[Jsinclair]

I am an advid DIYer, but unfortunately there are only two outlets in my entire garage! For now, I am stuck with running extention cords as my tools fight for outlet space, but no more.

I did some research and found an idea where you can tap into the garage door outlet on the ceiling, run Romex in conduit across the ceiling, and about 3/4 of the way down the wall. Then at that junction, the conduit splits left and right, with a few outlets spanning across the wall in either direction.

While I do understand how to wire outlets, I am hung up at the junction. The feed comes down the wall from the ceiling into a box, and then from that same box, splits left and right. So essentially, I would have 3 Romex wires converging in that box, where I also have an outlet. My question is, how do I wire that outlet? I have a feeling I am overthinking this. I am making this project to code, so my solution does need to be to code.

Thanks in advance for any tips and suggestions!

 

[Nealtw]

That box as to be big enough for all that but you would add pigtails for the black and white to go to the outlet.

 

[rjniles]

If the GDO receptacle is not GFCI protected you need to add GFCI to any receptacles you add. I would install a 4" square box about 4 feet off the floor, bring the conduit feed down to that box and ground the box. Install a GFCI receptacle on a single gang mud ring, connect the feed to the line teminals. From the load terminals run left and right to regular 15 amp grounded receptacles. Use #14 conductors if the existing receptacle is on a 15 amp breaker. #12 if a 20 amp breaker.

 

[Oso954]

First question is what size breaker and wiring is existing for the GDOs. If 14awg and 15 amp, you can't put garage receptacles on it. Current code requires a 20 amp circuit 12awg. ( in the US)

Are you in the US or Canada? It makes a difference.

Is this an attached garage, or detached?

 

[roughneck]

What amperage circuit is currently feeding the garage, and what is the wire gauge run to the receptacles?

 

[Old Thomas]

I would use THHN/THWN wire, it is easier to feed through conduit than Romex.

 

[rjniles]

Romex in short runs like the poster is talking about is not a problem unless he is in Canada. Romex is much easier for a DIYer to obtain than buying short runs of THHN.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Jsinclair]

I am in the US and I am working in an attached garage. The circuit is 20A. The first outlet is 20A GFCI, and the others are standard 20A outlets. I used 12/2 Romex.

 

[Oldmaster]

Do you have access above the garage?

 

[Old Thomas]

I can buy 50, 100 and 500 foot rolls of THHN any day of the week at Lowes or Amazon.

 

[Jsinclair]

Yes I have access above the garage in the attic.

I've never used TTHN, I'll try it on my next project. I had nearly a 50 foot roll of Romex 12/2 leftover from another project which is why I used it, and because I needed 12 gauge with the 20A circuit.

 

[rjniles]

I can buy 50, 100 and 500 foot rolls of THHN any day of the week at Lowes or Amazon.

And pay top dollar for short rolls. Their price per foot is good for 500 feet but goes up hard for shorter rolls.

 

[Oldmaster]

Since you have access above the garage you can use RX above the ceiling and install conduit drops to the receptacles. You can use junction boxes above the ceiling as long as they are accessable.

 

[seharper]

I can buy 50, 100 and 500 foot rolls of THHN any day of the week at Lowes or Amazon.

I prefer City Electric - best price and best selection. Lowes is low enough I'll consider it an alternate if CE is closed. Amazon is absurd, but that's because mail-ordering electrical supplies just doesn't make sense - the stuff is too low-value for its weight.

Yes I have access above the garage in the attic.

I've never used THHN, I'll try it on my next project. I had nearly a 50 foot roll of Romex 12/2 leftover from another project which is why I used it, and because I needed 12 gauge with the 20A circuit.

THHN stranded wire in conduit is simply marvelous to work with (however attaching it to screw terminals is hard to do right, so use screw-and-clamp receps and switches). After you use it awhile, you won't believe you ever *bothered* to chicken-choke Romex through conduit.

You know the conduit must be a certain size: the conduit ID must be 138% of the max width of the cable (0.400" with 12-2 NM-B, so conduit ID 0.552"; 1/2" EMT barely qualifies.)

By the way, EMT *is* the ground wire. You don't need to run a ground wire with EMT, so don't bother buying any green THHN.

Since you have access above the garage you can use RX above the ceiling and install conduit drops to the receptacles. You can use junction boxes above the ceiling as long as they are accessable.

Yeah, that'd work well. Transition from THHN to Romex at the boxes.

 

[Old Thomas]

And pay top dollar for short rolls. Their price per foot is good for 500 feet but goes up hard for shorter rolls.

My comment was only based on your saying that short lengths of Romex are easier to obtain than THHN. THHN might cost more but it is certainly not hard to obtain.

 

[rjniles]

My comment was only based on your saying that short lengths of Romex are easier to obtain than THHN. THHN might cost more but it is certainly not hard to obtain.

If it costs me more money, then it is harder:smile: