Adding wiring to existing garage in a dwelling

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crtemp

crtemp

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Wa state
I see in the 2014 nec 210.52 (G) (1) for garages it says that the branch circuit supplying the receptacles shall not have other outlets. What if this circuit is existing and already has other stuff on it? Right now it has the garage plugs and the garage lights on it. Since it is existing is it okay to install a weather proof receptacle off of this circuit? Does this code only pertain to new construction?
 
I think that would an authority having jurisdiction callbut IMO if you add one then you should meant this requirement
 
I want to amend what I said. If the garage is existing and you are adding a receptacle from the circuit that already has lights etc, then imo it should not be an issue. If you add on to the garage then that may change the decision. Again it is an authority having jurisdiction call
 
If you are simply adding a receptacle to the existing circuit, then you would still be in compliance with the section of the code since it says outlets. If you add a lighting fixture to the circuit, it might be seen as a violation. Still on 2008 edition so not having to deal with this yet. Could argue definition of outlet and get around it also.
 
102 Inspector said:
If you are simply adding a receptacle to the existing circuit, then you would still be in compliance with the section of the code since it says outlets. If you add a lighting fixture to the circuit, it might be seen as a violation. Still on 2008 edition so not having to deal with this yet. Could argue definition of outlet and get around it also.
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But not an outdoor outlet. 2014 they decided garage receptacle circuits shall not supply any other outlets - I think mostly because of anticipation of the need for more power in the garage for electric vehicle charging. It effectively now means you need at least one dedicated branch circuit to garage receptacles if there is a garage, before they could have been on any circuit that doesn't have limitations on what it could supply.
 
102 Inspector said:
If you are simply adding a receptacle to the existing circuit, then you would still be in compliance with the section of the code since it says outlets. If you add a lighting fixture to the circuit, it might be seen as a violation.
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I saw you used the word "might" but how can this section be interrupted that way?
 
crtemp said:
I see in the 2014 nec 210.52 (G) (1) for garages it says that the branch circuit supplying the receptacles shall not have other outlets. What if this circuit is existing and already has other stuff on it? Right now it has the garage plugs and the garage lights on it. Since it is existing is it okay to install a weather proof receptacle off of this circuit? Does this code only pertain to new construction?
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After reading the code again I see it says that the circuit supplying the receptacles shall have no other outlets outside of the garage, so having the garage lights and plugs together shouldn't even be an issue, correct ?
 
crtemp said:
I see in the 2014 nec 210.52 (G) (1) for garages it says that the branch circuit supplying the receptacles shall not have other outlets. What if this circuit is existing and already has other stuff on it? Right now it has the garage plugs and the garage lights on it. Since it is existing is it okay to install a weather proof receptacle off of this circuit? Does this code only pertain to new construction?
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The existing wiring with other outlets is compliant because of code in effect at the time of install. Now that you are under 2014, additions to that circuit may not comply with current requirements. Similar to ten or fifteen years ago when we had the changes to circuits supplying bathroom receptacles.
There are still many existing circuits out there supplying bathroom receptacles that have other loads not allowed by recent NEC editions. To be NEC compliant you do not add bath receptacles to those circuits, but is ok to leave them as is. Most inspectors may look the other way or never even know the bath recep was on the circuit if you were adding another outlet to a bedroom, but if you want strict enforcement it probably is not allowed.
 
This IMO is one of the dumbest rules. The purpose may be for car chargers however there are so many different amp. car chargers and they should be on their own circuit in most cases. If I have a two car garage I can have a duplex outlet in the middle one half serving each car space. It is not wording the way it was intended, IMO. Why would they allow the lights in the garage on this circuit? As I read it you could do that as well as the garage door in some cases.
 
crtemp said:
I see in the 2014 nec 210.52 (G) (1) for garages it says that the branch circuit supplying the receptacles shall not have other outlets. What if this circuit is existing and already has other stuff on it? Right now it has the garage plugs and the garage lights on it. Since it is existing is it okay to install a weather proof receptacle off of this circuit? Does this code only pertain to new construction?
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I would resist interpreting 210.52(G)(1) in an overbroad way. It does require that new construction have at least one circuit that is isolated to the garage but it does not prohibit having more than one branch circuit and those additional branch circuits do not have to be exclusive of the garage.

If your AHJ said that the new 210.52(G)(1) automatically applied to your existing garage circuit and that you were then violating 210.52(G)(1) by extending that circuit outside of the garage then he would be in error. The original circuit, as installed under the old 210.52(G)(1), was not required to be exclusive to the garage and may be extended as is any other branch circuit.
 
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