YAHT: How should I add power to my garage?

[djheater]

Is there a better way to do this? I roast coffee, and am looking to install a workbench for putting in flooring and redoing my deck this summer.

My garage only has one cricuit and it powers the lights and garage door. I have ruined a batch of coffee by opening the garage door while roasting 🙁... The oven has a combined 2200w so I'm surprised it's not blowing anyway, not that I understand electricity that well but I think that should be beyond the capacity of the single line I'm using.

Anyway I've already checked local code and I can use Romex through the crawlspace, so it shouldn't be hard. I'm going to have my FIL supervise me installing the circuits, since he's dont that work before.

What would you guys do if you were in my position?

 

[drnickriviera]

The roaster is just over 18 amps, so looks like you have no choice but to run a dedicated line to it.

 

[MattCo]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
The roaster is just over 18 amps, so looks like you have no choice but to run a dedicated line to it.

Yup, run a dedicated wire to a 20amp breaker and you should be set.

-MC

 

[skyking]

That's a bummer it is not 220v. most loads of that size get wired 220, that is on the ragged edge.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: MattCo

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
The roaster is just over 18 amps, so looks like you have no choice but to run a dedicated line to it.

Yup, run a dedicated wire to a 20amp breaker and you should be set.

-MC

Thanks, and another line for other tools... that should fix it....

 

[NutBucket]

Yep. Attached garages are a breeze🙂

 

[MattCo]

Originally posted by: skyking
That's a bummer it is not 220v. most loads of that size get wired 220, that is on the ragged edge.

That would be handy, drops it to 10 amps. Wonder why more appliances are not wired for 220. Guess because people usually dont have the plugs.

-MC

 

[engineereeyore]

If you're roaster takes that much power, you might want to add a bigger breaker than 20 amp. Otherwise, you won't be able to plug anything else into the line, and didn't you say you were doing some flooring and stuff? I would imagine most hand tools can require upwards of 10 amps, so I'd make it 30 just to be safe. That way you can have the roaster on and still use your tools.

 

[MattCo]

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
If you're roaster takes that much power, you might want to add a bigger breaker than 20 amp. Otherwise, you won't be able to plug anything else into the line, and didn't you say you were doing some flooring and stuff? I would imagine most hand tools can require upwards of 10 amps, so I'd make it 30 just to be safe. That way you can have the roaster on and still use your tools.

Not a bad idea, but make sure your wire is rated to handle the load.

-MC

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
If you're roaster takes that much power, you might want to add a bigger breaker than 20 amp. Otherwise, you won't be able to plug anything else into the line, and didn't you say you were doing some flooring and stuff? I would imagine most hand tools can require upwards of 10 amps, so I'd make it 30 just to be safe. That way you can have the roaster on and still use your tools.

If he already has a 20amp in there he should be fine with a dedicated 20amp plus the original 20amp for anything else.

I have a single 20amp and always have tools running, my table saw and shop vac, router, lights, etc.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: MattCo

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
If you're roaster takes that much power, you might want to add a bigger breaker than 20 amp. Otherwise, you won't be able to plug anything else into the line, and didn't you say you were doing some flooring and stuff? I would imagine most hand tools can require upwards of 10 amps, so I'd make it 30 just to be safe. That way you can have the roaster on and still use your tools.

Not a bad idea, but make sure your wire is rated to handle the load.

-MC

30 amps on a single leg is a can of worms. none of the outlets are rated for it, for starters. Standard plugs are rated for 15 amps, and heavy duty single leg outlets are rated to 20, no more.

 

[MattCo]

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: MattCo

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
If you're roaster takes that much power, you might want to add a bigger breaker than 20 amp. Otherwise, you won't be able to plug anything else into the line, and didn't you say you were doing some flooring and stuff? I would imagine most hand tools can require upwards of 10 amps, so I'd make it 30 just to be safe. That way you can have the roaster on and still use your tools.

Not a bad idea, but make sure your wire is rated to handle the load.

-MC

30 amps on a single leg is a can of worms. none of the outlets are rated for it, for starters. Standard plugs are rated for 15 amps, and heavy duty single leg outlets are rated to 20, no more.

I retract my 'not a bad idea' statement. 😉

Also, it looks like Romex 12-2 wire is rated for 20 amps as well

-MC

 

[AbsolutDealage]

While you're at it, I would run the dedicated 20 for the roaster, an extra couple 15's for tools, and a 220 line for future needs.

I mean, you're already doing the work, and the extra hardware is really not that expensive.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage
While you're at it, I would run the dedicated 20 for the roaster, an extra couple 15's for tools, and a 220 line for future needs.

I mean, you're already doing the work, and the extra hardware is really not that expensive.

Assuming he has the room in the breaker box. A 100amp box doesn't lend itself to adding that much power to the garage.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage
While you're at it, I would run the dedicated 20 for the roaster, an extra couple 15's for tools, and a 220 line for future needs.

I mean, you're already doing the work, and the extra hardware is really not that expensive.

Assuming he has the room in the breaker box. A 100amp box doesn't lend itself to adding that much power to the garage.

yeah, I'm not certain how many open spots I have...

Good info and suggestions all. Thanks!

 

[engineereeyore]

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: MattCo

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
If you're roaster takes that much power, you might want to add a bigger breaker than 20 amp. Otherwise, you won't be able to plug anything else into the line, and didn't you say you were doing some flooring and stuff? I would imagine most hand tools can require upwards of 10 amps, so I'd make it 30 just to be safe. That way you can have the roaster on and still use your tools.

Not a bad idea, but make sure your wire is rated to handle the load.

-MC

30 amps on a single leg is a can of worms. none of the outlets are rated for it, for starters. Standard plugs are rated for 15 amps, and heavy duty single leg outlets are rated to 20, no more.

Won't be a problem if its wired in parallel. The outlets would still only need to be standard because none would have more than 10 amps except the one for the roaster.

 

[EatSpam]

Install a single outlet 20amp circuit for your roaster using some 12 gauge Romex.

2200w/120v=18.333 amps, well within the capacity of a 20amp line.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: engineereeyore

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: MattCo

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
If you're roaster takes that much power, you might want to add a bigger breaker than 20 amp. Otherwise, you won't be able to plug anything else into the line, and didn't you say you were doing some flooring and stuff? I would imagine most hand tools can require upwards of 10 amps, so I'd make it 30 just to be safe. That way you can have the roaster on and still use your tools.

Not a bad idea, but make sure your wire is rated to handle the load.

-MC

30 amps on a single leg is a can of worms. none of the outlets are rated for it, for starters. Standard plugs are rated for 15 amps, and heavy duty single leg outlets are rated to 20, no more.

Won't be a problem if its wired in parallel. The outlets would still only need to be standard because none would have more than 10 amps except the one for the roaster.

Wrong. I really hope you're not making these assumptions in your own home...
First of all, unless he's going to use 10-2, the wire isn't rated for 30amps.
2nd of all, the screw connections on the outlets are not made for 10 gauge wire.
3rd of all, you're assuming nothing ever goes wrong - the breaker never trips because an appliance fails. That 15 amp motor, that when it goes bad will draw 25 amps and trip a breaker is now going to draw 25 amps without tripping a breaker... You really want to explain to the insurance adjuster that your house burned down because the wiring is out of code?


If you don't quite understand that, allow me to point out that using your logic, we could simply wire every house on 1 circuit - we'd just need to use 4-2 instead of 12-2. Hopefully, you're thinking now, "wow, that means I can get 10 times as much current out of an outlet than it's rated for - maybe not intentionally, but it could happen. That's a badddd thing!"

edit: or another way to look at it...
Lazy electrician's way of turning off a circuit breaker: Simply short out the wires with a pair of pliers or something.

Now, go ahead and (for more dramatic effects) short out a 120 volt circuit that's protected by a 50 amp fuse... I did that once (on accident - my helper's fault.) What remained in my hand was the handle of a screwdriver... the other end had melted off. I was also missing a couple inches of a 14 gauge ground wire; apparently it vaporized. Well, most of it; some of it was on the floor and work bench near the box I was working in, starting small little fires. About 15 minutes later, the sensation of staring into the sun had worn off and I could see clearly again.

 

[DrPizza]

btw, is the roaster hard-wired? Does it have an option to be wired 220V instead of 110V?

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
btw, is the roaster hard-wired? Does it have an option to be wired 220V instead of 110V?

The, what we will loosely call, roaster is actually simply a portable convection oven atop a Stir Crzy popcorn roaster as here. The Stir Crzy is 1000w the oven is 1200. If I bring out two circuits, I'll probalby hook them up to different 'legs' (is that the right term?).

 

[skyking]

Thanks Dr for clearing up that "parallel" thing😀 I spotted that post as I headed out of one office, and did not have the time to properly reply as you did🙂
OP, you are golden then. you really have two cords and two devices, so a single dedicated 20 Amp circuit will fill the bill nicely. You don't even need any of the more expensive 20 Amp outlets.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: DrPizza
btw, is the roaster hard-wired? Does it have an option to be wired 220V instead of 110V?

The, what we will loosely call, roaster is actually simply a portable convection oven atop a Stir Crzy popcorn roaster as here. The Stir Crzy is 1000w the oven is 1200. If I bring out two circuits, I'll probalby hook them up to different 'legs' (is that the right term?).

That certainly is your easiest and cheapest solution, but if I were forced into run wire out to garage I'd think about running 220 and put a sub box out there and then run two 110 circuits from it.

 

[AlienCraft]

Here's a suggestion.


Hire an electrician.


If you do it, and you burn your house down because you screw something up, your insurance may not cover you.

If it's only a couple of outlets you need, you may be able to trade out the labor for coffee.

Watch what he's doing, but it sounds as if you may have a situation that an electrician might actually save your bacon. Code -wise and other-wise.