What type of wire or cable was run to the 14-50 receptacle? If it was a cable (romex NM, or SER cable), that can be run up the side of studs no problem and through bored holes. If it was 4 separate #6 copper wires, that needs to be in a conduit and cannot be run as individual conductors through holes or stapled to a stud.
All of the cable type wiring methods need to be protected from physical damage. The code is not very clear about what is constitutes damage or what exactly you need to do to protect it. In some areas, cables run above 8' in height are considered protected from damage. Other places will want a piece of drywall, OSB, or a 1x3 attached to the studs in front of the cable to protect it from things hitting or snagging it. It is up to the inspector to judge the damage rules. Was this inspected by an electrical inspector?
You may also have another problem. A detached structure is only allowed one circuit to feed it, with a few exceptions. Is there already a circuit run to the garage for lights and normal 120V receptacles? If so, you are not allowed to run a separate 50A circuit to that garage. Also, each circuit to the garage needs a disconnect. Is there a switch (or something like an air conditioner disconnect) at the garage penetration where the 50A circuit enters the garage? If not, that is also a violation. The solution is to run a feeder to the garage, probably a 70 amp one. You'd then put a panel in the garage with a 50A breaker for the 14-50 car charger, and a 120V 15A or 20A circuit for lights and maybe garage door openers, and a 120V 20A circuit for normal 120V receptacles with at least one in each car space. This panel also requires a ground electrode system, so you'd need 2 ground rods at the garage.
All of the cable type wiring methods need to be protected from physical damage. The code is not very clear about what is constitutes damage or what exactly you need to do to protect it. In some areas, cables run above 8' in height are considered protected from damage. Other places will want a piece of drywall, OSB, or a 1x3 attached to the studs in front of the cable to protect it from things hitting or snagging it. It is up to the inspector to judge the damage rules. Was this inspected by an electrical inspector?
You may also have another problem. A detached structure is only allowed one circuit to feed it, with a few exceptions. Is there already a circuit run to the garage for lights and normal 120V receptacles? If so, you are not allowed to run a separate 50A circuit to that garage. Also, each circuit to the garage needs a disconnect. Is there a switch (or something like an air conditioner disconnect) at the garage penetration where the 50A circuit enters the garage? If not, that is also a violation. The solution is to run a feeder to the garage, probably a 70 amp one. You'd then put a panel in the garage with a 50A breaker for the 14-50 car charger, and a 120V 15A or 20A circuit for lights and maybe garage door openers, and a 120V 20A circuit for normal 120V receptacles with at least one in each car space. This panel also requires a ground electrode system, so you'd need 2 ground rods at the garage.
Statistics: Posted by suemarkp — Sun Apr 07, 2024 11:48 pm — Replies 9 — Views 849