Virgin Shop

[Mike Flood]

Well, after spending 7 months in Nova Scotia and 2.5 years in Alberta we find ourselves back on the West Coast. All this jumping around hasn't done much for my ww skills.

Anyway, we bought a new house (brand new) and it has a 20 X 21 shop in the back -- my wife thought it was a garage! In planning the shop I've got an electrical problem. The builder ran 2 15-amp circuits underground in a single 14/3 twisted cable. It operates the lights and garage door...er shop door opener. I'd like to run a table saw at 240 volts, a dust collector (120/240?) an air filtre and lights. Other than the air filtre and dust collector I will only be using one tool at a time. So, the question is, can I get by putting the two 15 amp circuits into a sub panel and branching more circuit off that? I suspect this would violate electrical codes.

While there is conduit between the house and shop the basement is finished and I don't want to rip apart walls to run a heavier cable.

Also, since I have to insulate and drywall the shop, someone suggested I should use plywood in place of drywall as it can hold nails anywhere. I don't think the added expense is worth it (drywall $7/sheet, plywood ~$25/sheet)???

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Lindy Edison- Dryden Onta]

I don't know much about electrical.
When I built my shop (26x40) I drywalled and hung pegboard where I wanted to put my tools etc. I like to be able to change things around on the peg to add new tools etc.
Lindy

[Wally]

You don't have to use plywood, you can use OSB at less than half the price and it is very tough. Also when I first moved to my house the garage had a 110 20 amp line so I used it to pull a new 3wire # 10 which was quite easy.

Wally/Calgary

[Bryan Cowing, Innerkip On]

You need a minimum of #8/3 conductor on a double pole 40 amp breaker . A sub panel of 16 slots or more in the shop. You could leave the existing wire to the shop and bury the #8/3 weather proof from the houses electric entrance area unless you have a surfaced driveway in that location . If you want A/C in the future use #6/3 and 60 amp double pole breaker. OSB painted white for the interior.

[Garth Denison]

Mike .... you may want to consider the use of roof sheathing, this material is a form of plywood that is a lot cheaper then regular ply. Once the walls are up just give them a coat of flat white paint and you are set. This sheathing comes in various thickness, I would suggest 3/8 thick. As for the power, yes you will need additional capacity. You can only use one tool at a time but what about those cool winter days when you are in your shop. You may need to take the chill off when you are working.

[Russ]

Mike, I agree with Garth that you can use exterior grade sheathing plywood for your inside walls, 3/8 would be around $15 or less a sheet. I was going to do that on my shop until the electrical inspector very strongly suggested drywall would be better because of fire concerns. In the end it was 3/8 drywall at $9 a sheet and pegboard wherever you need it.

[Tree Amigo in Field BC]

Mike ,

depending on where your service comes from it may be chaeper in the long run to install a whole new service. In BC you can still get a homeowners permit to do the whole thing yourself, then you need only pay BC Hydro for the hookup. IMHO you need more power

As for the interior, right now 1/2 drywall is over 10bucks a sheet while 7/16 osb is 8 and change here in the rockies. I went with the OSB as it takes dings better and paints fine

[Mike Flood]

Thanks for the great input. I have paved driveway all the way from the electrical entry to the shop so digging is out of the question. I think I'll try Wally's suggestion to pull new 8/3 cable with the old - hopefully the electrician remembers how he pulled the 14/3 (i.e., is it freely strung through holes or stabled every few feet). Isn't there something that can be used to lubricate cable for pulling?

I'll check out the OSB and roof sheathing.

Thanks again.

[J.P.Rap (Hamilton)]

Yes there is a lubricant for pulling wires, the name excapes me at the moment but you should be able to pick it up at any electricall supply store.
You may want to see if you can pull a new wire in beside the old and leave the lights on the old circuit . That way if you pop a breaker your not left in the dark.
J.P.

[Gary in Niagara]

Ideal makes a product called #77 Yellow wire pulling lubricant. I think that I have even seen it at HD but an electrical supply company will have it.

[Russ Phelps St Albert AB]

You may want to check the fire code before replacing the drywall with OSB or sheating in some areas it may not be legal. Russ

[Mike Harris, London]

and how many bends. It makes a big difference, you'd need at least a 1" conduit and no more than 4 bends, that would be a %^&*#$ to pull.

Mike

[Mike Flood]

The conduit is 1" inside diameter. There are two bends in the conduit to contend with - that's the easy part. The hard part is from where the conduit enters the house to the panel is all finished. I expect I will have to open the ceiling.

Good point on the OSB and fire protection.

Thanks all.