Ok. I could really really use some help on what to use to put the new electrical circuits into my new shop in the 3rd bay of my garage.
The garage is totally finished, all the way to texture and paint, so I thought I would go for surface-mounted circuits rather than cutting into and trying to make the new repairs when putting everything back look decent.
So with the new panel up with plenty of new power and circuits I wanted to start running the lines to the outlet. With my shop arrangement and where the panel was put it pretty much means going up to the ceiling, across and then down the far wall to where I want the outlets.
So off I went to Home Depot. In the course of 24 hours trying to figure everything out I talked to 4 different experts there at 2 HDs. I of course got four completely different and pretty much completely opposite answers. The somewhat abrasive older man who claimed to be a master electrician with 35 years of experience was helpful but not around for much time. His comment was 1 sentence: "Of course you can use Conduit to run your wire across". When I asked what kind he asked if I had ever used/bent the EMT before? I said no and his response was "Then use PVC as you are familiar with it." I have put in a number of sprinkler systems over the years. He then left for the day.
He was followed by an even more abrasive but much younger woman who came on shift and basically told me that not just NO! but HECK NO! That running romex/cerrowire thru conduit was not only against code but lethally stupid as I would burn down my house in nothing flat. Her reasoning there was way way to much insulation on the wires. What on earth?!!? I had thought that would be what would keep the heat down! She cited an extensive knowledge of electrical code and promptly fled the scene. Her specific advice was to buy either completely seperate wires that were each individually shielded. Which is just pain to work with in comparison, or more specifically to buy some "Greenfield" armored cable that has the 12/3 that I needed already in it. But now instead of running one nice conduit line across and then distributing the multiple lines that were in it around I will have a rat's next approach of a 3+ seperate armored conduit lines going across.
So off to the books at the front of the store. I looked at them an nothing was said either way. So back to home to look on the internet. A number of sites showed some examples of how to do this but with all of the pictures and explanations they had nothing about what type of wire.
The saga continued with a couple of return trips looking for help to get different answers/suggestions on how to accomplish this feat.
Well I trust the 18 year old kid I talked with last night a ton less than the experts I have run into here on the Creek. So here I am once again begged for the benefit of your experience and wisdom.
The specifics of what I am trying to accomplish: I have a Powermatic 3250B, a 2hp HF dust collector, a chop saw, a small bandsaw, etc... I am planning to run a dedicated 110v line to the DC using 20amp and 12/2 wire. The Powermatic is a 20amp 12/3 220v dedicated line. The 3rd line is just a normal array of plugs to get power out to chargers the saw, etc... Then I was thinking about a dedicated 110v 20amp line for an A/C I have yet to buy but would really like to have.
So I wanted to run 4 lines of the cerrowire thru 1 condition to a distribution box and go from there.
Is this safe? Is it legal? I know codes differ from region to region in some ways but things that will burn the house down are pretty much against code everywhere. For the record I live in SLC, UT if that helps anyone...
If you can't run wire down electrical conduit what on earth is the conduit for?
Also should I buy the armored greenfield stuff. Can I bundle them in hangers on the walls/ceiling? to try and at least keep the mess down?
Any advice, ideas, thoughts, comments, experiences would be great to have!
Thanks a million,
Joshua