Enough circuits for a basement finish?
Finishing the basement on a fairly new house. The original electrical sub is telling me I have enough circuits, but I don’t get a warm fuzzy feeling when I do the math, so I’m looking for a second opinion.
Approximately 1000 sq ft. which includes a bedroom, bath, and wet bar. Known loads include a small refrigerator, microwave, treadmill, and home theater equipment.
There are two 15-amp circuits and one 20-amp available.
There is an additonal existing 20-amp circuit supplying a required unfinished basement outlet, but it is also supplying the garage so I’m not including it as a viable option.
The GFI bath outlet can be accommodated from an outlet-only circuit dropped from the bath on the main level above it.
I’m thinking I’m at least a 20-amp circuit short, and it is going to be a serious pain to pull a new one from the panel.
thanks much
nam
Replies
If it is a fairly new house you should have no problem getting some half height breakers from your local electrical supplier. The electricians here will tell you the real name of these breakers. Basically it is a breaker that has two breakers in the space that one breaker typically requires. You can easily install a few of these in the panel and gain a few extra circuits.
Have a good day
Cliffy
A pain to pull from the panel? The panel isn't located in the unfinished area?
The service panel is in the garage, one level up and 30 feet of enclosed wall away from where I would need additional circuits.
thanks
"There is an additonal existing 20-amp circuit supplying a required unfinished basement outlet, but it is also supplying the garage so I'm not including it as a viable option." Quote
Well, I have been lurking for quite awhile and this is my first posting. I am in the process of planning my basement renovation and this thread caught my eye.
I am not an electrician but I have done some electrical work. (all permited and inspected)
Having said that, I would take a closer look at your existing 20 amp circuit that supplies power to your unfinished basement area. It is more than likely that this circuit goes from your electrical panel in your garage to one of the outlets in the garage before it goes through the finished walls to your basement. If that is the case, you can split the circuit at the last outlet in your garage before the wire travels to the basement. You might have to open up a few outlet boxes. Find all the outlets that are on this circuit. Imagine how a electrician might have wired this up.
In essence, if you need another 20 amp circuit, you would be splitting the existing circuit. The existing circuit would be dedicated to supplying additional power to your basement. Once you split the existing circuit, you would intall a new breaker and outlet box to continue to supply power to your garage. It might be as simple as running a additional wire from a new breaker in your electrical panel in your garage to an existing outlet box in your garage. And of coase making sure the the two circuits are isolated one from the other.
Have you thought about pulling one piece of #4 or #6 and putting a subpanel in the basement? That way all your branch circuits would only be pulled in that area.
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”