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.