Attached Garage

[kurses]

just built - hooraaayy!!!
Now doing wiring. Need to know - can the exterior lights be on same circuit as recepticles? Can this be done with 14-3 wiring? How many recepticles can there be (with or without lights - total of 8 lights)?
Also, any rules about a light fixture being over stairs?
Kurses

[suemarkp]

In a residential garage, there aren't many restrictions on what can be on what kind of circuit. There is no receptacle limit or light limit. It is customary to put a 20A receptacle circuit in the garage. Lights could be on that or (my preference) a separate 15A circuit.

#14 wire can only be used on 15A circuits. Why do you want 14-3? Is one wire going to be switch and the other constant power, or do you need a 3-way switch setup?

Stairways need to be lit, but the code doesn't say how (top and bottom, one over the stair span, etc) but you do need that light to be switch controlled at each level with either a manual switch or some type of remote control, motion detector, or similar. Any outside entrance door also needs a light with similar switched control.

[kurses]

good stuff, thanks Mark,
the 14-3 was already run through the house, so figured easier to connect to panel and continue through to garage. Am surprised to hear no regulations for garage. Have inspector coming to check out my handy work in the addition and was sweating a bit re: the garage.
cheers

[joed]

One regulation is that ALL receptacles in the garage must be GFCI under 2008 NEC.

[suemarkp]

And you must have at least one receptacle. There are a few garage rules, but they are much less than kitchens and bathroom rules in the code book. The general rules still apply to a garage.

[kurses]

Uh oh - Not sure if my profile shows where I am - Ontario (Muskoka). you two referring to the Yankee rules? any difference up here? I thought I had read an attached garage didn't need GFCI for interior? If so - is that all of them or would the first one in the circuit suffice, and if all, do I have an issue with the 14-3?

[joed]

No GFCI required in garage in Ontario.
The only special rules I could find in my 1999 code book are regarding hazardous location rules. If the garage floor is below grade the lower 50mm of the garage is considered hazardous. Basicly means nothing unless you want to put electrical in the lowest 18" above the floor.

[suemarkp]

Uh oh - Not sure if my profile shows where I am - Ontario (Muskoka). you two referring to the Yankee rules? any difference up here? I thought I had read an attached garage didn't need GFCI for interior? If so - is that all of them or would the first one in the circuit suffice, and if all, do I have an issue with the 14-3?

Your profile doesn't show your location. We also have a Canadian electrical forum section which is the best way to get Canadian specific answers.

http://www.selfhelpforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5

[kurses]

thanks again, I couldn't find anything specific in the Canadian Code section, things are a little more technical there (for my pea brain anyway) and figured this was a little more general. You guys are great!

will update my profile (unless there is a section on likes and dislikes)

and just to make sure - am ok with regular recepticles (8) on a 14-3 line, can include exterior lighting on this (but will go with separate circuit) and can put a light fixture over a flight of stairs (will make the mrs change that bulb!!!)

[joed]

Being in Ontario you are limited to 12 outlets (receptacles, light fixtures, hard wired devices,etc) per circuit.
Lighting MUST be on a 15 amp circuit.