Garage Wiring

[High Desert Ranger]

Anyone ever run their garage plugs thru light switches to turn everything off for sure when done working.

 

[Earl43P]

Yes. Except for the overhead garage door opener outlet (provisioned, not used yet) and the pool filter outlet.

My #2 son was an electrician for a while. He ran all mine. He also left one (1/2) outlet hot for the beer fridge. The other 1/2 of that outlet is a workbench plug-in flourescent light, on the outlet switch.

I have 4 switches on one gangbox, overhead front, overhead rear, outlets, and external above the door light.

By the bay door, 3 gang box, both overheads and a provisioned switch for an external bay door light (wire is present and hot, no light fixture yet).

I hardly ever work outside the bay at night, mosquitos eat ya alive.


It's funny, if I hit the outlets switch off, a small lamp and the TV go off. Both dogs run to my wife's garage to go to bed. Even in the middle of the afternoon, from a dead sleep. If the TV goes off, both dogs bolt. I lol.

 

[Captain Ledd]

All the time. Just make sure to get a switch if the same amperage you're going to be running through it. Example: 20A breaker, appropriate wires, 20A plugs, make sure the switch says it's rated for 20A too. Otherwise wire it up as normal. Same thing for 15A stuff or higher amperages.

I too like to leave one or 2 hot all the time. It's nice if I want something to charge or run overnight or something.

 

[Mudhound]

I also have 2 dedicated fulltime hot outlets with hardmounted/wired extension cords on them. One at the front of the shop, the other by the barndoors, next to the shelf that the aircompressor sits on. The extension cords are each 30' long pieces of 3/4" flex, containing 12/3, rated for 20 Amps on the outlet boxes on the end. Also if you can get your hands on them, the Hospital rated stuff is the bomb for lasting and hard usage. Switches are rated for up to 30 amps!!! Outlets too.I love these cords, since I don't have to look very hard to find them, they can't just walk-off, and they are rated to hold my Buzzbox Lincoln safely, which means that they will handle just about anything else in the garage, short of 220V.