patrick.net

Common garage light circuits usually cannot handle additional loads. My friend lived in a condo, and you couldn't even install a garage door opener without adding a battery system with built in TRICKLE charger.

Even 8-10 amps is a lot to add to this type of circuit, though you could probably "get away with it" until someone else using the common garage gets an electric car too.

Automan Empire says

Even 8-10 amps is a lot to add to [a garage light] circuit, though you could probably "get away with it" until someone else using the common garage gets an electric car too.

That's a good point, the light circuit is probably 20 Amps and might already carry a 10 Amp load, so adding a car might conceivably trip the thermoelectric breaker after a few minutes, and adding two cars probably would. OTOH, it costs very little to try, and if two people buy these cars, then management might be more willing to upgrade. Pulling new wire with better modern insulation (thus higher capacity) through an existing conduit doesn't cost too much. Meanwhile, it might be a good opportunity to replace old incandescent bulbs with LED motion sensing bulbs, which would reduce waste and might reduce the load on the circuit enough to accommodate the car.

Okay..to expound. The garage is a full sized gated garage with roll up door. The light fixtures are more of a fluorescent variety, and emergency lighting. I agree on the amperage issue. If they didn't build it with this in mind, they need to run circuits and conduit. Or at least run wire through existing (which is what I'm asking them to do). I just need an outlet.

They are the ones that have an interest in the metering, so I don't get away with not paying for consumption.

They would need to be concerned about amperage, which will easily exceed standard wiring with only a few vehicles.

curious2 says

hat's a good point, the light circuit is probably 20 Amps and might already carry a 10 Amp load,

Might be a 15A circuit, with the existing load unknown.

CL says

What about Sine waves and such? Any risks? I think now, since its intended purpose is to run the much more sensitive computer equipment.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that UPS systems don't like reactive loads, so you might want to look into the charger system and make sure it's primarily a resistive load.

swebb says

I seem to remember reading somewhere that UPS systems don't like reactive loads, so you might want to look into the charger system and make sure it's primarily a resistive load.

I can't imagine how an inverter could possibly be any type of reactive load??? It's not like there is a motor-generator set in there!