New 20 Amp Circuit Installation

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I was wondering what is involved in the installation of a new 20A circuit into an existing room?

Will it require tearing out the sheetrocks to install new wirings, etc.?

How extensive will the work be?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Home electrical wiring is pretty easy. It's like running a stiff speaker wire to a single location.

It's really that simple, which is also really that difficult.

How extensive the work will be depends entirely on the wire path from the electrical box in your home to the location you want the outlet. If you have the box in your basement, and the outlet is on the first floor, and you have an unfinished basement, then you may be able to install the outlet without a single drywall cut.

But, if you have an electrical box in the gargage, and you have a finished basement, and you have no simple path for the electrical to go through, then you will need extensive drywall removal to get the wire in place.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Unfortunately for me, the electrical box is in the garage. The room is not in the basement. It's just another room in the house. Not good for me. I was afraid of that.

 

[Warpdrv]

Have you thought about going Wireless...?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Have you thought about going Wireless...?

No. Wireless is just not hardcore enough.

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

If you are upgrading from a 14/2 15 amp circuit to a 12 gauge 20 amp and the current wiring is straight from the panel box to the termination point (receptacle) and does not continue on to any other loops, you luckily may be able to use the old 14/2 as a pull for the new thicker wire.

If it is too stiff, you can tie a strong string or light rope to the end of the 14/2 after you disconnect it from the panel box, pull it through then use the string or rope to pull the new wire.

Hope this helps.

 

[Haoleb]

The way that the romex is run in the house, twisting through the trusses and stapled down all over the place, down the top plate... You probably couldnt pull it out with a truck attached at one end.

If you have attic access from where the panel is to your room it shouldnt be too hard. They may have to take out some drywall right at the panel because there will already be so many wires there that fishing more may be difficult. If your having them run one line, I'd run two, considering that all the hard work would already be done running the first.

 

[nick1000000]

If you are upgrading from a 14/2 15 amp circuit to a 12 gauge 20 amp and the current wiring is straight from the panel box to the termination point (receptacle) and does not continue on to any other loops, you luckily may be able to use the old 14/2 as a pull for the new thicker wire.

If it is too stiff, you can tie a strong string or light rope to the end of the 14/2 after you disconnect it from the panel box, pull it through then use the string or rope to pull the new wire.

Hope this helps.

It's a good ides but there is no way the 12 gauge will follow the same path. It is too stiff. If you hit any corner the 12 gauge will not curve around it.

AcuDefTechGuy, is the place you are putting the plug near the kitchen? If so, you could take the wires from a plug you do not use and extend the wire to where you need it.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

AcuDefTechGuy, is the place you are putting the plug near the kitchen? If so, you could take the wires from a plug you do not use and extend the wire to where you need it.

No, the HT room is far away from the kitchen.

I would like a brand new circuit and not have to share with any existing circuits.

I guess I can't just take the existing 20A circuit + wires and just change it to a 30A circuit can I?

 

[nick1000000]

If you want a BRAND NEW 20 amp source then I would call an electritian. You definitely don't want to fool around with that. That involves adding a breaker. Electricity is one of those things worth spending money to have right.

 

[nick1000000]

I guess I can't just take the existing 20A circuit + wires and just change it to a 30A circuit can I?

I wish. Taking a 15A and a 20A to make the 35A

 

[Warpdrv]

If you want a BRAND NEW 20 amp source then I would call an electritian. You definitely don't want to fool around with that. That involves adding a breaker. Electricity is one of those things worth spending money to have right.

Its really not difficult to do this job if everything was out in the open....

Its no different then running speaker wire IMO. Changing out a breaker or adding one is very simple, people just seem to have a great fear of electricity.

It doesn't sound like this will be something Accudef will be getting into without a major cost involved from the sounds of conditions, distance and drywall....

I added 2 20 amp circuits to my great from for my subs which was a major PIA (in the joist runs in between the hard wood floor and above the hard wood ceiling in the basement) , and another 20 amp circuit for my bedroom setup.

 

[nick1000000]

Its really not difficult to do this job if everything was out in the open....

Its no different then running speaker wire IMO. Changing out a breaker or adding one is very simple, people just seem to have a great fear of electricity.

It doesn't sound like this will be something Accudef will be getting into without a major cost involved from the sounds of conditions, distance and drywall....

I added 2 20 amp circuits to my great from for my subs which was a major PIA (in the joist runs in between the hard wood floor and above the hard wood ceiling in the basement) , and another 20 amp circuit for my bedroom setup.

20A vs. speaker wire is very different. It's not the electricity I worry about, it's the electrical fires and damage you can't see happening to your house. i think we are all in agreement though that it will not be easy.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Oh, yeah, if I'm going to do that, I will definitely call an electrician!

I just wanted to get a good idea of what's involved before I call.

How much do you guys think it might cost? I don't want to get ripped off either.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

My next door neighbor will do mine for 50 bucks but it will cost you arong 350.

Oh, yeah, if I'm going to do that, I will definitely call an electrician!

I just wanted to get a good idea of what's involved before I call.

How much do you guys think it might cost? I don't want to get ripped off either.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My next door neighbor will do mine for 50 bucks but it will cost you arong 350.

Jeez, thanks a lot!

I don't think I would do it for $350.

But I don't know. I'm getting pretty close to getting the Optoma HD81-LV. The power consumption is 340 watts so I'm just a little bit worried.

 

[Rickster71]

What is the circuit going to be used for?
Will it be a dedicated circuit for HT equipment?
Do you have spaces in the panel for extra circuits/breakers?

With the panel being in the garage; you'll have to get the one, or two circuits down into the basement, or up into the attic.

If it were me, I would leave the existing 15 amp circuit alone. Then add the new 20 amp receptacles where you need them.
The reason for that is, you don't know where branch circuits go, before or after that room; and you don't know what's on that circuit. There are also issues with box fill, etc. So I wouldn't open that can of worms. You can't use 14-AWG Romex in a 20 amp circuit; you'll have to run 12 wire, and it makes no sense to pull out all of the perfectly good 15 amp circuit.

So, it's just a matter of drilling down from the attic, or up from the basement, and removing some sheet rock near the panel.

 

[trnqk7]

That's not even 3 amps...very insignificant.

 

[nick1000000]

just run an extension cord from the garage

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What is the circuit going to be used for?
Will it be a dedicated circuit for HT equipment?
Do you have spaces in the panel for extra circuits/breakers?

With the panel being in the garage; you'll have to get the one, or two circuits down into the basement, or up into the attic.

If it were me, I would leave the existing 15 amp circuit alone. Then add the new 20 amp receptacles where you need them.
The reason for that is, you don't know where branch circuits go, before or after that room; and you don't know what's on that circuit. There are also issues with box fill, etc. So I wouldn't open that can of worms. You can't use 14-AWG Romex in a 20 amp circuit; you'll have to run 12 wire, and it makes no sense to pull out all of the perfectly good 15 amp circuit.

So, it's just a matter of drilling down from the attic, or up from the basement, and removing some sheet rock near the panel.

The circuit will be used only for HT components. Yes the panel does have some spaces for extra breakers.

So an electrician will cut some sheet rock near the electric box in the garage, install new 12G wires from the attic down to the HT room. Sounds good.

How much do you think it will cost?