220v outlet in garage

[welding greenhorn]

i want to put a 220v outlet in my garage for my lincoln easy mig 180 and my old linde 230 utility stick welder. but when i open the breaker box theres no more room for the circuit breaker. sooo where do i go from there if any onecan help it'd be greatly appreciated.

 

[duwem]

On option (did this at my last house) is to figure out what everything in the box does, there might be a few things in there you don't need or aren't even used any more if its an older house. In that house there were 2 120v breakers that we just couldn't figure out what they did. We left them off for a few days and didn't notice anything different in the house, so used those.

If your box is not well labeled, there are some devices you can use were you plug something in an outlet and then trace it in the breaker box. I used a helper around the house.

 

[larry4406]

They make thin breakers whereby you can put two in one space. Here we call them piggy back breakers. Use 4 of them to compress 4 existing spaces into 2 thereby freeing up 2 spaces. Now you can put in a double pole 240 breaker of your choice.

 

[Alchymist]

2 choices. Use a couple tandem circuit breakers to replace some 120v breakers IF your panel accepts them, use the freed up slots for your new 240 volt breaker.

OR, install a sub panel.

 

[welding greenhorn]

thanks so just turn them off one by one and see what happens

 

[welding greenhorn]

that sounds like something that can work ill look into that

 

[theoldwizard1]

They make thin breakers whereby you can put two in one space. Here we call them piggy back breakers. Use 4 of them to compress 4 existing spaces into 2 thereby freeing up 2 spaces. Now you can put in a double pole 240 breaker of your choice.

Most of the time these "tandem" breakers come directly from the manufacturer that way. They are not overly expensive and are easy to install. (I had to install 4 tandems to get additional circuits in a kitchen I was remodeling).

If you are going to run a 240V line to the garage, I would strongly recommend installing a small breaker box out there so you can add some more circuits.

 

[ford33]

Seriously consider adding a small 50 or 60 amp sub-panel in the garage.

Like you, I was in the same situation 2 years ago. I decided to use the tandem breakers and then install a separate 240v line to the garage for my welder. Now its 2 years later and I am planning to install a 50 amp sub-panel in the garage. The single existing 20 amp circuit for the lights and the single 240v 30 amp outlet are just adequate. I've added new tools, more lights and outlets over time. The new planned 240v table saw or electrical heater will not work with the current situation.

I should have just put in the small sub-panel in the beginning. It would have saved me some expensive wire and my time. Think ahead and if there is a chance you are adding tools, lighting or heat, seriously consider a small sub-panel.

 

[midwesta]

I added a 12 circuit subpanel in the garage and pulled back the original wire for the garage.

For a 220v you will be pulling large wires to the garage anyways - so in reality for the cost of a subpanel (cheap) you can add on much easier.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Take pics of the panel with the cover on and off...

 

[isuhunter]

I'll take pictures of what I did (well hired someone to do...)

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Is there any down side to a properly installed sub-panel?