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bob92122 · Apr 21, 2008, 09:38 AM

I've run conduit to my garage and now I need to know what type of wire to put through it. I plan to have 3 circuits: one is 220, for an irrigation pump; another is unswitched 110 for some standard outlets for power tools (drill, battery charger, etc, that will not be running all the time or simultaneously); and the other is 110 for three or four lights, switched at the house (not the garage - I know, it's odd).

My plan is to run five wires: ground, common, and three hots, with one of the hots being switched. The switched circuit is easy - it's the other two I need some help with. It seems to me that I can run one of the unswitched hot leads directly to the pump and the other to both the pump and the plug-in power outlets, giving me 220 at the pump and 110 at the outlets. Is that right or do I need to run an entirely separate hot lead for the outlets? Also, if I want a single ground and a single common in the conduit, what gauge would they need to be?

MOWERMAN2468 · Apr 21, 2008, 09:47 AM

Well, first off, you need to know the size of wire you are going to use, before the conduit is purchased and ran. Sounds a little scary the way you are referring to running the wires directly to the pump. You need to install a circuit box in the garage. And separate your circuits there. You also need to know the distance you will be running the wire. That has a lot to do with what size of wire you can use due to amp loss over distance.

Washington1 · Apr 21, 2008, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by MOWERMAN2468

Well, first off, you need to know the size of wire you are going to use, before the conduit is purchased and ran. Sounds a little scary the way you are referring to running the wires directly to the pump. You need to install a circuit box in the garage. And seperate your circuits there. You also need to know the distance you will be running the wire. That has alot to do with what size of wire you can use due to amp loss over distance.

I agree with Mower!

Questions:
1. Kind of conduit ran (Ex: electrical conduit=Gray)
2. Size conduit you ran
3. How deep did you bury the conduit
4. Current size "main service rated panel"
5. Distance of run (Volatge drop should be considered, but it's not required)
... Just to name a few