i need help wiring a new basement

[tryme4]

i am finishing my basement. i have 10 outlets that i plan on wiring and recessed lighting in the ceiling. i went o home depot an d got my wire and outlets. i am a novice at wiring so i have a couple questions.

first of all i am not going to wire into the breaker myself. i am brining in an electrician for that

i assume i run the wire in series to each outlet. i have outlets and boxes that i will mount to the studs.

is there a height requirement for the outlets from the floor?

i plan on using 10 outlets for a 15 amp circuit. do i need a separate circuit for my lighting?

any help would be great

thanks

[Wgoodrich]

If this is an unfinished basement then you need to install GFI receptacle on first receptacle on circuit with rest of receptacles on load side of that GFI receptacle so the rest of those receptacles downstream of tha GFI receptacle are protected by the one GFI receptacle.

If this is an living area with a finished basement then no GFI is required.

Minimum hieght of receptacles is limited only by flooding possibilities in basement. If there is no flooding inside basement then there is no minimum hieght of receptacles.

If you are installing 10 receptacles on a circuit you may want to install a 12/2wGrnd 20 amp branch circuit and you may include the lighting with that branch circuit or split those 10 receptacles in half mix in your lighting and use two 14/2wGrnd 15 amp branch ciruicts.

Yes you run power to your switch then power out of your switch to the first receptacle then power out of first receptacle to second receptacle and repeat daisy chaining from receptacle to receptacle.

Good Luck

Wg

[tryme4]

Is there an advantage to wiring both lights and outlets. i was going to wire them separate to have each 15 amp. is wiring to the circuit breaker a DIY? i have a good grasp on how it works just never done it myself

[Wgoodrich]

Mixing the lighting with the receptacles are commonly done for two reasons. The lights won't use anywhere near 15 amps leaving a branch circuit rather minimum loaded in amps being a bit of a waste.

If you mix part of the lights on one circuit and part of the lights on a second branch circuit the entire basement won't likely go dark at once.

If you are wiring the branch circuit wiring then you are no safer. You only have three wires to connect in the panel to a new 15 amp single pole breaker if 14/2wGrnd cable or 20 amp single pole breaker if 12/2wGrnd cable.

The white and bare connect to the neutral bar and grounding bar and the black wire connects to the lug of your new single pole breaker.

More fires happen in the branch circuit wiring than in the panel. If you are doing the branch circuit wiring you might as well do the panel wiring. Just turn off the main breaker in your panel before you connect in that panel and be sure to use a breaker listed for use in your certain brand and model of your panel. Your choice, don't see why not do it all.

Good Luck

Wg