220volt welder / compressor / plasma cutter outlet help

[sweetk30]

i have a air compressor in my corner and need to run a outlet over by it to plug it in to .

air compressor motor ( blador 1750 rpm ) shows 24 amps on single phase 220 .
plasma cutter ( hypertherm xp45 ) is a 30 amp plug head factory .
welder is a lincoln 216 power mig with a 50 amp plug head factory but i dont do hardly anything to get to the max on this welder .

the run i would like to do is about 40ft from the box to the corner of the shop . what size copper wire can i get away with and be safe ? and i will be swapping out a plug thats on the bottom of the breaker box now for this new location so its already use to the 50 amp lug and breaker in the shop just new floor layout .

just checked my roll of wire i got a few years ago free and i was thinking it was 4 ga but its 2ga so i think after reading some online charts i should be good for the run with that size . but what do you all think ?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Motor circuits are sized by HP not amps. Whats the HP rating on the motor? Sounds like 5HP. If so it needs #10 THWN in conduit or #8/2 NM-b. It will need to be hardwired (no receptacle). If further than 50’ and not within site of the breaker panel, it will need a disconnect as well.

 

[sweetk30]

yes 5hp. and i am doing a disconect box even tho its only 28ft to the main panel .

i was going to run the wire in conduit as the whole shop was already setup this way .

so your saying i dont need the 2ga thwn size for this run ?

 

[mm08822]

Using the #2 for this application is way overkill. Would need to increase conduit size and possibly mis-match of connector's range. One roll of #10 thhn as suggested, keeps this install as simple as can be.

Otherwise, you are trying to fill a coffee cup with a back-hoe bucket.

 

[theoldwizard1]

yes 5hp. and i am doing a disconect box (for the compressor) even tho its only 28ft to the main panel .

Overkill, but sure, why not.

I think the confusing thing is the compressor is considered "continuous duty" (requiring hard wiring) while the plasma cutter and welder are considered "intermittent duty" and are allowed to have a plug.

Every 240VAC welder I have seen comes with a NEMA 6-50 plug. This rated for 50A, even though very few welders will draw 50A (the breaker and wire should be sized according to the manufacturers recommendation). Personally, if the plasma cutter did NOT have a 6-50 plug on it from the factory, I would install one.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... #8/2 NM-b.

I would HATE to have to work with that !

The difference in cost between 2 - #10 THWN conductors plus a bare #10 vs. #8/2 NM-b is about a $1/ft. Plenty for for conduit and fittings !

 

[Norcal]

Using the #2 for this application is way overkill. Would need to increase conduit size and possibly mis-match of connector's range. One roll of #10 thhn as suggested, keeps this install as simple as can be.

Otherwise, you are trying to fill a coffee cup with a back-hoe bucket.

Unless they plan to use the conduit for grounding which is fine, one roll will not work.

 

[mm08822]

My suggestion included conduit as grd. Or he could buy it buy the foot.

 

[sparky 1971]

so your saying i dont need the 2ga thwn size for this run ?

Leave the #2 right where it is, either on a shelf or laying in the corner of the garage. At only 28 feet away, just go to Home Depot and get some cuts of #10 at $.68 per foot.

 

[sweetk30]

Unless they plan to use the conduit for grounding which is fine, one roll will not work.

Shop is all grey plastic so need 3rd strand for sure .

 

[Sumboodie]

I have an air compressor in my corner and need to run an outlet to it.

The air compressor motor (Baldor 1750 rpm) shows 24 amps on single phase 240.
The plasma cutter (Hypertherm XP45) has a 30 amp plug.
The welder is a Lincoln 216 PowerMig with a 50 amp plug.

The run I would like to do is about 40ft from the box to the corner. What size copper wire can I get away with and be safe?

The wire I have is 2 AWG.

Are you trying to run all 3 at once?

 

[nadogail]

Would a run to a Sub Panel that fed the Compressor, Welder and Plasma Cuter be practical?

 

[TRWham]

Are you trying to run all 3 at once?

The plasma cutter will need a source of air when in use.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I think the confusing thing is the compressor is considered "continuous duty" (requiring hard wiring) while the plasma cutter and welder are considered "intermittent duty" and are allowed to have a plug.

A compressor isn't considered a "continuous duty" load.
It is an intermittent load but because it is a motor it's required to be figured at 125% of the motor load according to the NEC (not the nameplate) rating. It is not required to be hardwired,
but above 3.5 HP the receptacles and plugs are too expensive to be practical.
I hope this alleviates your confusion. We've addressed this situation numerous times in the past.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Overkill, but sure, why not.

I think the confusing thing is the compressor is considered "continuous duty" (requiring hard wiring) while the plasma cutter and welder are considered "intermittent duty" and are allowed to have a plug.

Every 240VAC welder I have seen comes with a NEMA 6-50 plug. This rated for 50A, even though very few welders will draw 50A (the breaker and wire should be sized according to the manufacturers recommendation). Personally, if the plasma cutter did NOT have a 6-50 plug on it from the factory, I would install one.

based on what? how many compressors for home hobby shops do you know that are expected to run for more than 3hrs? none that i know of... now an industrial compressor would be continuous duty... but nobody is running one in their garage

 

[garagenvy]

Probably not to code but I have 3, 220v outlets, on one 40 amp line/breaker. One is for the compressor another for welder, plasma cutter and wife's dryer, I also had the EV car charger wired to it. I have a 40' extension cord so I can move all over the garage or even in front of it when needed. Everything isn't running at one time so it works.

 

[dave*99]

Probably not to code but I have 3, 220v outlets, on one 40 amp line/breaker. One is for the compressor another for welder, plasma cutter and wife's dryer, I also had the EV car charger wired to it. I have a 40' extension cord so I can move all over the garage or even in front of it when needed. Everything isn't running at one time so it works.

Just a suggestion - don't move your wife's dryer all over the garage. They rarely appreciate that.

 

[sweetk30]

Are you trying to run all 3 at once?

Nope . Maybe plasma and air compressor if big job . But i have lots of air storage so i can go a long time .