I recovered five eight-foot 2-bulb fluorescent fixtures from my old garage and want to mount them in my new garage. I can't find my code book at the office after the last major cleaning and the mistake of adding a 250 sq ft store room my office, it just collects MORE junk.
The garage is finished drywall. Do I need conduit? Can I use Greenfield? I'm tempted to staple-up zip cord, I admit I did that at the old house.
I use Greenfield?
Buerste
Probably not depending of course on the code requirements as adopted by the municipality where you are adding the lights. Use Romex or UHF depending on the local requirements. But do yourself and hack out as necessary enough drywall to conceal the wiring. A plus would be to hack out all the drywall and install the maximun amount possible of insulation. And why you are in the ceiling put in some overhead electrical outlets.
Bob AZ
Unless and until an inspector looks at it, you can do what you like.
Unless you want to punch & patch holes in the drywall, conduit is probably the only correct answer - and EMT (or PVC) is pretty cheap/easy. Greenfield looks like old Armored BX armor, and I suppose it would work too. I'd use a ground wire as well, after very limited reading on it, but then I use a ground wire in other metallic conduit, on general principles (which may or may not also be code at this point, I don't know/care.) The major argument in favor of doing it right is fire prevention, and the garage is often a problematic place to have a fire, with various fuel sources scattered about.
An inspector could be looking at it after the house burns down - that would be a poor (and expensive) time to think you could have done it right, IMHO.
Check codes applicable in your municipality over and above NEC. My garage is wired with Romex and passed inspection. Zip cord is not acceptable as permanent wiring, must have a plug that goes to a code-compliant socket which would be GFI in a garage. That's if you want to do it right. I have lights wired with zipcord and plugs. They're non-permanent, only been there 25 years or so.
I recommend grounding the fixtures whatever you do. It's supposed to make them easier to start. Karl
I do that kind of thing, now and again. Do a patch job. Sadly, years later it's still a patch job. when I look at (whatever the thing) I regret not spending the extra time to do a nice job.
I sense that you are having the same indecision. My advice is to get the conduit and do it good. Every time you go in the garage, you'll see the good wiring, and feel good about it.
Use BX with a ground wire. Not really overkill, looks good and will keep an inspector happy. Be sure to use those little insulator/chaffing preventer plastic sleeves.
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