Need to add a 15A GFI circuit

[Integral9]

Since I have a whole 2 15A circuits powering my basement which includes most of the things that I play with (TV, computers, & aquariums), I am basically tapped out. My basement is mostly finished and unfortunately, the breaker box is in the part of the basement that's finished. There is an outlet directly underneath my breaker panel that I can to use for this dedicated 15A circuit, but I will need about 10ft of extension cord to reach the tank. If at all possible, and I doubt it will be w/out major renovation, I'd like to use the outlet 10 feet away but I believe that will involve running a line through studs sitting behind wainscoting and drywall.

 

Is this something I can DIY? or should I hire an electrician? I've done things like install wall sconce lighting and I replaced my electric hot water heater. So I am not totally new to AC, but I won't be getting a contractors license any time soon either.

 

If DIY, is there a guide for doing this I can follow? thanks.

[Coral Hind]

I'd say DIY and the 10' extension cord is the easiest route. Make sure you get one that is at least a 14awg since you are putting it on a 15A breaker.

 

Do you have a sheetrock or hard ceiling or suspended grid system?

[Integral9]

I talked it over with the wife and she wants to do the extension cord. It won't be that clean, but I won't have to tear out the walls and patch them back up. the ceiling is sheet rock / dry wall.

 

I've never added a breaker to a panel, so there in lies my concern. I know there's 3phase-240V in there somewhere and I'd rather not find out the hard way.

[Guest thefishman65]

Does the panel have a master on/off? It will take down the whole house, but better safe than sorry. then you just need to watch the big wire coming in which will be easy to find.

[Swimboy123]

You only have to touch a 240V once and you'll double-check everytime for the rest of your life. My experience was one that i will never forget!!

[Integral9]

I believe there is a master on off on the panel, but I am not at home so i can't say for sure. One thing I've noticed about doing electrical work, you are almost always doing it in the dark.

 

So when I by-pass the plug I'm going to use for the new circuit, can I just use wire nuts to pinch the two ends together? and do I need a seperate box to put that in, or can I use the existing box? I'd prefer to be as close to code as possible.

 

You only have to touch a 240V once and you'll double-check everytime for the rest of your life. My experience was one that i will never forget!!

No doubt. I had a little accident with the 240V when installing my water heater. I wasn't hurt, but my screwdriver was missing most of the tip and I was on the floor.

[Integral9]

Install was a success. I isolated the outlet under the breaker box by pulling the wires off the outlet and putting them together with some wire nuts. I then ran a 12-2 line from the breaker down to the outlet box and plugged it into the GFCI outlet. Then I had to make a couple trips to home depot to get a breaker that would fit my panel. So irritating. I probably spent more on gas going back and forth than the breaker itself. I had to go with a double 15A breaker as the single 15A breakers wouldn't fit the panel, so now I have an unused 15A breaker which I leave in the off position. So I could run another 15A line someone if I decided to. Also, I didn't have a free spot in the grounding rail, so I shared a spot on the rail with another ciruit. I figured it would be ok, since all the lines share the same rail. If I am out of code, someone, please let me know.