Adding 220 to my garage breaker panel, does this look right?

[cash68]

So I picked up a welder (Miller Multimatic 1500 with 110 and 220 plugs) and I need 220 (1/4" plate). I have a 220 outlet in my garage, but after testing it with a voltmeter it's only 110 . Wtf is the point of an outlet like this if it's only 110? I don't get it:


Anyway, here is my box, which is 100% full:



So... I guess I'm just looking for options. I have a fair amount of experience doing residential wiring, but haven't messed w a breaker box before.

Can I grab one of those double breakers to merge another circuit to free up a slot, then run two regular breakers to make a 220 circuit? Or is it better to use one of these dual breakers to do 220?



TIA! Appreciate the guidance.

 

[BillK]

You have to use a double breaker with the handles connected for the 220 circuit. It looks like you actually need to free up two spots. The label on the panel door should tell you how many actual circuits you are allowed to have in the panel. You might not be able to do it

 

[wyliesdiesels]

deleted...

 

[LeonardY]

I'd get an electrician.
The plug you showed is a 20A 110V outlet. Not a 220V.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The breaker you pictured is a twin and wont get you 240v.

you would need a quad breaker in order to do what you want since the panel is full.

that is a BR panel so you would need a BR breaker. BR BQ220220 is what you need assuming you only need 1x 20a 240v circuit and want to keep the 2x 120v 20a circuits.

Eaton BR 2-20 Amp 2 Pole BQ (Independent Trip) Quad Circuit Breaker BQ220220 - The Home Depot

The Eaton Cutler-Hammer BR Quad Circuit Breaker Two 20Amp 2 Poles is installed in panel positions that have notched bus stabs. It comes with two 20-amp breakers and 2-poles. It requires 2 in. of space

www.homedepot.com

just out of curiosity how did you test the outlet in question? line to line or line to ground? there are no double pole or handle tied breakers in the panel other than the backfed main but it is possible to feed a 240v outlet with 2 single pole breakers..

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I'd get an electrician.
The plug you showed is a 20A 110V outlet. Not a 220V.

incorrect. it is a nema 6-20r and voltage is 120v/240v

Leviton 20 Amp 250-Volt NEMA 6-20R 2-Pole Commercial Grade Single Straight Blade Receptacle, Ivory-5821-I - The Home Depot

The Leviton 5821I is a narrow body single receptacle from Leviton's product line of Heavy-duty Industrial Grade receptacles. This particular model comes in white. It is designed to withstand demanding

www.homedepot.com

 

[wyliesdiesels]

deleted...

 

[TractorJeff]

Post 4, I don't think is correct? It looks like a 20 Amp 240 Volt outlet to me. Horizontal slots, not vertical.

 

[LeonardY]

My mistake.
I'd still recommend an Electrician.

 

[BillK]

How accessible is the wiring going to the one outlet that you thought was 220 (actually 240 if you want to get technical )? What size wire is going to it ? Which breaker is feeding it and is that the only item on that breaker ?

I am thinking that the welder is a 3 wire plug with a ground. If the present outlet is fed with #12 wire you should be able to use the same wire that is there and mark it accordingly for the two "hots" and the ground.

You would need one of the breakers like you originally pictured to free up one spot and then a two pole connected breaker for the welder. You would remove the existing breaker that feeds that outlet.

Lets say that your outlet is fed by the 20A breaker on the upper right in your panel. First thing you would do is remove the 2 20's at the lower right and replace them with the one you showed and put it in the lower right hand slot. Then you would move the one 15a on the right down a notch. Next step would be to remove the upper 20A and then use your double 20a tied breaker in the two top right hand spots.

If the present outlet is fed by a different breaker then the layout would be slightly different but should still be doable. Really need to know which breaker feeds the outlet and what size wire is on it.

 

[cash68]

Super accessible; one sheet of drywall, the outlet is maybe 3-4ft from the box. Not sure what size wire is going to it, but I can check. Not sure which breaker, will check that as well.

My plan: I need to free up one breaker, so I can run one of those larger double breakers for the 240.

I'm going to explore it more and see if I can figure out which breaker controls that weird 120v 20a outlet... what is the point of an outlet like that, if it isn't 220? Why not just use a normal outlet? I don't understand the point of something like that. Anyway, if I figure out what breaker that is and free up one next to it, one of those big double breakers should work, right?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Can I grab one of those double breakers to merge another circuit to free up a slot, then run two regular breakers to make a 220 circuit? Or is it better to use one of these dual breakers to do 220?

Basically summarizing what has been said.

That style of breaker is called a tandem or twin. It allows two 120V circuits to use one slot. Breakers should always be from the same manufacturer as the panel. Not all panels will accept tandems and some will only accept them in certain location.

You need 2 free slots to install a standard 240V breaker (it will have a bar joining the 2 handles like the one in the top left). In THEORY you could replace all 4 breakers on the right hand side with 2 tandems and the have space for a 240V breaker.

Kind of odd to have splice going the bottom right breaker. It is "legal", just unusual.

 

[sparky 1971]

Just throwing this out there. For about $40 you could buy a new 12 space Eaton main lug panel and get rid of that eight space you currently have and re use the existing breakers. You are going to spend around $40 for two twin breakers and still won't have room to add anything in the future in you need to.

That's what I would do, but I wouldn't use Eaton anything. Either SQ D or Siemens and start over with new breakers.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The main breaker needs a hold down kit.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Eaton-Type-BR-Hold-Down-Bolting-Screw-Kit-BRHDK125/100193360
It prevents a back fed breaker from being accidentally pulled out, with the contacts energized. (it's required by Code)

 

[Norcal]

Just throwing this out there. For about $40 you could buy a new 12 space Eaton main lug panel and get rid of that eight space you currently have and re use the existing breakers. You are going to spend around $40 for two twin breakers and still won't have room to add anything in the future in you need to.

That's what I would do, but I wouldn't use Eaton anything. Either SQ D or Siemens and start over with new breakers.

I call Eaton BR “Zinsco II” bottom of the line trash catering to the same market Zinsco was aiming for, and shares some Zinsco heritage also. A larger Siemens or SQ D QO or my favorite Eaton CH would all be better choices.

 

[sparky 1971]

I call Eaton BR “Zinsco II” bottom of the line trash catering to the same market Zinsco was aiming for, and shares some Zinsco heritage also. A larger Siemens or SQ D QO or my favorite Eaton CH would all be better choices.

Yep. That's why I stated that I would start over with SQD or Siemens.

 

[510ebl]

Kind of odd to have splice going the bottom right breaker. It is "legal", just unusual.

That’s one breaker feeding two circuits… there are 7 of 12ga Romex fed by 6 breakers in there.

 

[alfredeneuman]

That’s one breaker feeding two wires… there are 7 of 12ga Romex fed by 6 breakers in there.

Fixed it for you

 

[theoldwizard1]

Yep. That's why I stated that I would start over with SQD or Siemens.

Just remember SqD has two different product lines.

 

[sparky 1971]

Just remember SqD has two different product lines.

It doesn't matter if it's QO or Homeline, either one is better than Eaton.

 

[pattenp]

Eaton CH is way superior to Square D Homeline.

 

[infinkc]

Looking at that panel, are they using a breaker to feed it? Why didnt they use the bus bars? cant he just move the lines to the bus and use that breaker?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Looking at that panel, are they using a breaker to feed it? Why didnt they use the bus bars? cant he just move the lines to the bus and use that breaker?

if this is in a detached structure, the subpanel needs a main disconnect if there are more than 6 breaker handles. removing that main breaker and adding another breaker would be more than 6 breaker handles

 

[cash68]

I combined a circuit, which opened up a slot, and then used another breaker to double the power to an outlet. I now have 220! Thank you for your help guys, I didn't die and appreciated the guidance.