Another Sub Panel Question/Welder

[Kiruxa]

Hello!

Building my first house and making my first post/thread. I have detached garage and would like to know what side service should I have in my garage?

I can calculate everything I need but im confused between different types of welders/air compressors etc.

Would a 60A Panel be enough for everything to be running non-simultaneously. Welder would be MIG something around $1500. Sorry for noob questions.

 

[sberry]

A 1500$ mig welder is about right. The same for an air comp give or take. The modern mig makes it easy to manage air and weld without any real issue from 60. Some of the smaller 5 hp would leave a lot of margin.
A thing to consider here is distance and cost. If it is a bit then you can change wire to be more economical and give better service. You still may keep a 60A but a 90A alum cost less than a 60A copper and could give good 60-50A servic4e at 150-200 ft or so.
In a small garage its super easy to stop welding if the air comes on etc

 

[sberry]

All the 240V models of compact migs by the majors are good. Home Depot and Hobarts are about the cheapest for bare bones which are really good and 300 less than all the gadgets. HF welding hood, 125 cf gas bottle 030 solid wire and Walmart 4 1/2 grinder.
I am not super familiar with all the comp models to choose, is this easy hobby or real work?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What is the total length of wire for the feeder? Need to know this before u choose your wire...

 

[Vernon29RW]

Are there really any reasons to avoid aluminum feeder wire? If cost isn't a concern are aluminum and copper still the same or are people just sacrificing quality of wire for savings? I'm going to be adding a sub panel to my garage and am going to need about 75-80' of wire. Some of my friends keep bashing aluminum when I mention I'm considering MHF wire. I have a supply place near me selling copper 2-2-2-4 for around $4/ft where aluminum is like $1.50/ft. I know a lot of you guys swear by aluminum MHF wire so I'm wondering why I keep hearing hate towards aluminum. Anyone?

Steve

 

[Norcal]

Are there really any reasons to avoid aluminum feeder wire? If cost isn't a concern are aluminum and copper still the same or are people just sacrificing quality of wire for savings? I'm going to be adding a sub panel to my garage and am going to need about 75-80' of wire. Some of my friends keep bashing aluminum when I mention I'm considering MHF wire. I have a supply place near me selling copper 2-2-2-4 for around $4/ft where aluminum is like $1.50/ft. I know a lot of you guys swear by aluminum MHF wire so I'm wondering why I keep hearing hate towards aluminum. Anyone?

Steve

Copper is the conductor of choice, but those who bash aluminum are just ignorant properly installed AL is a legitimate way to cut costs, and torqueing the lugs on the equipment to manufacturers specs is very important, unless the manufacturer requires a anti-oxidant it's not required but I do use it. Power companies use AL conductors almost exclusively and if it was giving them a lot of issues they would not be using it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The AL wiring that got all the bad rap was in the 60s and 70s. And rightly so because the AL wire back then had major issues.

The alloys nowadays are a LOT better...

Heres some food for thought:

http://www.southwire.com/commercial/ALBuildingWire30YrsOfReliability.htm

 

[Kiruxa]

Thank you for all the replies guys.

The garage is 21' x 24' and is going to be located 30' away from the house + 15' or so for all the bends from inside of the house to the inside of the garage so to say.

The conductor would have to be copper, here in Alberta, Canada they don't use Aluminum anymore due to the bad rep it received as it was mentioned.
People who buy old homes with aluminum wiring actually have to pay higher insurance premiums.


The welding will definitely be a hobby only. Some shelving, maybe some skid plates for my truck etc.

I have an appointment with electrical contractor in 2 weeks and just wanted to tell them what size sub panel i'd like. Once in the garage, I will run the extra needed CCTs myself. By the information I gathered so far 60A service seems to suffice.

 

[sberry]

The method may change a decision. You probably cant use alum for small house wire but your poco does. This run is not so long, the main reason to stay with 60 is that it can be done with a cable, if I had to pipe it buy number 3 and go for a 100A wire.

 

[Norcal]

The method may change a decision. You probably cant use alum for small house wire but your poco does. This run is not so long, the main reason to stay with 60 is that it can be done with a cable, if I had to pipe it buy number 3 and go for a 100A wire.

There is nothing in the NEC prohibiting wiring a building w/ all aluminum wiring but would have a hard time doing so because nobody makes the smaller AL conductors, & any NOS New Old Stock AL NM cable is not 90 degree so that is a no-go, but IMO, smaller AL conductors are a foolish idea.