20A Shop Outlets for Charging

[eolesen]

We are in the process of getting electric into our shop building, and the inspector is insisting on a 20A outlet per overhead door/bay. Apparently, this is a push because of EV chargers (something that will likely never step foot inside our shop building).

The shop building has two overhead doors, and it would be fairly easy to put a pair of 20A outlets in between the two doors to meet the requirement, requiring roughly 40 feet of wire from the panel.

Questions I have for those who know NEC better....

Do those outlets have to be GFCI protected at the breaker?

Will a two-outlet GFCI meet the "one per bay" requirement?

It's overall a silly requirement, but the inspector always wins, so it's not worth fighting.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I don't understand this. Does the inspector want an outlet for a power opener? I think that would require a separate circuit for each opener, even if you don't install one now.

 

[Runner]

You can protect downstream outlets with a GFCI outlet upstream. Personally, I'm kicking myself for not installing a BUNCH of outlets in the ceiling of my shop addition. They would be so handy for powering all of the battery maintainers on various equipment in each bay without having extension cords strung about, hanging from the trusses.

You can never have too many receptacles.

 

[mrmikey]

They would be so handy for powering all of the battery maintainers on various equipment in each bay without having extension cords strung about, hanging from the trusses.

When I built my garage I wired in switched receptacles in the ceiling for the lights. That way if I have a less than perfect lighting area I can move the lights wherever I want them without major rewiring. Regular receptacles in the ceiling is a good idea too, I did put one in for the door opener but never thought for other things.

 

[Quaffer]

We are in the process of getting electric into our shop building, and the inspector is insisting on a 20A outlet per overhead door/bay. Apparently, this is a push because of EV chargers (something that will likely never step foot inside our shop building).

The shop building has two overhead doors, and it would be fairly easy to put a pair of 20A outlets in between the two doors to meet the requirement, requiring roughly 40 feet of wire from the panel.

Questions I have for those who know NEC better....

Do those outlets have to be GFCI protected at the breaker?

Will a two-outlet GFCI meet the "one per bay" requirement?

It's overall a silly requirement, but the inspector always wins, so it's not worth fighting.

Something I have seen here, and experienced myself, is the NEC code doesn't always prevail. Local customs, and local inspectors, often have their own way of doing things. So I would also pose those questions to the inspector or building department.

My electrician advised me to run all 20a circuits in my garage/shop just as good practice. And, he advises using 20a receptacles even on a 15a circuit since the 20a versions are built to a higher quality standard.

I'm going to guess that a two outlet GFI isn't going to cut it for two rollup door motors-- most likely one dedicated outlet per door.

I can also predict that if you do install GFI breakers, there is a good chance after inspection that you might remove and throw those away. I have found GFI breakers to be very, very tempermental. Not advising to do anything unsafe, but still .....

 

[Runner]

When I built my garage I wired in switched receptacles in the ceiling for the lights. That way if I have a less than perfect lighting area I can move the lights wherever I want them without major rewiring. Regular receptacles in the ceiling is a good idea too, I did put one in for the door opener but never thought for other things.

That's how my main workshop is done - 8 foot strip in each bay with switch-controlled outlets for task lighting around the sides. I also run a lot of lights and other things off the ceiling outlets with wireless remote switches. I just wish I had been smart enough to wire the new addition the same way.

 

[dodge man]

I have no idea what amps my overhead outlets are but I have a bunch. Most but not all are switched and have lights plugged in. Two aren’t switched and are for door openers. I don’t understand the electric car thing. A regular 20 amp outlet would probably take days to charge a car.

 

[fidowanttobe]

In the process of wiring my shop now. The only GFI are in the outside boxes on the building. Smallest breaker is a 20A cuz everything is 12ga or larger. The buy once ,cry once rule applies here. Many outlets, switched and live, all quality 20 amp. Those 70 cent 15 amp outlets are crap.
I too, have all outlets on the ceiling for lights. Don't forget the switched/live outlets on the wall 2-3 feet from the ceiling for bench lights, TV, neon, motion lights, clocks, etc. And ceiling fans. And drops for a hoist/welder. And speakers. Wiring the ceiling takes a lot of thought.

 

[MH8675309]

When I wired mine the inspector wanted GFI receptacles on all circuits. I asked him - How long do you think a GFI is going to last running a table saw or worse yet my air compressor? He said - I know, I just need to seem them put in. What you do once I'm gone is your business.

 

[skipmarcy]

When I built my house in 2006, I installed ALL 20a GFCI breakers for the 120v circuits (other than 15a for light circuits). Wasn't cheap but was better than wiring in all those GFCI receptacles. At the time, code required arc-fault breakers for bedrooms and bathrooms so they are on those circuits. I haven't had to replace a single breaker in 20 years. GE panel & breakers.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I ran 20a circuits in my garage, with the first receptacle in a string of 3 being a GFCI. Granted, my table saw is only 3hp, but it has never tripped a breaker, nor my compressor.

 

[ponytug]

Something I have seen here, and experienced myself, is the NEC code doesn't always prevail. Local customs, and local inspectors, often have their own way of doing things. So I would also pose those questions to the inspector or building department.

My electrician advised me to run all 20a circuits in my garage/shop just as good practice. And, he advises using 20a receptacles even on a 15a circuit since the 20a versions are built to a higher quality standard.

I'm going to guess that a two outlet GFI isn't going to cut it for two rollup door motors-- most likely one dedicated outlet per door.

I can also predict that if you do install GFI breakers, there is a good chance after inspection that you might remove and throw those away. I have found GFI breakers to be very, very tempermental. Not advising to do anything unsafe, but still .....

The usual phrase is "Authorities Having Jurisdiction", and depending on where the site is, that authority is anyone from a single inspector on up. There is an infamous local inspector who supposedly torque checks every bolt on every aspect of electrical installs. As an example of variations, state code here requires a dedicated circuit for each garage door opener, and an opener with a backup battery.

There are lots of grades of outlets (residential, commercial, hospital, as examples), and it is straightforward to upgrade, and not all outlets are manufactured to the same quality standards, so if you care, buy from a well known, respected manufacturer. On a coupe of outlets in the garage that get plugged and unplugged frequently, I put in hospital grade outlets.

@eolesen I would check with your local "AHJ" about what is required and what might be allowed. There usually isn't a one size fits all. You might also update your profile to include a location as it helps you get more specific advice for things like this.

All the best, Peter

 

[Torvy]

We had a 20A outlet installed by choice (no code issues here).

Seems to be an example of overreach.

That said, a 20A can be handy if you decide to weld, or something along those lines. We will likely buy another PHEV at some point in the future and 20A will make charging faster.

 

[grsthegreat]

Here in Idaho, each opener requires a GFCI protected outlet, but not its own circuit. We can run circuit to an outlet with a GFCI Device than up to the openers, no issue. Depends on inspectors.

I ONLY run 20 amp circuits in garages. But don’t use 20a rated outlets. Honestly, unless it’s a commercial shop, I have never had to replace a 15 amp receptacle due to wear on my own house. My house is 29 years old.

My own shop is emt piped and all done spec grade 20 amp outlets. Shops are different.

EVERY outlet, high and low, in a shop or garage has to be GFCI protected outlet. Period

But I ran separate non GFCI to my freezer. I’m not going to lose money on a tripped GFCI. I use single round outlet behind freezers. Like we used to be able to do before nanny state took over.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Years ago while upgrading from 100 to 200 amps, I had to upgrade the existing outlet that my sump pump was on so we put a standard GFCI in but it would open sporadically. Somewhere, someone, told me to put the hospital grade in. The local hardware store owner was a bit doubtful but got one in for me. It never kicked off.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I buy good quality switches/recepticles. When I wired my garage, I put GFCI's by both overhead doors with a downstream regular outlet on each. The further outlets are fine but GFCI closest to the box triggers when I run grinders, etc. No biggie as I prefer to use the further ones anyway.

 

[eolesen]

Thanks everybody, to be clear, these are not circuits for garage door openers.

Per the local AHJ, it is specifically for plug-in electric cars... despite the fact it is over 200 feet from the house, and the house will have its own detached garage eventually, having roll up doors made it a garage....

Fortunately, the NEC language only says this has to be a dedicated branch circuit, so I plan to do:

20A dual GFCI & Arc trip breaker --> 40 ft of 12/2 --> junction box --x2-- 1 ft 12/2 --> single 20A outlet

If nothing else, I will have two plugs available for working at the end of the shop. It's a 2ft wide space between the two garage door openings and isn't really good for anything else.

After the final inspection, I can add a run to feed outlets for the table saw and miter saw.

 

[Torvy]

What state/province is requiring this?

 

[eolesen]

Tennessee, which makes it all the more baffling. The issue is that it went into the NEC.

I think it was the reasoning as it was explained to me.Is that even though we might not have an electric vehicle today, we might have one in the future or the future owners might have one.... i don't just do that, I say let the the perspective EV buyer beware and don't burden me with that cost today.

On a positive note, we got our service release yesterday and the meter was installed and tied into the distribution lines this afternoon.

 

[dodge man]

What’s the login of GFI for a door opener? They are on the ceiling and I suppose any thing anywhere can get wet but I feel like I’m missing something. When my shop was wired it was carefully inspected, by me. I went out and asked the guy if he knew what he was doing, he said yes and I left him alone. I told him where I wanted outlets and let him have at it.