As a general guideline, you’d use 12 AWG copper conductors with a 20 ampere breaker, and 14 AWG copper conductors with a 15 ampere breaker. Since the receptacles are in a garage, they’ll have to be GFCI protected. This protection can be provided by a GFCI receptacle, or a GFCI breaker.
What size wire should be used to run an outlet circuit?
Most household outlet circuits are either 15-amp or 20-amp 120-volt circuits. A circuit controlled by a 15-amp circuit breaker calls for 14-gauge NM cable and a receptacle rated for 15 amps. A circuit powered by a 20-amp circuit breaker calls for 20-amp receptacles, and it is wired with 12-gauge NM cable.
Should I use 12 or 14-gauge wire outlet?
12-gauge wire is the minimum requirement for outlets on a 20-amp circuit. 12-gauge wire can be used for outlets on both 15 and 20-amp circuits. 14-gauge wire is unsafe to use for outlets on a 20-amp circuit. 14-gauge wire can only be used for outlets on a 15-amp circuit.
How many amps should I run to my garage?
A 100-amp subpanel in a detached garage may be enough to handle high-draw appliances such as refrigerators. As for basic lighting or low-load electronic devices, a 50- or 60-amp subpanel in a detached garage may suffice.
Do garage circuits need 20 amps?
Code Change Summary: A new code section was added to require a 20 amp circuit for a dwelling unit garage. Similar to the requirements in the NEC for 120-volt, 20 amp circuits in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen areas of a dwelling, now one is required for dwelling unit garages.
How many outlets can be on a 15 amp breaker?
8 outlets
Technically, you can have as many outlets on a 15 amp circuit breaker as you want. However, a good rule of thumb is 1 outlet per 1.5 amps, up to 80% of the capacity of the circuit breaker. Therefore, we would suggest a maximum of 8 outlets for a 15 amp circuit.
How far can you run 12 2 wire on a 15 amp breaker?
You can run a 12 gauge wire up to 70 feet on a 15 amp circuit.
What wire do you use for garage outlets?
Garage outlets are often wired with #12 so that you’re able to use 20A breakers, which are more suitable for heavier power equipment. If you carry through with #14, you’ll be limited to a 15A breaker.
What happens if you use 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit?
I would say 14 gauge wire anywhere on a 20 amp circuit is not OK. The purpose of the breaker is to cut off power before the wiring overheats. If you plug in several devices on an outlet that total 20 amps, you will exceed the safe working capacity of the 14 gauge wire without tripping the breaker.
How many outlets can you put on a 15-amp circuit with 14 gauge wire?
In a residence the code does not dictate the number of receptacles that are allowed on one 14-guage 15-Amp circuit. It is based upon the number of square feet the circuit/receptacles is planned to cover in the house. The code allows an unlimited number of receptacles on a limited area of 550-sq feet.
How many outlets can be on a 20 amp circuit in a garage?
The answer to the question how many outlets on a 20 amp circuit is ten outlets. Always comply with the 80% circuit and breaker load rule, allowing a maximum load of 1.5 amps per receptacle. Remember that your circuit, wire sizes, and outlets must be compatible to avoid overheating and electrical hazards.
Can garage outlets be 15 amp?
Receptacles rated 15 amps can be used on 15 amp circuits. They can also be used on 20 amp circuits as long as you have more than one receptacle (one duplex or two single receptacles) on the circuit.
Can garage lights and receptacles be on same circuit?
You can still supply receptacles and lights on another circuit for outdoor receptacles and opener. You can even supply additional wall receptacles on the same circuit as lighting. Just gotta have “at least” one receptacle per bay that’s on “at least” one 20 amp circuit that’s dedicated to wall receptacles.
How many outlets can you put on 14-gauge wire?
If you are using standard two-receptacle outlets, you can wire four of them to a single 15-amp circuit using 14-gauge electrical wire. 14/2 wire on a 15-amp circuit can power 8 receptacles.
How many outlets can you put on one circuit?
One rule of thumb is to assign a maximum draw of 1.5 amps to each receptacle, which allows for 10 receptacles on a 20-amp circuit.
Can you have 15 amp outlets on a 20 amp breaker?
The amperage of the outlet must never exceed the amperage of the circuit. According to National Electrical Code, only a 15-amp or 20-amp electrical receptacle can be installed to a 20-amp circuit. A 15-amp receptacle may also be installed on a 15-amp circuit.
What happens if you put a 20 amp outlet on a 15 amp circuit?
First off, connecting a 20 Amp load to a 15 Amp circuit will overload the circuit but shouldn’t cause a fire because the 15 Amp breaker will trip. A 20 amp GFCI doesn’t pose any threat just by being there.
What happens if you put a 15 amp GFCI outlet on a 20 amp circuit?
They are just larger than the 15 amp circuits in very old houses. The GFCI receptacle is rated 20 amps since it may have to interrupt a 20 amp circuit when it trips. As in the case of a kitchen appliance circuit. 15 amp receptacles can be used on 20 amp circuits without a problem.
Should I use 15 amp or 20 amp outlets?
You can use a device that has a 15-amp plug with either a 15- or 20-amp receptacle. Standard 15-amp receptacles are suitable for typical household appliances, lamps and other accessories. A 20-amp receptacle is for heavy-duty appliances and power tools, such as air compressors.
Do I need a GFCI in my garage?
GFCI protection is required for 125-volt to 250-volt receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to the ground. GFCI receptacles are required in bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, basements, laundry rooms and areas where a water source is present.
Can I run a refrigerator on a 15 amp circuit?
Most refrigerators run between 3 to 6 amps, with that said, a refrigerator can spike at peak usage up to 15 amps. It’s best to take into consideration worst case scenarios. You should have refrigerators and freezers installed on a 15-20 amp dedicated 120 volt circuit.
