaker panel in the garage as well?

 

[seharper]

The builder has included one 20-amp circuit and a dual 20-amp outlet, high on the garage wall.

I plan on having a shop with a table saw, miter saw, drill press, random orbital sander. etc. In addition, whichever device I am using at any time will be plugged into my shop vac and Dust Right Separator. So, at any point in time, I will have the shop vac and a tool operating. In addition, in winter, I will probably have a space heater going also.

Want to run a kiln too, while you're at it?

That's a 120V/20A circuit. It is only 2400W after all. 1 tool + dust collector will max out the circuit, and the rest of your laundry list will insanely overload it. It's just not gonna happen.

The 120V/20A circuit in the garage is the baseline NEC bare minimum. That requirement was put there in response to EVs, to assure level 1 or 1+ charging is possible in any garage (30-75 miles per 10 hours). If I were king, 15A circuits would be allowed for lighting and general use, and the 20A circuit would serve only 1 "bonus" outlet. Then it could be re-jumpered for 240V, giving level 2 EV charging at 100-150 miles in 10 hours. Yes, on #12 wire.

Anyway, I don't know if that was done with your circuit, but if you have other circuits, you might be better off putting the dust collector, lighting and misc loads on the other circuit, and converting the 20A circuit to 240V. Now you have 4800W and you can actually run a table saw at the same time as a small heater. If you want more heat than that, get a mini-split heat pump. Those make 3-5 watts of heat for every watt of power you give them. So you could run as big a mini-split as anyone will ever put in a garage, plus all sorts of tools.

 

[afjes2015]

Now would be the time to go there and meet with the electrician on the job and go over what you want. As mentioned now is the perfect time to do it. It may end up costing you far more time and money later especially if you are not capable of doing the work as DIY.

 

[AllanJ]

(For DIYers only) Request one 6 gauge branch circuit from the primary house breaker panel to the garage where they end that circuit in a large junction box. That can be all that the contractor will rape you for. (The 20 amp 120 volt circuit to the garage stays in place.) .From the junction box you can, at your leisure, pull your own permit and put a subpanel and run 15 and 20 amp 120 volt branch circuits and a few 120/240 volt branch circuits in Wiremold along the walls of the garage and perhaps have some outlet boxes (on cords approved for that purpose) hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the garage.. This gives you 55 amps @ 240 volts or roughly 110 amps @ 120 volts or any combination in between.

 

[seharper]

And, when you sell your house, you point at it and go "EV charger!" and they up their offer by a grand or three.
We've been seeing a lot of that, buyers are like "I might get an EV" and they'd rather bump their offer and add $8/month to the mortgage, than buy a house with none and spend $500-4000 to get an EV outlet installed (inclusive of service upgrade if needed).

 

[ShotBlaster]

I would do 90 amp sub panel. Cost is less than running that 6awg copper.

 

[jayhitek]

Here's a simple solution to your problem.
Hang a retractable extension cord like this from HomeDepot from the area next to the high up outlet. It's what I installed in my garage and work shop shed. Your life will never be the same. They're great.
And in the mean time have an electrician come out and install another couple of outlets off that new breaker at the 40" level for the tools when your ready.

 

[A Squared]

.From the junction box you can, at your leisure, pull your own permit and put a subpanel and run 15 and 20 amp 120 volt branch circuits and a few 120/240 volt branch circuits in Wiremold along the walls of the garage and perhaps have some outlet boxes (on cords approved for that purpose) hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the garage..

I'm not sure that a guy who is asking if he can run a table saw, dust collector and space heater all from the same 20 amp receptacle is up to the task of installing his own sub-panel and running circuits. I'm not putting him down, or mocking him. We all have different levels of knowledge in different things. And the only way you're going to expand your knowledge is by asking questions. My read of it is that the OP's knowledge of electricity, at this point is a long way from being able to install a sub-panel and run mutiple circuits for his shop. Not that he can't get there someday, but making that the immediate plan may not be realistic.

 

[chandler48]

@jayhitek Pardon me, but that's a chicken**** solution for this guys shop. Gee, I can't believe it works for multiple heavy tools at the same time. Plus the wires are at most 14 gauge.

I'm not putting him down,

He is aware that he is not doing this. It is a matter of him asking the GC to include adequate electrical, even at cost.