Electrical question

Daryl · Feb 6, 2008

Thanks for all the help. I really will only be using a motion light and maybe a plug in every now and then.

There have been a lot of stealing lately and this is about 75 yds from house and a light would help, I think. I know if theifs want it they will get it but maybe help a little. Thought about a soalr motion light but all I read they are useless.

I have plenty of electric in the garage so if I need 220 or whatever it is there. I want to get by on this as cheap as possibe.

Again Thanks

biggerten · Feb 6, 2008

Daryl said:
Thanks for all the help. I really will only be using a motion light and maybe a plug in every now and then.

There have been a lot of stealing lately and this is about 75 yds from house and a light would help, I think. I know if theifs want it they will get it but maybe help a little. Thought about a soalr motion light but all I read they are useless.

I have plenty of electric in the garage so if I need 220 or whatever it is there. I want to get by on this as cheap as possibe.

Again Thanks

Then buy the 12/2 and put it on a 15A breaker. Run the 12/2 from the breaker in your garage to a GFI outlet in the shed, and then run the lights from the GFI outlet.

Daryl · Feb 6, 2008

Thanks Biggerten... That sounds like the simplest..

CurlyDave · Feb 9, 2008

You might want to consider running a spare conduit in the trench while you have it open.

If you can possibly afford it, this allows for future expansion at very minimal cost.

If I had a nickel for every time I said "the biggest possible load I am going to ever put on this circuit is X", and then had to increase it a couple of years later, I would have a few bucks now.

JB4310 · Feb 9, 2008

At least run the 12/3 so you can have a manual switch in the house to control the flood light, either a separate light or with the new fangled motion lights, when the switch is toggled you can over ride the settings and manually turn it on even if it's not sensing motion or is past the optional on at dusk to x number of hours time. that way you would have power all the time at the outlet and could leave a programed light powered on all or most of the time with the switch in the house, but still be able to control it from the house. Put the switch somewhere handy to a back window. Get the motion light with all the options like low power on for as long as you want after dusk.

How about a gfi breaker, that way the entire line would be protected in case someone stuck a shovel into it, the only problem is then the light would depend on the gfi, not usually recommended. if you just go with the 12/2 and gfi in the shed, then don't have the light be a load on the GFCI.

I'm kind of a light nut, got about 1800 watts of flood lights around the house that I can control separately in groups, I have one 500 watter that I can control from the kitchen or the 2nd floor hall, just outside all 4 bedrooms looking out over my deep back yard and woods, it's perfect for when someone (hears something in the night). Lights are a great deterrent to mischief.