220V outlet question

[Boyd Who]

I'm in the planning stages for the electrical in my 20 x 22 shop build. I know where I want the 110V outlets, but I'm wondering about the 220V ones.
I'm thinking of placing one outlet in each of the 4 corners of the shop. Will this be overkill? Their main use will be for a future welder, compressor, and possibly a plasma cutter. I definitely want one outlet near the OH door so I can run a welder outside in I need to.
What does the collective GJ membership think?

 

[oleguy]

220 at oh door is good.the rest should be where you will have good access.

 

[Professur]

I just have one, with a 50' extension. Gets me anywhere I need to go.

 

[sammm]

My plan is to have 2 of them in a 16x24 build. 1 dedicated for a compressor, and the other for whatever else. I guess it all depends on how many you think you'd be using at the same time.

I like the 50' extension idea Professur.

 

[Kevro]

I'm planning the same exact thing for my 22x22 garage, one in each corner.

 

[Boyd Who]

Hmmmm...I like the idea of just having one (or possibly one at each end) and using an extension. That would certainly cut down on running wire for 4!
Thanks!

 

[84scrambler]

I have one dedicated for the air compressor which is by the front of the door so if I needed to I can use it for my welder. The only other one is in the back which is being used for the welder with an extension cord. So far all I have ever really used for the welder is the one in the back and it has done fine in my two car garage.

 

[HemiRambler]

I have 1 in my old garage - hate it!!! Sometimes OVERKILL is a good thing - THIS is one of those times - stick with your original plan!!

 

[crowldawg]

Same as above .I have one dedicated for the air compressor by front door .Welding is then done outside. I chose to wire my stationary table saw with 110 .If not The outlet is close enough if I go to 220 some day

 

[sgrammel]

Why the corners? Seems to make more sense to put them in the middle of each wall. Its gotta be pretty cheap to put them in now...rather than later...The more the merrier!

 

[dan76]

I like your original plan. Besides if you go with a plasma cutter, you'll need two outlets....one for the PC and one for the compressor.

I don't like 240 volt extension cords.....

 

[mrb]

I don't like 240 volt extension cords.....

why?
.....

 

[travisd]

Since there's uncertainly about what wiring you'd actually need, have you considered just running some empty conduit (well, empty with a pull string) to a few locations? This way you can pull in what you need when the device actually becomes known.

 

[nate379]

Why?

My welder is on 100ft of cord. Handy to roll out in the driveway or backyard.

I like your original plan. Besides if you go with a plasma cutter, you'll need two outlets....one for the PC and one for the compressor.

I don't like 240 volt extension cords.....

 

[1969]

Compressors of any size are usually hard-wired, aren't they ? Just the smaller ones use a cord, I think. Something to think about, running conduit....good advise.

 

[larry_g]

I have to ask if you plan to put in 220v outlets what size wire do you plan to run and what you plan to fuse it at? Most 220v pieces of equipment have specific requirements for power and fusing.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[ddrewyor]

My garage is 30 x 40 and I have 4, 50amp outlets in the garage. The back and side walls each have one in the center and the front wall with the garage door has one off to the side. Most of my equipment is on carts or rolling stands and I wheel them to wherever I need them and just plug them in. If you use extension cords watch for a large voltage drop (checked at full load). That is the killer of many a motor.

Dave
________
BUY EASY VAPE VAPORIZER

 

[nate379]

That is true. Many years ago my Dad was working on a fence so he just ran about 1000ft of 6/3 cord out to the fence with his old Lincoln buzz box. Didn't work all that great, but got the job done.

He got the cord for 0.05/ft, and wouldn't sell me 100ft of it when I needed some


BTW isn't it 240v in Canada, or do they really use 220v?

 

[Norcal]

That is true. Many years ago my Dad was working on a fence so he just ran about 1000ft of 6/3 cord out to the fence with his old Lincoln buzz box. Didn't work all that great, but got the job done.

He got the cord for 0.05/ft, and wouldn't sell me 100ft of it when I needed some


BTW isn't it 240v in Canada, or do they really use 220v?

It's 240V in Canada, just like in the US.

 

[Boyd Who]

Thanks for all the replies! I decided to go with two 240V outlets, one at each end of the shop. Got the outlets mounted today, just need to run the wire and get the sub-panel hooked up.

 

[Dan0myte]

BTW isn't it 240v in Canada, or do they really use 220v?

240V is nominal output from the transformer on your power pole. Depending on wire losses and distances, most homes see 220V or 230V at the actual outlet. That's why electrical outlets and wiring are rated for 240V because they might see that as a maximum value, while electrical appliances are usually rated at 220V to show what you will most likely get as output when you use it.

It's the same all over North America.

 

[mrb]

240V is nominal output from the transformer on your power pole. Depending on wire losses and distances, most homes see 220V or 230V at the actual outlet. That's why electrical outlets and wiring are rated for 240V because they might see that as a maximum value, while electrical appliances are usually rated at 220V to show what you will most likely get as output when you use it.

It's the same all over North America.

outlets arent rated at 240v. All nema devices are rated at 125v and 250v. 120/240v is the standard for north america, if you are getting 220v at your outlet and your utility's system voltage is 240, you have a problem.

 

[nate379]

I agree. I have lived in 8-9 different houses in about as many years and ALL where right around 120v/240v... plus or minus 2-3 volts.

Now when a heavy load is put on that line, maybe it does drop to 110v, but that would be like saying your 60psi water is really 30psi when every faucet in the house is on.

 

[Dan0myte]

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/section-14.html

One thing where things might get a bit confusing is the
different numbers people bandy about for the voltage of
a circuit. One person might talk about 110V, another 117V
or another 120V. These are all, in fact, exactly the same
thing... In North America the utility companies are required
to supply a split-phase 240 volt (+-5%) feed to your house.
This works out as two 120V +- 5% legs. Additionally, since there
are resistive voltage drops in the house wiring, it's not
unreasonable to find 120V has dropped to 110V or 240V has dropped
to 220V by the time the power reaches a wall outlet. Especially
at the end of an extension cord or long circuit run. For a number
of reasons, some historical, some simple personal orneryness,
different people choose to call them by slightly different numbers.
This FAQ has chosen to be consistent with calling them "110V" and
"220V", except when actually saying what the measured voltage will
be. Confusing? A bit. Just ignore it.

 

[Dan0myte]

Also stated in the Home Technology Integrator guide:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=ljy...ominal 220v actual&pg=PA6#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[Norcal]

Also stated in the Home Technology Integrator guide:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=ljy...ominal 220v actual&pg=PA6#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=69640&d=1278521541

Those sites are a believable as a politician, in no case in the US is 110/220V a design voltage. IMO, somebody was smoking some of that funny tobacco.

 

[buicfrank]

After reading this forum I'm still confused. Sorry. My question would be: Can a 20ft extension cord be run across my garage? This cord would be made of the same wire as the cord from the compressor to the 220 plug. I want to move my compressor but not the plug. Thanks Frank

 

[babzog]

I've got a 220v 60A outlet between the doors for the welder. Also have a long ext. cord to reach places. I have other 220V 15A outlets along one side and the back (three total) for 220V machines (currently just a table saw, but want to get a planer, jointer, etc).

 

[38Chevy454]

On my 26 x 48 I put only two 240v outlets, one 30 amp and one 50 amp; each on it's own breaker. Being that large gage wire is expensive, I kept them fairly close to the breaker box. The 50 amp circuit has 45 ft of cable from the breaker and was nearly $100 just for that length.