6/3 or 6/2

[kTHREE]

Just picked up 125' of 6/2 NM-B wire for a future welder in garage.
But it got me thinking, would I be future proofing anything by going 6/3? Maybe for (heaven forbid) an electric car charger?
I can't think of any practical use for 6/3. I already have 2 (20amp dedicated circuits in the garage).

Also, the breaker, do I match it to the load or the theoretical capacity of the wire/distance?

 

[sberry]

Only for a charger but,,, what welder are you using? There are only a couple models that come cord and plug that need heavy wire. The breaker may be matched up to the outlet rating on this type of circuit.
Many of the modern welders are designed to be able to be connected to traditional 50A welder circuits, they come with 50A plugs but really only require 30A service, some with as small as 14 wire.
As a general rule the minimums are for single circuit in pipe, using cable requires a size larger and a size bigger than the cord that comes on the machine.

 

[sberry]

An AC buzzer, rated at 48A in allows a 12 in pipe 85 feet on a 50 breaker. Not many think this is really a great idea though and there is quite a bit of performance droop. If 10 is used loss is minimal and not noticeable.
I have ran buzzers from 10 till they were near cinders, never heat the wire and ran my 250 mug the other day about 10 minutes steady and couldn't feel it warm a 10 cord.
In these types of circuits the breaker is not for thermal protection of the wire but for short circuit interuption and as a disconnect switch.

 

[sberry]

As a means of future prodding 6/3 is good in case a guy wants to add another panel for additional circuits in both voltages.
This is something i might consider, allows tailored circuits and local disconnect. Adding an air comp at 240v for example. If it's hard wired needs a disconnect and specific over current protection.

 

[purplezr2]

I did it, inspector mentioned I didn't need to, I said easier to do now vs later when something else needs the neutral.

He said more people should think like that.

I would do it, cost is minimal, someone will thank you down the road.

 

[Norcal]

Use the 6/2 for a welder, if really worried about a provision for a car charger, put a box in the wall & run some flexible metal conduit, or even some ENT AKA "Smurf Tube" into the attic.

 

[tyme2par4]

Most EV chargers only require a 2 wire feed anyway, so you wouldn't be helping yourself there.

As for the breaker, are you wiring an outlet, or hard-wiring something? If it's hard wired, you should size the breaker to the load. If it is an outlet, you would size it to the rating of the outlet (which should be the same or less than the wire rating).

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is this garage attached or detached?

 

[kTHREE]

As a means of future prodding 6/3 is good in case a guy wants to add another panel for additional circuits in both voltages.
This is something i might consider, allows tailored circuits and local disconnect. Adding an air comp at 240v for example. If it's hard wired needs a disconnect and specific over current protection.

Good point.

I would do it, cost is minimal, someone will thank you down the road.

Hopefully myself.

Use the 6/2 for a welder, if really worried about a provision for a car charger, put a box in the wall & run some flexible metal conduit, or even some ENT AKA "Smurf Tube" into the attic.

The goal is to never go in my attic again. I'm going to be blowing a ridiculous amount of insulation up there.

Most EV chargers only require a 2 wire feed anyway, so you wouldn't be helping yourself there.

As for the breaker, are you wiring an outlet.

Outlet.

Is this garage attached or detached?

Attached.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Well in that case, i would follow what sberry said and do 6/3 which will allow the subpanel option.

 

[njhoudini]

+1 for the 6/3 w/ground. I am in the process of planning out my subpanel install and have all of the materials. I doubt I would need a welder, but at some point having 220-240v will probably be very handy. I could be mistaken but I believe it splits the current draw depending on how you wire the subpanel breakers.

 

[kTHREE]

Godddamnit, was really hoping to avoid a menards run this weekend.
6/3 it is.

 

[rattle_snake]

I put in 6/3 for a welder outlet...

Then I made it into a sub panel...

Now that sub panel is full...

My runs out of sub panel are 6/3...

Now I can still add yet-another-sub panel.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I put in 6/3 for a welder outlet...

Then I made it into a sub panel...

Now that sub panel is full...

My runs out of sub panel are 6/3...

Now I can still add yet-another-sub panel.

Or just swap subpanel to a bigger one...

 

[gtae07]

My "welder" outlets in the shop and garage are NEMA 14-50s fed with 6-3, under the reasoning of (a) I might want to plug something else in there like a car charger or something, and (b) if I'm going to theoretically have 50A going through that wire, then by God the wire will be able to handle 50A.

I made an extension cord with a 14-50 plug and a 6-50 socket for the welder and plasma cutter.

 

[FTG-05]

Did that back in 1998 when my pool was being built. Only "needed" 240 VAC so I bought and pulled 75 of something/2 with ground from my panel in the garage, across my crawl space. Never. Again.

After a 5 minute conversation with BIL, I went and bought the same thing except something/3 with ground, took out all the old and replaced it with the /3. What a fricking PITA. I still have the old /2 somewhere around here; I've only used it once to power a 240 VAC welder from my generator.

When I wired my new (to me) Franken-pressor, I only "needed" 240 VAC for it. Bull ****. I pulled 6/3 and the wire didn't even have time to straighten out after installation before I found a use for 120 VAC (compressor light and fan).

Pull the /3.

 

[kTHREE]

Yep, swapped it out for 6/3. Extra $40 for a 125' but this should be the last time i have to pop a wall off in the garage.
Thanks everyone!

 

[sberry]

I used to but now rarely "future proof". For branch circuits use the wire it needs. In this case it wasn't a bad idea considering the wire size already purchased, the distance and the fact the panel wasn't local and there is a potential for wanting another circuit or 2.

 

[Bretny]

Your going to run 125ft with #6 wire just for a single plug? Put a sub pannel in there and a outlet next to it for your welder.

6/3 os what i would use at least you could put a sub pannel in later