Garage minimum circuits

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sparkympk68

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Location
Omaha,Ne,USA
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electrician
per 210.52 (G)1 , am I correctly interpreting that a new 3 car attached garage can have only ONE dedicated 20Acircuit to share all 3 bays ??(one receptacle per bay), in addition to 210.11 (C)4 second dedicated 20Acircuit for all other outlets ? ( Although I will actually pull a 3rd 15Acircuit for lights too). .. FYI I will have a subpanel in new garage . thanks -Michael.
 
copy that AC/DC , I will pull a DEDICATED to EACH bay for the 210.52(G)1 "car charger" circuits . That is where I was confused . Thank You !!
 
infinity said:
Where does it say that you need a separate circuit for each garage bay?
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Agreed, there is no such requirement in the 2020, 2023, or 2026 NEC.

But the circuit supplying the vehicle bay receptacle(s) shall supply only receptacles, per 210.11(C)(4) (with some exceptions). So a separate circuit is required for lighting.

That means the minimum number of circuits is 2, one 20A and one 15A. If there is only one vehicle bay, then under 2023 NEC 210.11(C)(4) Exception 2, you could use the 20A circuit to supply only the vehicle bay, and the 15A circuit for other receptacles and lighting.

Cheers, Wayne
 
sparkympk68 said:
per 210.52 (G)1 , am I correctly interpreting that a new 3 car attached garage can have only ONE dedicated 20Acircuit to share all 3 bays ??(one receptacle per bay), in addition to 210.11 (C)4 second dedicated 20Acircuit for all other outlets ?
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210.11(C)(4) does not require the other receptacle outlets to be on a separate circuit, so one 20A circuit could supply all receptacle outlets.

Cheers, Wayne
 
wwhitney said:
Agreed, there is no such requirement in the 2020, 2023, or 2026 NEC.

But the circuit supplying the vehicle bay receptacle(s) shall supply only receptacles, per 210.11(C)(4) (with some exceptions). So a separate circuit is required for lighting.

That means the minimum number of circuits is 2, one 20A and one 15A. If there is only one vehicle bay, then under 2023 NEC 210.11(C)(4) Exception 2, you could use the 20A circuit to supply only the vehicle bay, and the 15A circuit for other receptacles and lighting.

Cheers, Wayne
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Correct. This section should be re-written to include all of the garage requirements in one section.
 
wwhitney said:
Agreed, there is no such requirement in the 2020, 2023, or 2026 NEC.

But the circuit supplying the vehicle bay receptacle(s) shall supply only receptacles, per 210.11(C)(4) (with some exceptions). So a separate circuit is required for lighting.

That means the minimum number of circuits is 2, one 20A and one 15A. If there is only one vehicle bay, then under 2023 NEC 210.11(C)(4) Exception 2, you could use the 20A circuit to supply only the vehicle bay, and the 15A circuit for other receptacles and lighting.

Cheers, Wayne
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Thanks for clarification ! saves the customer $ if he doesn't anticipate need for all 3 bays dedicated "car charger " circuits
 
A 120V 20A circuit for a car charger is kind of wimpy. The code rule would certainly support one car to charge at level I regardless of which bay it gets parked in which is probably a good code minimum rule. But if they ever consider a Level II charger, you would want to run a dedicated circuit for that. Placement is difficult though because cars have charge ports in different places. Probably the center bay at either front or rear would be a good place for a 240V 30 to 50 amp receptacle for a car charger if they want to plan for one.
 
suemarkp said:
sparkympk68 said:
per 210.52 (G)1 , am I correctly interpreting that a new 3 car attached garage can have only ONE dedicated 20Acircuit to share all 3 bays ??(one receptacle per bay), in addition to 210.11 (C)4 second dedicated 20Acircuit for all other outlets ? ( Although I will actually pull a 3rd 15Acircuit for lights too). .. FYI I will have a subpanel in new garage . thanks -
Click to expand...
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Custom homes I’m automatically installing a 20 space panel in the garage along with an 1.5” pvc stub to the attic space.
Can also pick up some home runs that are much closer than stringing back to the main.

Many options then available for whatever.

#1 SER AL is relatively cheap.
 
nizak said:
Custom homes I’m automatically installing a 20 space panel in the garage along with an 1.5” pvc stub to the attic space.
Can also pick up some home runs that are much closer than stringing back to the main.

Many options then available for whatever.

#1 SER AL is relatively cheap.
Click to expand...
I agree. I ran #1/0 SER to my garage sub-panel. As you've stated it was pretty cheap.
 
In MA, if you are in one of the 301 of 351 towns and cities that have adopted the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code, you need to provide at least 1 50-Amp branch circuit per dwelling unit for a required EV ready space. Which, effectively, is in the garage, if there is a garage. (This would end up outdoors if there is no garage, the requirement isn't predicated on having a garage space - every one or two-family dwelling must have an EV ready space.) Just fwiw.
 
I pulled this off NFPA link, from the 2023 NEC; bold and underline added by me:

(G) Basements, Garages, and Accessory Buildings.
For one- and two-family dwellings, and multifamily dwellings, at least one receptacle outlet shall be installed in the areas specified in 210.52(G)(1) through (G)(3). These receptacles shall be in addition to receptacles required for specific equipment. Receptacles supplying only a permanently installed premises security system shall not be considered as meeting these requirements.

(1) Garages.
In each attached garage and in each detached garage with electric power, at least one receptacle outlet shall be installed in each vehicle bay and not more than 1.7 m (51⁄2 ft) above the floor.
Exception:
Garage spaces not attached to an individual dwelling unit of a multifamily dwelling shall not require a receptacle outlet in each vehicle bay.

(2) Accessory Buildings.
In each accessory building with electric power.
(3) Basements.
In each separate unfinished portion of a basement.

Enhanced Content
Receptacle outlets are not required for a detached garage if it is not supplied with electricity. Receptacle outlets are not required for individual garages of multifamily dwellings where the garage is not attached to the dwelling unit. An example of how this applies is a multifamily dwelling with a separate detached garage structure. Each of the dwelling units is provided with a garage space but the space is not attached to the dwelling unit, therefore a receptacle outlet is not required in each of the detached garage spaces.
GFCI protection is required by 210.8(A)(5) for receptacles in finished and unfinished basements and by 210.8(A)(2) for receptacles installed in garages. Circuits that supply receptacle outlets in a garage can supply receptacle outlets only in the garage and readily accessible outdoor receptacle outlets.
For more information on garage branch circuits, see 210.11(C)(4).
 
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