Home Electrical
08-05-2010, 09:32 PM
#1
Needs more Lemon Pledge
Thread Starter
Home Electrical
I am planning on adding lights and outlets to my garage, but I am no Bob Villa.
Normally I would just find someone who knows what they are doing to do it, but lately I have had a DIY bug, and what better way to cure that than to electrocute myself while burning down the house?
Anyway, are there any good places on the interweb to learn how to do home electrical?
Basically I have ONE 60w incandescent in my garage. Yup, ONE.
Also, the breaker box is NO WHERE near the garage. Convenient, right?
I need at least two florescents with two tubes each and some task lighting on the ceiling and some outlet strips.
Walls are drywalled and painted, as is the ceiling.
Normally I would just find someone who knows what they are doing to do it, but lately I have had a DIY bug, and what better way to cure that than to electrocute myself while burning down the house?
Anyway, are there any good places on the interweb to learn how to do home electrical?
Basically I have ONE 60w incandescent in my garage. Yup, ONE.
Also, the breaker box is NO WHERE near the garage. Convenient, right?
I need at least two florescents with two tubes each and some task lighting on the ceiling and some outlet strips.
Walls are drywalled and painted, as is the ceiling.
08-05-2010, 09:41 PM
#2
Registered but harmless
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 59
Posts: 14,841
Received 1,102 Likes
on
763 Posts
Oh, Home Depot has free classes for various things, so that might be worth a look.
Go to the public library and check out a home improvement book or two-- the Time-Life series has sections on electrical wiring, IIRC.
08-05-2010, 09:45 PM
#3
Needs more Lemon Pledge
Thread Starter
OOoh. Forgot about the HD classes.
I want a bunch of can recessed lighting installed inside the house, too, so it may just be easier to have a pro do it all at once...
I want a bunch of can recessed lighting installed inside the house, too, so it may just be easier to have a pro do it all at once...
08-05-2010, 09:47 PM
#4
Team Owner
I have an electrical engineering degree and I will not screw with that stuff for two reason.
1. I respect the work of the electrical technician and recognize the value of the trade.
2. I set my amp meter on fire once and just about burned my fingers off. They miraculously healed.
There are so many code things you need too worry about that you should think twice.
1. I respect the work of the electrical technician and recognize the value of the trade.
2. I set my amp meter on fire once and just about burned my fingers off. They miraculously healed.
There are so many code things you need too worry about that you should think twice.
08-05-2010, 10:13 PM
#5
I just ran 125' of 6-3 and 12 gauge romex from my breaker out to my building along with wiring the whole building with a 15a GFCI, lights on switches yaddi yaddi 
. You can google pretty much anything i.e How To Wire a square d breaker box, how to wire an outlet, how to wire a light switch. I've learned a lot by doing this. You could actually come off your one outlet for your light and wire the rest through your attic. I'm only 20 but I feel like I know quite a bit about it.. if you'd like some tips or anything PM me 
It's really not that hard.
. You can google pretty much anything i.e How To Wire a square d breaker box, how to wire an outlet, how to wire a light switch. I've learned a lot by doing this. You could actually come off your one outlet for your light and wire the rest through your attic. I'm only 20 but I feel like I know quite a bit about it.. if you'd like some tips or anything PM me It's really not that hard.
Last edited by AMUA6; 08-05-2010 at 10:16 PM.
Trending Topics
08-06-2010, 08:17 AM
#8
Intermediate
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Age: 42
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
2 Posts
shut off the breaker to the garage power
parallel a 14/2 (1 black, 1 white, 1 ground, size 14 gauge) cable from the current light outlet to power your new lights and outlets
if you don't want to touch any wiring, you can buy the adapter for the incandescent socket that has the power outlet at the end. use that to power your lights and run extension cords for your other devices. just make sure you don't exceed 15amps. the florescent shouldn't take that much power. it's normally the power tools that require alot of current to start.
parallel a 14/2 (1 black, 1 white, 1 ground, size 14 gauge) cable from the current light outlet to power your new lights and outlets
if you don't want to touch any wiring, you can buy the adapter for the incandescent socket that has the power outlet at the end. use that to power your lights and run extension cords for your other devices. just make sure you don't exceed 15amps. the florescent shouldn't take that much power. it's normally the power tools that require alot of current to start.
08-06-2010, 08:25 AM
#9
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: May 2000
Location: where the weather suits my clothes
Age: 55
Posts: 27,921
Received 1,080 Likes
on
661 Posts
Oh don't be such a Mary.
If you have a bunch of electrical projects, you're right, you may be better off hiring an electrician.
If I were doing the garage I would either pull down a section of sheetrock to be able to run the romex or you can connect conduit to the fluroescent light fixtures. In either case you make the electrical box that the existing light is in a junction box and then run romex out from that. It's really pretty simple.
If you have a bunch of electrical projects, you're right, you may be better off hiring an electrician.
If I were doing the garage I would either pull down a section of sheetrock to be able to run the romex or you can connect conduit to the fluroescent light fixtures. In either case you make the electrical box that the existing light is in a junction box and then run romex out from that. It's really pretty simple.
08-06-2010, 08:33 AM
#11
Needs more Lemon Pledge
Thread Starter
I have attic space above the garage, so maybe I will try my hand at this...
Unfortunately, the attic has that "blow in" insulation crap that is waist high and I will have to wade through a ton of it. who knows what is hiding up there. Maybe not a project for the summer, though since the attic is about 120 degrees...
Unfortunately, the attic has that "blow in" insulation crap that is waist high and I will have to wade through a ton of it. who knows what is hiding up there. Maybe not a project for the summer, though since the attic is about 120 degrees...
08-06-2010, 08:56 AM
#13
I have attic space above the garage, so maybe I will try my hand at this...
Unfortunately, the attic has that "blow in" insulation crap that is waist high and I will have to wade through a ton of it. who knows what is hiding up there. Maybe not a project for the summer, though since the attic is about 120 degrees...
Unfortunately, the attic has that "blow in" insulation crap that is waist high and I will have to wade through a ton of it. who knows what is hiding up there. Maybe not a project for the summer, though since the attic is about 120 degrees...
I did something similar. I wired up two spotlights to shine on both the cars' hoods in the garage, and it's only a matter of time before I add to the light output in the garage.
There was a junction box in the ceiling above in the middle of the garage that I tapped into. My Florida, you cannot join electrical wires without a junction box, so I tied into the existing one. It was a very tight fit (
), but it worked. I ran the power and ground wires from the existing junction box to both lights, and then just wired them up per the directions. I'll see if I can find pics... Photobucket is acting pissy today...Oh, and do yourself a favor and get the orange HD book. Lots of helpful tips there.
08-06-2010, 08:59 AM
#14
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: May 2000
Location: where the weather suits my clothes
Age: 55
Posts: 27,921
Received 1,080 Likes
on
661 Posts
With attic acces it's a no brainer. Make the current outlet a junction box and run the romex back up into the attic, and then put in additional boxes.
08-06-2010, 09:18 AM
#15
Spiders will still be in the garage no matter how much lighting you put in there.
08-06-2010, 10:25 AM
#17
Team Owner
Adding can lights, running new circuits (and assuming wall switches, not just the lights) -- I'd hire an electrician that does remodels to keep the collateral damage (mostly drywall repair) to a minimum.
Check with your city to see if you need a permit, and if you do get one.
Check with your city to see if you need a permit, and if you do get one.
08-06-2010, 10:39 AM
#18
08-07-2010, 04:00 PM
#19
Senior Moderator
Electrical work really isnt that hard. I have replaced just about every ounce of wire in my house, added a 60amp box in my garage, upgraded to a 200 amp service myself (kinda a 
but who is counting) There are good DIY books you can buy at HD, they have classes on basic how to and that is really all you need, especially for something as simple as outlets and lights.
but who is counting) There are good DIY books you can buy at HD, they have classes on basic how to and that is really all you need, especially for something as simple as outlets and lights.
08-09-2010, 10:15 AM
#20
Intermediate
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Age: 42
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
2 Posts
Adding can lights, running new circuits (and assuming wall switches, not just the lights) -- I'd hire an electrician that does remodels to keep the collateral damage (mostly drywall repair) to a minimum.
Check with your city to see if you need a permit, and if you do get one.
Check with your city to see if you need a permit, and if you do get one.
wait, do we need permits to mod our cars too? where should we apply? go grow some balls.
08-11-2010, 12:38 PM
#22
Hire out to do the recessed lights but do the outlet and extra fixture yourself. Those are the most basic things you can do yourself to start with. Any DIY book will do to instruct you on the extra fixture and outlets. The PITA part will be the drywall and running cable, the actual "electrical" part is cake.
08-11-2010, 01:46 PM
#24
Senior Moderator
08-11-2010, 01:53 PM
#25
people are trying to save money and you tell them to get a permit? permit to put in 2 lights and an outlet? might as well use my garage as a document area to store all the permits that i should have for all the work that i've done to my house.
wait, do we need permits to mod our cars too? where should we apply? go grow some balls.
wait, do we need permits to mod our cars too? where should we apply? go grow some balls.
And a lot of times even seemingly simple jobs need permits to do. It just means that you're complying with state and federal requirements.
There have been several people around my area that have performed "mods" to their houses, only to be told by a home inspector when they go to sell their house that they can't because they did not get a permit to do a certain mod on their house. Pay now, or pay later, your choice. I'll choose to abide by the law for safety's sake. There is a reason why professional engineers have jobs like this.
08-11-2010, 02:04 PM
#26
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: May 2000
Location: where the weather suits my clothes
Age: 55
Posts: 27,921
Received 1,080 Likes
on
661 Posts
There have been several people around my area that have performed "mods" to their houses, only to be told by a home inspector when they go to sell their house that they can't because they did not get a permit to do a certain mod on their house. Pay now, or pay later, your choice. I'll choose to abide by the law for safety's sake. There is a reason why professional engineers have jobs like this.
The first house we made an offer on we had to pass on because the town had no record of permits for any of the work done. And since there was not going to be a CO issued, we were taking on any code violations.
We got permits when we did our basement in our old house. We didn't get them for the recessed lighting. When the guy came to do the CO, he never even noticed them. Or the pendant lights in the kitchen, or the ceiling fans in all of the bedrooms.
08-11-2010, 02:36 PM
#27
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
people are trying to save money and you tell them to get a permit? permit to put in 2 lights and an outlet? might as well use my garage as a document area to store all the permits that i should have for all the work that i've done to my house.
wait, do we need permits to mod our cars too? where should we apply? go grow some balls.
wait, do we need permits to mod our cars too? where should we apply? go grow some balls.
08-11-2010, 02:36 PM
#28
A lot of places don't require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) on a resale. Where we moved (Bucks County, PA) they don't require them.
The first house we made an offer on we had to pass on because the town had no record of permits for any of the work done. And since there was not going to be a CO issued, we were taking on any code violations.
.
The first house we made an offer on we had to pass on because the town had no record of permits for any of the work done. And since there was not going to be a CO issued, we were taking on any code violations.
.
Aren't houses nowadays usually wired on a 150a box?
08-13-2010, 05:45 PM
#30
Team Owner
people are trying to save money and you tell them to get a permit? permit to put in 2 lights and an outlet? might as well use my garage as a document area to store all the permits that i should have for all the work that i've done to my house.
wait, do we need permits to mod our cars too? where should we apply? go grow some balls.
wait, do we need permits to mod our cars too? where should we apply? go grow some balls.
The other guys have answered in my absence very well.
svtmike
08-13-2010, 05:51 PM
#31
Needs more Lemon Pledge
Thread Starter
Rofl...
08-21-2010, 09:30 AM
#32
I was an Electrician for about 5 years, wiring residential houses. If you want help still let me know.
From what your first post says it won't be hard.
Take a few pics and I'll walk you through it....if you trust me that is
From what your first post says it won't be hard.
Take a few pics and I'll walk you through it....if you trust me that is
08-22-2010, 07:02 PM
#33
Senior Moderator
My garage is attached. And no, around here power company has nothing to do with that. All you would need is the wire ran and up to code and that can usually be done in the ground with conduit.
08-23-2010, 12:21 AM
#34
Needs more Lemon Pledge
Thread Starter
Thanks! Will probably hire someone, but I may run a few things past you. Any of the places you wired burn to the ground?
Safest way to avoid electrocution. 
08-23-2010, 04:07 PM
#36
I can only do so much from my side though...if a spider runs across your hand while you work and you cross some wires and a fire starts I'm not being held responsible
08-23-2010, 04:08 PM
#37
08-23-2010, 06:24 PM
#38
'12 & '13 AL West Champs!
08-29-2010, 03:08 PM
#40
Needs more Lemon Pledge
Thread Starter
Yesterday I confirmed why I will definitely PAY someone to do any electrical work at my house...
I was in the gargae working on the bike when I tripped the GFCI in the only outlet. Pressing the reset button was not working.
Time to open up the outlet and see what the problem was.
Off comes the face plate, nothing unusual.
Out comes the outlet assembly. I notice that in the 120 plus degree heat, one of the black wires had worked it's way out of the screw-in terminal. No biggie, just re-insert it and tighten down the screw. What I failed to notice was that as I tightened the screw, a small bit of the exposed wire came back out of the insertion point.
Now, ordinarily this would not be a big problem since any sane person would have shut the power off at the breaker, but clearly I have a proclivity to do dumb things around the magical force known as electricity, so I left it hot.
As I was working the outlet assembly back into the wall box, I needed to apply a little cajoling, and in doing so grabbed it on the sides to wiggle it back in and force the excess wires in the back to compress.
ZAP!
I touched the exposed black lead and went for a 1-2 second ride on the volt-coaster. My neighbors heard some choice words, and I hope the kids were all indoors.
After my internal organs rebooted, I was fine but I have realized that I should probably leave everything besides changing light bulbs to professionals.
I was in the gargae working on the bike when I tripped the GFCI in the only outlet. Pressing the reset button was not working.
Time to open up the outlet and see what the problem was.
Off comes the face plate, nothing unusual.
Out comes the outlet assembly. I notice that in the 120 plus degree heat, one of the black wires had worked it's way out of the screw-in terminal. No biggie, just re-insert it and tighten down the screw. What I failed to notice was that as I tightened the screw, a small bit of the exposed wire came back out of the insertion point.
Now, ordinarily this would not be a big problem since any sane person would have shut the power off at the breaker, but clearly I have a proclivity to do dumb things around the magical force known as electricity, so I left it hot.
As I was working the outlet assembly back into the wall box, I needed to apply a little cajoling, and in doing so grabbed it on the sides to wiggle it back in and force the excess wires in the back to compress.
ZAP!
I touched the exposed black lead and went for a 1-2 second ride on the volt-coaster. My neighbors heard some choice words, and I hope the kids were all indoors.
After my internal organs rebooted, I was fine but I have realized that I should probably leave everything besides changing light bulbs to professionals.