240 Circuits, how many do you have?

[GarageGuy89]

Thanks for all the insight on the 50 amp stuff guys. I think I will just run a single 6-50 outlet for the stick welder and a 20 amp for the rest then.

Most of my stuff already has 6-20 plugs on them, would it be okay to put three 6-20 outlets on one circuit? Further more can I add a 4th 6-50r on that 20 amp circuit for when I am tig welding thing sheet metal inside the garage?

 

[Telsa]

This is a very good topic as I have been hashing out the rough in for my 40 by 72 shop ( One man hobby shop). From all the great information on here and discussing with my Inspector. Im thinking on running for my welder/plasma cutter 1 - 240V with 8 - 50A plugs spaced out around the shop ( #8 wire), for other loads I'm thinking 2 - 240V with 4 - 20 or 30A plugs not both (#10 wire), and 1 240V - 30A plug just for my compressor. Another 2 240V -30A circuits for 2 future 2/4 post lifts.
Just want to be as flexible as possible
As per my Canadian Inspector it all meets code.

Im thinking I can only use one machine at a time with the exception to the air compressor, and maybe dust collector.

Anyways sounds like it may be different where each of you are.

 

[ToddW]

I'm going to daisy chain my 240v 50A.

But I also dropped the $$ for 3-wire polaris fittings, which comes out to $60 per-drop in addition to the box, and receptacle. It would have been cheaper to just run another circuit with additional wire but then I start running into even MORE space issues.

This is for my plasma and welders usage only around the shop... maybe working on a vehicle and other side on the welding table. Dedicated circuits for the compressor, phase converter, other 240v etc... but I still plan to run #6 wire so I could run 50A at any of those if I wanted to. I'll likely put a breaker(or fused?)+disconnect on anything that doesn't have it and is meant to run lower, and run 50A breakers in the box. My understanding from reading here and other places is that this is the right way to do it safely.

@Telsa I'm planning on doing 2 240v per-circuit, and 2 on each side of the shop but not all 4 daisy chained. I'll likely add another outdoor rated one right in the center facing the parking/driveway but on another circuit.

I hate dragging cord, and would prefer not to have to use even a 10 or 20' extension as they're rather huge and a real pain to deal with at this size.

 

[EOC_Jason]

FYI too, at HD (I've never seen Lowes carry them) you can find 20A & 30A double-pole switches, and they are motor rated. The website doesn't say (but I vaguely remember the package did, or maybe the Levitron website) the HP rating, I think no more than 2HP.

I put one of those switches by my 240V 20A plug, both as a safety measure, but also my air compressor (1.5HP) doesn't have a switch on the pressure box. So it worked out well. Only bad thing is HD doesn't sell a double-gang coverplate with a switch and the single round-hole for the 20A plug, had to order that from amazon.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thanks for all the insight on the 50 amp stuff guys. I think I will just run a single 6-50 outlet for the stick welder and a 20 amp for the rest then.

Most of my stuff already has 6-20 plugs on them, would it be okay to put three 6-20 outlets on one circuit? Further more can I add a 4th 6-50r on that 20 amp circuit for when I am tig welding thing sheet metal inside the garage?

No u cant put a 50a outlet on a 20a circuit.

 

[GarageGuy89]

No u cant put a 50a outlet on a 20a circuit.

Hmmmm, is there an adapter that goes from 6-50 to 6-20

 

[ToddW]

You could make one.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Most of my stuff already has 6-20 plugs on them, would it be okay to put three 6-20 outlets on one circuit? Further more can I add a 4th 6-50r on that 20 amp circuit for when I am tig welding thing sheet metal inside the garage?

Why not just make an extension cord for the TIG welder and run it off the one 6-50 outlet anywhere in the garage? If it had dual voltage input you'd really be in business. I'm assuming it's an older TIG machine.

 

[GarageGuy89]

If I make one the cost of the plugs pays for the new circuit. Might as well just run a 50 amp circuit. I've seen the 120V adapters for like 8 bucks that's why I asked, cant seem to find one for 240V.

Why not just make an extension cord for the TIG welder and run it off the one 6-50 outlet anywhere in the garage? If it had dual voltage input you'd really be in business. I'm assuming it's an older TIG machine.

It's a newer inverter machine. It's dual voltage, but I don't do much thick stuff in the garage so don't really need the full 50 amp breaker that would be only used for the stick portion that I do outside anyways.

 

[Angelfire]

I have 9 240V receptacles/disconnects installed all on dedicated circuits. There was just too much debate (locally between electrician friends as well as on the boards) on whether you could/couldn't run multiple receptacles on the same circuit so went this route and there really wasn't a huge cost in doing so. Most are futures anyway (ie. lift, dust collector, etc...). So overall I have two set up for two welders (one at 30A, one at 50A and I'll use an extension cord if needed although I placed them pretty much where I think I'll need them), a 30A for my air compressor, 4 30A for my woodworking equip, a 30A in the ceiling for a future lift should that ever happen, a 30A for a dust collector, and 30A for a mini split. I added another panel to the equation to handle the added breakers.
Cheers.

 

[sberry]

Some of those really need dedicated anyway, AC etc.

 

[Angelfire]

Yep.

 

[sberry]

I missed a chance to look in a wood shop a while back that was master wired.
But I have a neighbor has a small garage/wood and small metal shop. 2 240 circuits, one for welder and 1 for air and maybe they are even the same as he is a hobby type but all 120V and it really runs on a light circuit and 1 tool circuit.

 

[Maineshop]

A circuit is designed to protect the wiring of that circuit, a 50 amp circuit, a 30 amp load will work and a short would trip the breaker. That same 30 amp load with a high resistance connection of say 47 amps could cause a fire because the circuit protection is OK with 47 amps. -Steve

 

[wyliesdiesels]

.......A circuit is designed to protect the wiring of that circuit, a 50 amp circuit, a 30 amp load will work and a short would trip the breaker. That same 30 amp load with a high resistance connection of say 47 amps could cause a fire because the circuit protection is OK with 47 amps.

Steve

Except that a high resistance connection will continue to draw increasing amounts of current due to voltage sag as a result of the high resistance connection.

Its possible the current can go over the breaker rating OR the connection will burn out and the current will stop flowing. This is why code requires all splices an connections to be made inside a box designed to contain the arcing and heat.

I have seen both cases happen.

Had a service call in Napa one time at a golf club town house.

Half the outlets in the house were dead.

no breakers were tripped.

Took several outlets out, finally discovered an outlet that was burned up on the hot leg side wire terminals. After overheating, bad connection finally gave up the ghost.

Breaker feeding outlets was a 30a Zinsco with #14 feeding the circuit.

Homeowner had plugged in several space heaters into the same circuit because his central heat had died.

 

[sberry]

Yup, that is what burns places down. When its installed correctly the system takes care of most problems especially 1 issue at a time. Hard to proof against a dingbat almost intentionally fukkin it up.

 

[sberry]

No u cant put a 50a outlet on a 20a circuit.

You cant put a 20A outlet on a 50A circuit. You could in a specific case put a 30A breaker, 14 wire and a 50A outlet. No one thinks its a great idea and I don't do it either.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

You cant put a 20A outlet on a 50A circuit. You could in a specific case put a 30A breaker, 14 wire and a 50A outlet. No one thinks its a great idea and I don't do it either.

If youre speaking of a welder circuit the breaker would actually be a 50a. Welder circuits only have reduced size wiring but not reduced size breakers.

 

[sberry]

Read the instructions to a 200 class mig.

 

[PhantomEB]

Was supposed to be two, but new speakers will make where the compressor was gonna go, not possible. So now it's gonna be pull one sheet of OSB down and put in a third circuit to the back corner. Gonna be nice to run the welder from both sides.

 

[sberry]

This is the beautiful thing about learning to run a simple circuit. Being able to move or add convenience outlets when needed is a super asset, adding as you get new equipment is so much better than constant make do.
If I can make an installed wire do work for me I am all over it, same for pipe to replace hoses, I will dig a ditch and plumb a hydrant to get out from under that. We added a few and dived the hoses, now use only 2/3 of the stuff to get the same results and in some cases even better.

 

[sberry]

Is this legal? Looks like a flea mkt piece for the rv crowd? No name, I don't even think it says China but may be their govt plot to circulate these and sabatoge the country. 30 to 15 adapter.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is this legal? Looks like a flea mkt piece for the rv crowd? No name, I don't even think it says China but may be their govt plot to circulate these and sabatoge the country. 30 to 15 adapter.

Doubt it