Are two circuit the max that I can get to a detached garage with out putting a sub panel in. I thought you can run a 12/3 and share the neutral to give you the two circuits is this correct.
thanks

That is a single circuit...a multiwire circuit.

Don

This is an excellent question and I've had to deal with it before. Someone wanted to run a multiwire branch circuit as Don discribed, for lights and plugs. In addition he wanted to run a circuit for a welder. I told him he needed to have a sub-panel and he had a fit. He ultimately put in a sub-panel but he was not happy. The multiwire branch circuit was one circuit but adding the welder was the second circuit.

If the welder was using L/L on the same 15/20a MW circuit I would probably question the decision. If you are saying he ran a MW plus a welder circuit I agree 100%. With few exceptions you can only run one set of ungrounded conductors to another building.

In the single circuit situation you still want a disconnect ... ?

Greg- Not quite sure what you mean by "L/L" but for my case he ran a 20a. 120/240v. multiwire branch circuit and a 40a. 240v, welder circuit.