Ground Floor Electrical Shopping List
Priority Order
Phase 1: Ceiling/door circuit (garage door openers — immediate pain point, currently on extension cords) Phase 2: Work around the garage — perimeter walls, workbench, lift bay, mechanical room, 240V dedicated circuits
Breakers — Eaton BR Series
Must match the installed 200A Eaton BR panel. SLS Electric already installed breakers for their circuits (interior GFCI, exterior GFCI, soffit lights, generator inlet). Everything below is for DIY circuits.
120V Breakers
| Qty | Part | Description | Price (Apr 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BR120GF | 20A 1-pole GFCI | 43.60 after rebate) | Ceiling/door circuit — first outlet is ceiling-mounted, breaker-based GFCI avoids ladder resets |
| 4 | BR120 | 20A 1-pole | 7.19 after rebate) | Perimeter circuits (4 walls) — use GFCI receptacle at first outlet instead |
| 2 | BR120 | 20A 1-pole | $8.08 ea | Workbench circuits — GFCI receptacle at first outlet |
| 1 | BR120 | 20A 1-pole | $8.08 | Lift-bay support — GFCI receptacle at first outlet |
| 2 | BR120 | 20A 1-pole | $8.08 ea | Mechanical room dedicated (server rack + boiler/pump) |
| 1 | BR120 | 20A 1-pole | $8.08 | UPS distribution circuit |
240V Breakers (Future Trip)
| Qty | Part | Description | Price (Apr 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BR230GF | 30A 2-pole GFCI | TBD — verify at store | 2-post lift — NEC 2023 requires GFCI on 240V garage receptacles |
| 1 | BR230GF | 30A 2-pole GFCI | TBD | Air compressor |
| 1 | BR250GF | 50A 2-pole GFCI | 127.36 after rebate) | Welder/plasma (NEMA 6-50) |
| 1 | BR250GF | 50A 2-pole GFCI | 127.36 after rebate) | EV/auxiliary (NEMA 14-50) |
240V breaker subtotal: ~$350-400 estimated (30A GFCI price TBD)
120V breaker subtotal: ~116 after rebate
NEC 2023 — 240V GFCI Is New
NEC 2023 210.8(A) expanded GFCI requirements to cover all 125V through 250V receptacles up to 50A in garages. This means every 240V outlet (lift, compressor, welder, EV) needs GFCI protection. The 2-pole GFCI breakers are expensive (~180. But if buying new, buy for 2023 since you’ll pass any future re-inspection.
Wire — NM-B (Romex)
12/2 NM-B (20A 120V Circuits)
Estimate for 24’×40’ garage — each circuit averages 60-80 feet from panel through outlets, plus 10-15% waste for routing, mistakes, and leaving service loops at boxes.
| Qty | Size | Use | Price (Apr 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,000’ spool 12/2 NM-B w/ground | All 120V circuits (perimeter, workbench, ceiling/door, lift bay, mechanical, UPS) | 488.61 after Menards 11% rebate) |
1,000 feet covers all 11 120V circuits (~750’ needed) with ~250’ spare for mistakes, reroutes, or future additions. The 1,000’ spool is better per-foot (0.66/ft, $164/roll at Menards).
12/3 NM-B (3-Way Switch Travelers)
| Qty | Size | Use | Price (Apr 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50’ | 12/3 NM-B w/ground | 3-way travelers — vehicle bay (entry ↔ stairwell bottom) + stairwell (bottom ↔ top). See Switch Topology. | ~$55-70 (verify at Menards) |
Heavier Gauge for 240V Circuits
| Qty | Size | Use | Price (Apr 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50’ | 10/3 NM-B w/ground | 2-post lift (30A 240V, 4-wire for local disconnect) | 155.75 after rebate) |
| 50’ | 10/2 NM-B w/ground | Air compressor (30A 240V) | 142.40 after rebate) |
| 50’ | 6/3 NM-B w/ground | Welder/plasma (50A 240V) | 239.41 after rebate) |
| 50’ | 6/3 NM-B w/ground | EV/auxiliary (50A 240V) | 239.41 after rebate) |
Wire subtotal: ~1,320-1,335 after Menards 11% rebate
Buy Wire All at Once — Menards Mt Pleasant Is the Best Deal
Wire prices fluctuate with copper markets. Buying all your wire in one trip locks in your price. As of April 2026, all three big-box stores (Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards) list the 1,000’ 12/2 spool at 488.61**, the lowest price found. Bay City Wholesale Electric quoted $597.37 for the same spool, so the supply house advantage has flipped on this product. The rebate comes as a Menards gift card, which works fine if you’re buying the rest of your electrical supplies there anyway.
Boxes
Walls are open (pre-insulation) — use new-work nail-on plastic boxes. These mount directly to studs and are much faster/cheaper than old-work boxes.
Spec all 1-gang boxes as deep (22+ cu in) across the board. Cost delta is ~10-15 total over the project) and any outlet or switch location can later accept a Shelly Plus 1/1PM without re-boxing. 2-gang boxes (32 cu in) and the 240V square boxes are already deep enough — no change needed there.
2-Gang Boxes (4-Plug Locations)
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 2-gang new-work plastic box, 32 cu in minimum (Carlon B232A or equivalent) | ~$2-3 ea | Perimeter and workbench locations — 2 duplexes per box = 4 outlets per location |
1-Gang Boxes (Single Duplex Locations)
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1-gang deep new-work plastic box, 22+ cu in (Carlon B122A or equivalent) | ~$1-2 ea | End-of-run locations, mechanical room, UPS outlets — deep spec for future Shelly-upgrade flexibility |
Ceiling / Special Boxes
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4” octagon or round ceiling box, metal, 1/2” KO | ~$2-3 ea | Garage door openers (3), cord reels (3) — ceiling-mounted outlets |
| 3 | 1-gang deep new-work plastic box, 22+ cu in (Carlon B122A or equivalent) | ~$1-2 ea | Front wall outlets between garage doors — deep spec for future Shelly-upgrade flexibility |
| 2 | 1-gang WR box or standard box | ~$1-2 ea | Lift bay support outlets near columns |
240V Outlet Boxes
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4-11/16” square metal box + single-gang mud ring (deep, 42 cu in+) | ~$5-7 ea | Lift, compressor, welder, EV — larger box handles thicker wire |
Box subtotal: ~$90-135 (reflects universal deep 1-gang spec)
Box Fill Check — 2-Gang Boxes (NEC 314.16)
For a 2-gang box on a single 12 AWG circuit passing through (daisy-chain):
- Hots: 2 (in + out) = 2 conductors
- Neutrals: 2 (in + out) = 2 conductors
- Grounds: all = 1 conductor
- Devices: 2 × 2 = 4 conductors
- Internal clamps: 1 conductor
- Total: 10 × 2.25 cu in = 22.5 cu in → 32 cu in box passes with room to spare
Receptacles & Devices
20A Duplex Receptacles (TR Required — NEC 406.12)
| Qty | Description | Price (Apr 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 20A GFCI TR receptacle, white (Legrand radiant at Menards, or Leviton GFNT2-W) | 19.06 after rebate) | First outlet on each non-GFCI-breaker circuit (4 perimeter + 2 workbench + 1 lift bay + 1 UPS). All downstream outlets on that circuit are protected. |
| 40 | 20A TR duplex receptacle, white (Legrand at Menards, or Leviton T5820-W) | 3.97 after rebate) | Standard outlets — downstream of GFCI protection |
| 2 | 20A TR WR duplex receptacle (verify WR-rated option at Menards) | ~$5-8 ea | Lift bay support — weather-resistant rated for grease/fluid environment near lift |
240V Receptacles
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NEMA 6-50R receptacle, 50A 250V | ~$12-15 | Welder/plasma outlet |
| 1 | NEMA 14-50R receptacle, 50A 125/250V | ~$12-15 | EV/auxiliary outlet |
| 2 | NEMA 6-30R receptacle, 30A 250V | ~$10-12 ea | Lift and compressor (verify lift plug type against your specific lift manual — some use NEMA 6-30, some 6-20) |
Orange Receptacles (UPS Circuit — Visual Identification)
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-6 | 20A TR duplex, orange (Leviton T5820-OR or Hubbell equivalent) | ~$4-6 ea | UPS-powered outlets at server rack, 3D printer, workbench, future loft. Orange = “this is on battery backup” — standard commercial convention. |
Cover Plates
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 2-gang duplex wall plate, white | ~$1-2 ea | For 4-plug boxes |
| 15 | 1-gang duplex wall plate, white | ~$0.50-1 ea | Single duplex locations |
| 4 | Single-gang 240V flush plate (for NEMA 6-50, 14-50, 6-30) | ~$2-3 ea | 240V outlet covers |
| 6 | 1-gang toggle wall plate, white | ~$0.50-1 ea | Light switch locations (entry, stairwell top, loft, workbench, lift bay, soffit switch is SLS-installed) |
| 1 | 2-gang toggle wall plate, white | ~$1-2 ea | Stairwell bottom — vehicle bay 3-way + stairwell 3-way share this box |
Receptacle subtotal: ~360-430 after rebate
Light Switches & Smart Relays
Switch topology per Electrical Planning: Switch Topology. Entry soffit switch already installed by SLS — not re-purchased here.
Toggle Switches
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 20A 3-way toggle switch, white (Leviton CS320-2W or equivalent) | ~$5-7 ea | 2 per 3-way circuit × 2 circuits (vehicle bays + stairwell) |
| 4 | 20A single-pole toggle switch, white (Leviton CS120-2W or equivalent) | ~$3-5 ea | Workbench, lift bay, loft main, spare |
Smart Relays — Shelly Plus Series
Install pattern: single-pole circuits → Shelly behind the switch; 3-way circuits → Shelly at the load/fixture box with conventional 3-way toggles as upstream SPDT controls. See [[Email Imports/Screenshot_20260420_141946.png|Shelly behind-switch wiring reference]].
| Qty | Model | Use | Est. Price (Apr 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Shelly Plus 1PM | Vehicle bays 3-way (at load), stairwell 3-way (at fixture), loft main (behind switch) — Plus 1PM chosen where per-circuit power monitoring is useful | ~$25-30 ea |
| 2 | Shelly Plus 1 | Workbench single-pole, lift bay single-pole — basic smart control, no monitoring needed | ~$18-22 ea |
| 1 | Shelly Plus 1 | Exterior soffit circuit — retrofit behind the SLS-installed switch (soffit switch already exists) | ~$18-22 |
Shelly subtotal: ~$130-165 list (Shellys don’t qualify for Menards rebate; order direct from Shelly US or Amazon)
Switch-Location Boxes (Same Deep Spec)
Since all 1-gang boxes are now spec’d deep, switch locations use the same box as outlets. Quantity below is additional boxes for switch/fixture locations beyond the outlet count.
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1-gang deep plastic new-work box, 22+ cu in (Carlon B122A or equivalent) | ~$1-2 ea | Shelly-behind-switch locations (workbench, lift bay, loft, soffit retrofit) |
| 2 | Fixture-side junction box (4” octagon, deep) | ~$2-3 ea | Shelly at load — vehicle bay 3-way and stairwell 3-way |
Switches + relays + boxes subtotal: ~$170-220
GFCI Protection Strategy
| Circuit | GFCI Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling/door (openers, cord reels) | GFCI breaker (BR120GF) | First outlet is on the ceiling — breaker avoids ladder reset |
| Perimeter walls (4 circuits) | GFCI first receptacle | First outlet is at accessible wall height |
| Workbench (2 circuits) | GFCI first receptacle | First outlet at bench height, accessible |
| Lift bay support | GFCI first receptacle | Accessible near lift column |
| Mechanical/server | Standard breaker | Dedicated equipment, not general-use receptacles (verify with AHJ) |
| UPS distribution | GFCI first receptacle | First outlet accessible in mechanical room |
| All 240V circuits | GFCI breaker (2-pole) | No GFCI receptacle option for these connector types |
This mixed approach saves ~$200 vs. putting GFCI breakers on every circuit, with no code compliance difference.
Misc. Hardware & Supplies
| Qty | Description | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 bags | 12 AWG wire nuts (yellow, tan, or red — sized for 12 AWG splices) | ~$5-8/bag | |
| 1 box | NM-B cable staples, 1/2” (for 12/2) | ~$5-8 | Staple within 12” of every box, every 4.5’ of run per NEC 334.30 |
| 1 box | NM-B cable staples, 3/4” or 1” (for 10/3 and 6/3) | ~$8-12 | Larger staples for heavier wire |
| 1 bag | NM-B cable connectors (snap-in plastic for new-work boxes) | ~$5-10 | Where entering metal boxes |
| 20 | Nail plates, 1/16” steel (where wire passes through studs <1.25” from face) | ~$0.50-1 ea | NEC 334.17 — required protection |
| 1 | Disconnect switch, 30A 240V fused or non-fused | ~$15-25 | Lift local disconnect — required within sight of equipment |
| 1 roll | Electrical tape, black (Scotch Super 33+) | ~$5 | |
| 1 | Cable ripper / NM-B jacket stripper | ~$5-10 | Makes stripping romex jacket clean and fast |
| 1 pack | Push-in wire connectors (Wago 221 lever nuts), assorted | ~$15-25 | Optional but dramatically faster than wire nuts for 12 AWG splices — great for boxes with multiple connections |
| 1 | GFCI receptacle tester (3-light + GFCI test button) | ~$12-15 | Tests every outlet for correct wiring, ground, and GFCI function |
Misc. subtotal: ~$100-150
Tools
Applying the Buy Cheap, Upgrade When Proven philosophy, with exceptions for precision/safety:
| Tool | Recommendation | Est. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multimeter | Buy quality first — Klein MM400 or Fluke 323 | ~$30-50 | Safety-critical exception — cheap multimeters give unreliable readings on live circuits. This is your “am I about to get shocked?” tool. |
| Wire strippers (12-14 AWG) | Budget first — any hardware store brand | ~$8-15 | Upgrade to Klein Katapult or Knipex if stripping 50+ wires a day |
| Linesman pliers | Budget first | ~$10-15 | |
| Voltage tester (non-contact) | Klein NCVT-1 or similar | ~$15-20 | Pen-style ticker — use before touching any wire. Cheap ones are fine. |
| Fish tape or glow rods | Budget first | ~$15-25 | Probably won’t need much with open walls, useful for ceiling runs |
| Level (torpedo) | Whatever you have | ~$5-10 | For plumbing boxes on studs |
| Drill + 3/4” spade or auger bit | Whatever you have + ~$5-8 for bit | — | Boring through studs for wire runs |
Tools subtotal: ~$100-150 (if buying from scratch)
Phase 1: Ceiling/Door Circuit (Garage Openers)
Start Here — Solves the Extension Cord Problem
This is the first circuit to install. Everything here comes from the lists above — this section just identifies what to pull from the pile for your first project.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Eaton BR120GF (20A GFCI breaker) | 1 |
| 12/2 NM-B w/ground | ~100 ft (from your 1,000’ spool) |
| 4” round/octagon ceiling boxes | 6 (3 openers + 3 cord reels) |
| 1-gang new-work boxes | 3 (front wall outlets between doors) |
| 20A TR duplex receptacles | 9 (6 ceiling + 3 front wall) |
| 1-gang wall plates | 3 |
| Blank ceiling plates or single-receptacle covers | 6 (for ceiling boxes) |
| Cable staples (1/2”) | As needed |
| Wire nuts or Wago connectors | As needed |
| Nail plates | As needed where wire passes through studs |
Wiring Topology
Run 12/2 from GFCI breaker in panel → up to ceiling → across to first garage door opener box → daisy-chain through cord reel and opener boxes along ceiling → drop down to front wall outlets from nearest ceiling box. This minimizes wire and keeps the run simple through open joists.
Panel Is Energized — Life-Safety Hazard
You’ll be working in the panel to install the breaker. SLS has live circuits on the bus.
- Turn off the main breaker before installing any new breaker
- Verify dead with your multimeter at the bus bars
- The main breaker de-energizes everything downstream — the feed lugs above the main remain live (they come from the house), so don’t touch those
- Install the breaker, land your wire (black → breaker terminal, white → neutral bar, bare → ground bar)
- Restore the main breaker
Budget Summary
120V Install (Today’s Trip)
| Category | List Price | After Menards 11% Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| 120V Breakers (1 GFCI + 10 standard) | $130 | $116 |
| Wire (1,000’ spool 12/2 NM-B) | $549 | $489 |
| Wire (50’ 12/3 NM-B for 3-way travelers) | $55-70 | ~$49-62 |
| Boxes (all 120V, universal deep 1-gang spec) | $90-140 | ~$80-125 |
| Receptacles, devices, plates (120V) | $405-480 | ~$360-430 |
| Light switches (3-way + single-pole toggles) | $32-48 | ~$28-43 |
| Shelly Plus smart relays (3× 1PM + 3× Plus 1) | $130-165 | $130-165 (no Menards rebate) |
| Misc. hardware & supplies | $100-150 | ~$90-135 |
| Tools (if buying fresh) | $100-150 | ~$90-135 |
| 120V Subtotal | ~$1,586-1,862 | ~$1,427-1,690 |
240V Install (Future Trip)
| Category | List Price | After Menards 11% Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| 240V Breakers (2-pole GFCI) | ~$350-400 | ~$310-355 |
| Wire (10/3, 10/2, 6/3) | $873 | $777 |
| 240V Boxes & receptacles | ~$60-80 | ~$55-70 |
| 240V Subtotal | ~$1,280-1,350 | ~$1,140-1,200 |
Combined Total
| List Price | After Menards 11% Rebate | |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Total | ~$2,866-3,212 | ~$2,567-2,890 |
Switch/Shelly additions (2026-04-20): +$226-292 list over original estimate. Shellys themselves are not Menards-stocked, so the rebate impact is lower than for the rest of the BOM.
Prices Updated April 2026
Prices verified at Menards Mt Pleasant, Home Depot, and Lowe’s on 2026-04-13. Wire prices have increased significantly from original estimates due to copper market changes. The 12/2 NM-B 1,000’ spool alone is 255-300). Menards 11% mail-in rebate (good through 4/19/26) brings the effective total down ~$290-320. Rebate is a Menards merchandise credit check.
Staged Purchasing
Buy all the 12/2 NM-B and 120V components first (~870 of the total.
References
- Electrical Planning — Full circuit layout and scope of work
- UPS Strategy — Orange outlet distribution plan
- Interior Lighting Plan — Fixture specs and circuit assignments
- Tool Purchasing Philosophy — Buy cheap, upgrade when proven
- Electrical Materials Order — Order tracking