How much do I need

[sharpshooter]

Ok fellas, I bought my house a few months ago and now its time for me to start working on the garage. I have been hanging sheetrock for the last couple days and have been staring at my breaker box a whole lot in the mean time. My last garage I had a seperate 100 amp service running into it. This one all the electrical is ran to it underground (or should I say, under concrete) its only a 60 amp service. I want to be able to run a compressor and a welder, and some other odd and end stuff, granted they will not be ran at the same time. Will this be enuff juice. I would prefer not to HAVE to run a new service to the shop. The last endeavor was a little steep on the wallet.

 

[rburke65]

Well I have 80 amp to my pole barn, but like you said there is just one of me so it will be one tool at a time....you may still have lights, furnace or A/C on. I've not had a problem.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It all depends on the loads you will have out there. Based on your description, chances are you'll be fine.

 

[tfi racing]

As long as you don't have a large A/C or heating load or a crew of welders,60 amps will be plenty for your shop.

 

[MustHang]

Ok here is the noob question. I also have a 60 amp service to the garage by the way and have similar requirement on load. I want a compressor and be able to run a welder.

So the first would require a 20 amp and the next something like 30 amp breaker. If I understand what you're saying, I could also wire lights with 15 amp and heating with 20 amp and outlets with 20 amp as long as I control the load. I thought I couldn't go beyond 60 amp with the breakers in my box.

Thanks and remember, I'm a noob in electricity.

 

[JCByrd24]

MustHang,

The sum of your breakers does NOT have to be equal to or less than the main breaker and rarely is.

If you are looking at a welder/compressor/heat you could trip the main if you are running heat, high output on the welder, and the compressor kicks on, but most likely that is going to be a rare occurance.

Sharpshooter, if your welder is 30A and your compressor is 20A also then you will most likely be fine as well, but if you welder is 50 and your compressor 25 then you will have to pay close attention and probably turn the compressor off during welding...

 

[MustHang]

MustHang,

The sum of your breakers does NOT have to be equal to or less than the main breaker and rarely is.

If you are looking at a welder/compressor/heat you could trip the main if you are running heat, high output on the welder, and the compressor kicks on, but most likely that is going to be a rare occurance.

Thanks, I may still look to upgrade to be on the safe side but if I can avoid it, it'd be better. On the welder/compressor issue, is there switch rated for 30 amps for example that we could plug the welder and compressor on the same circuit and ensure we always use only one at a time.

Sharpshooter, if you find that I hijack your thread too much, just tell me but I figure this could be helpful to you as well since my situation is almost identical as yours.