How to Wire a Garage

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By rhoula
eHow Community Member

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(8 Ratings)

Wiring a garage could be both easy and challenging depending on what you want.
If you have basic knowledge of electricity this task will be moderately easy. If not I suggest that you hire an electrician or have someone with electrical experience help you.
Lat summer I wired my garage myself over the week-end. I admit that I underestimated the work, but overall it was fun seeing the lights on when I turned the light switch

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

You may need about 20 amps in you garage. When buying electrical wires and breakers, make sure you mention that to the home improvement store employee so you will have the right components.
Step 2

Before you start your work, draw a plan of your garage and mark where the lights switches and electrical plugs will be placed.
The drawing will also help you figure out what you need from the store so you wouldn't have to make extra trips.
Step 3

I suggest that you add an electrical breaker box to your garage to avoid having to run to the main breaker frequently.
Step 4

If you live in a place where it snows you may want to dig a trench for wires that come from the main breaker box to your garage breaker box.
If you dig a trench run your wire thru a PVC pipe.
The pipe should be slightly larger than the wires in case you want to add other wires in the future.
Step 5

before you connect the wire to the electrical main breaker make sure you finish all the work in the garage first.
Step 6

You can either run the wires thru the walls, or if you have a garage made out of wood you need to run the wires thru the studs. If your studs are already covered either with sheetrock or any other material, I suggest that you run your wires outside of the wall but inside either metal pipes or PVC electrical pipes to avoid any problems in the future.
Step 7

Nail or screw your switch boxes to the wall first, run the wires thru the pipes, connect the pipes to the boxes then connect the wires to the switches and or wall plugs.
Step 8

Before you connect the wires to the wall plugs, make sure you connect the white wire to the right spot the black wire to the right spot and the green (ground) wire to the right spot.
Most of the time it will be indicated on the switches where does every wire go.
Step 9

Unless you are planing on adding 240 volt appliance to you garage, all you need is regular 120 plugs and one set of wires.
If you need to add a 240 volt plug, you need to pick up an extra hot leg from your main breaker box.
Step 10

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to ask. I will be more than happy to assist you.
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