30 amp or 50 amp circuit

[nayr]

I am running a 240 volt line in my detached garage for welder, compressor and a kitchen range I plan to use for powder coating. I was originally planning to run a 50 amp circuit. However looking at the current draw, it is 22 amps for the welder I plan to buy (which actually has a 50 amp plug on it) and 15 amps for the compressor plan to buy. My concern is that a 50 amp breaker won't provide adequate protection for the actual devices. Also I can't find wire nuts for 6 gauge wires locally (split bolt with electrical tape?) whereas I can use 10 gauge wire for a 30 amp circuit. What to do?

Another reason I was considering running a 50 amp circuit was to possibly run a stick welder. I probably won't need to if I buy this MIG, but I did pick up an old Craftsman 250 amp stick welder that says I should be on an 80 amp breaker. I only have 60 amps going out to the garage, and modern receptacles are only rated for up to 50 amps anyway. Outdated wiring procedures I am guessing, has me scratching my head though.

Any input is much appreciated.

 

[pattenp]

I'd run separate outlets sized for each device. One outlet for all is problematic.

 

[Lightning rod]

The breaker is really there to protect the wire so that it won't overheat and cause a fire

I put a 60a breaker on my main panel and fed it to a 60a sub panel in my garage with breakers to specific outlets for the devices

 

[James-W]

The breaker is really there to protect the wire so that it won't overheat and cause a fire

I put a 60a breaker on my main panel and fed it to a 60a sub panel in my garage with breakers to specific outlets for the devices

I agree, that's what I would do as well. With a sub-panel in the garage you can install the right circuit breaker in order to run whatever amperage circuit you need for each piece of equipment you want to operate.

 

[sberry]

The welder and some comps are fine at 50 as long as the wire is heavy enough to serve the load,,, this allows 50A on some devices with a number 12, if the welder comes with 50A plug its legal to it. Not every machine requires max breaker, your sears thing should run at 50 but compared to the modern compact wire feed is rather primitive.

 

[sberry]

The breaker is really there to protect the wire so that it won't overheat and cause a fire

I put a 60a breaker on my main panel and fed it to a 60a sub panel in my garage with breakers to specific outlets for the devices

True in many cases, others its a switch and for short circuit protection. The overheat protection may come from the limited applied load.

 

[theoldwizard1]

What size is the main breaker for the garage panel ?

Most welders are not "continuous" duty. Start up currents are high, like a compressor, but "average" current is much lower. 50A breaker is fine for the welder.

Split bolts with #M 1755 friction tape is fine. You can use a **** splice, if you have the appropriate crimpers. Use heavy duty shrink tube, the kind that the interior melts into the connector.

 

[nayr]

Thank you for answering my question. Being that my garage isn't that big and won't be running any big equipment, I decided 30 amps would be enough. I just didn't want to run it, buy a welder (eastwood 175), and have the breaker keep tripping when I use the upper range of it's settings.

Something else I encountered: on the stove I plan to use for powder coating, The is an armored cable coming out with four 10 gauge wires: Black and red for the hot wires, but the neutral and ground wires are crimped together with the ground wire sticking out the farthest of the two. It looks factory done. I am guessing that this would be for a 3 pole 3 wire setup. I probably will just run 10/3 g to be safe but still it has me curious.

 

[nayr]

What size is the main breaker for the garage panel ?

Most welders are not "continuous" duty. Start up currents are high, like a compressor, but "average" current is much lower. 50A breaker is fine for the welder.

Split bolts with #M 1755 friction tape is fine. You can use a **** splice, if you have the appropriate crimpers. Use heavy duty shrink tube, the kind that the interior melts into the connector.

I have 60 amps going out to the subpanel.

Start up currents are what I was worried about, being that the welder came with a 50 amp plug, and looking on the lincoln website a a similar size welder recommended a 40 amp breaker even though the max current draws are little above 20 amps. I didn't know if there were fluctuations with these machines where it would need a 50 amp breaker.

Is there a **** splice that can hold three wires? Thats originally what I wanted to do was have one outlet pigtailed off by the door so I can weld outside and another one by where the oven and compressor would be.

And thanks for all your help so far.

 

[DelmarvaJK]

You will be fine with a simple 50amp breaker, I did this for my previous garage for both AC and DC welders...