Done Wiring Garage - What To Test?

12 years ago

I am (I think) done wiring my garage.

What should I test, and how, before calling for inspection? I have a standard digital multimeter.

For background, l

- ran four #6 conductors (red black green white) in 1'' conduit from main panel area (conductors not yet fed into main panel) to a subpanel in the garage, neutral unbonded.

- drove two grounding rods w/ continuous #6 bare copper conductor in (currently open) trench 8'' deep to ground bar, conductor in conduit where it exits ground and enters garage, stapled to garage walls, enters subpanel through a cable clamp.

- ran four 20A 120v circuits using three #12 conductors (red or black, plus white and green) in 1/2'' conduit, one circuit per conduit run, no shared neutrals, as thus: (1) switched to four overhead receptacles, first one GFCI, to plug in lights, (2) to single overhead receptacle, GFCI, to plug in garage door opener, (3) to four receptacles on north wall at 54'' high, first one GFCI, for general use (4) to seven receptacles on south and west walls at 54'' high, first one GFCI and is on the ceiling for pull point and future drop cord (I decided resetting that one won't be a pain, there's always a stepstool in the garage), for general use and tools.

- ran one 20A 240v circuit using three #12 conductors (red black green) to overhead receptacle (for pull point and future drop cord) and south wall receptacle (for table saw), no GFCI. I also pulled a un-used #12 white neutral in this run (for possible future 120v/240v use, neutral is connected to the neutral bar in subpanel and capped off w/ wire nuts in the boxes.

- conduit and boxes are all sched 40 plastic, glued together, conduit held to finished walls with clips every couple feet.

- conductors are THHN/TWHN solid wires.

- conduit enters subpanel with couplers, nuts, and the whatchamacallits that cover the ends of the conduit.

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Comments (9)

hendricus
12 years ago
If this is the first rough-in inspection, all they check are proper routing and fastening of wire and the amount of wire sticking out of each box. Nothing was ever tested on mine till the final inspection when they tripped all the GFCI to make sure they worked.

Hank
John Liu
Original Author
12 years ago
Ah I am an idiot. I did not read the part of the local city website about inspections (and this is my first electrical project). I have connected all the receptacles. I guess I will have to remove them. D'oh.
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hendricus
12 years ago
Call up the inspector and tell him/her what you have done and see if you have to remove all of them. Could be one or two might be sufficient but you won't know if you don't ask.
John Liu
Original Author
12 years ago
Anyway, what testing is done on the final inspection and how can I do it myself? (Using small words . . . )

I've read that real electricians test every aspect of their work, and I'd like if possible to do things the ''right'' way.

This project is largely a learning experience for me. I'm trying to learn how to do things correctly.
Ron Natalie
12 years ago
What's tested is largely up to the inspector. I'd test each installed receptacle that it takes a load and the GFCI will trip. Check other outlets for proper function. Make sure all the plates are neat and secure.
hendricus
12 years ago
There is a 3 pronged plug without a wire but with idiot lights on it. Stick it in a powered outlet and it will show if it's wired correctly, no ground, wires reversed, stuff like that. Under 5 bucks in the electrical testing parts aisle.
That's all our inspector did, read the output on each receptacle and signed off on the job.
John Liu
Original Author
12 years ago
Hmm, that was little anti climactic. Inspector came, checked my ground rods and wire, looked at some of my receptacles (he said I could leave them all wired up), inspected the subpanel wiring, looked over the conduit, asked how I was going to decommission the existing garage circuit and which breaker I'd use in the main panel, and told me to hook and button it all up and call for the final. 10 minutes.

Interestingly, he also said he'd okay me upgrading my main panel if I moved the laundry sink (that is next to amd below it . . . ). An electrician had earlier told me that location was unworkable. So, I may be asking about replacing a main panel someday - not sure I am up for that, I am okay with everything but I don't know how to shut off the electrical service to the house.
Ron Natalie
12 years ago
The easiest way is to call the power company and arrange for them to pull the meter and replace it for you.
brickeyee
12 years ago
"I am okay with everything but I don't know how to shut off the electrical service to the house."

You should call the POCO since the protocol is different in different locations.

We turn off the main and pull ourselves, but then we also routinely install a new meter base and then jumper it to the old and put the meter back in the old base (main off) so power is only out for a short time.
After a final inspection by the AHJ the POCO is responsible for any upgrades to the feed and service conductors to the top of the meter base, and sealing the meter in the new base.

Some places go so far AS to drop the feed on the pole and then reconnect.