multiple 220 outlets

[HoosierMark]

I have a new pole barn and every where I read it says put multiple 110 outlets in. I understand this and plan to do it. But I also read where people put multiple 220 outlets in. I have a 200 amp box with plenty of space but it seems all the breakers will overload the capacity of the box. Of course I will only be using the welder or the lift or something else at a time so their will only be draw on one 220 outlet at a time. Maybe two if the compressor kicks on at the same time. Is this the way it is done. Multiple breakers, multiple outlets but in reality only one or two used at a time?

 

[ishiboo]

Of course.

Imagine your typical 200A 40/60 or even 40/80 residential panel. Even if they were all only 15A breakers, a full panel with single breakers would be 600A. A full panel with tandems on the new 40/80s would be 1200A of 15A's!

 

[sberry]

I probably have near 1000A of breakers in a 200, right now about 5 amps load on it.

 

[Norcal]

One cannot add up all the circuit breakers in a panel and think you have a load calculation a real calculation must be done to determine a panel or service is overloaded.

 

[danielbuck]

on a similar note, does anyone know of a Y adapter for NEMA 6-50 plugs? So that two machines could be plugged in. My bandsaw and my welder are next to each other, and I have to run a fat extension cable to get to the wall plug. But every time I need to switch machines I have to unplug and plug in again. I never use both machines at once, but it would be nice to have them both always plugged in.

 

[sberry]

They may not be designed to plug in to 50A circuits. There are cases where an outlet might be used provided it was current limited to 30A

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Your band saw has a 6-50 on it? How much power does it draw?

 

[danielbuck]

Your band saw has a 6-50 on it? How much power does it draw?

not the full 50 amps, I'm pretty sure of that

I'll take a look at the motor tonight. It didn't come with a 6-50 plug, it came with just wires, so I wired up a 6-50 because thats what my other 220 machines use (welder, air compressor, and so on)

I do have multiple 6-50 wall outlets, but where the bandsaw and welder are, I need an extension to reach any of the plugs, and I don't want to buy another extension, it wasn't cheap, haha!

 

[sberry]

I cant recall ever seeing another piece of legit mfgd equipment come with a 6-50-P other than a welder and never see a real 240 welder come with something else. Way back in the day some may have come range plug but I don't recall.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

not the full 50 amps, I'm pretty sure of that

I'll take a look at the motor tonight. It didn't come with a 6-50 plug, it came with just wires, so I wired up a 6-50 because thats what my other 220 machines use (welder, air compressor, and so on)

I do have multiple 6-50 wall outlets, but where the bandsaw and welder are, I need an extension to reach any of the plugs, and I don't want to buy another extension, it wasn't cheap, haha!

whats the HP rating on the compressor motor?

 

[danielbuck]

whats the HP rating on the compressor motor?

3.7hp. Compressor is on a separate outlet & breaker though. it's only the bandsaw & welder that I want together.

I cant recall ever seeing another piece of legit mfgd equipment come with a 6-50-P other than a welder and never see a real 240 welder come with something else. Way back in the day some may have come range plug but I don't recall.

The welder was actually the first 220 machine that I got, after that I just wired up all the rest of the 220 machines that I got later on with the same plug, so that they would all be the same. No other reason really.

Are you suggesting that I should put the less power hungry machines on a smaller amp plug, which might have Y cables available? Or adapters with multiple outlets?

 

[driftpin]

Not sure the technical term, but what about a knife switch which energizes the "up" pair, or the "down" pair? I also don't know what their rating is, but I've seen them. Hard-wire into the switch for your two appliances, and have a pull-out for a full disconnect between the panel and the dual-contact knife switch, to disconnect power entirely from the switch.

You would use this where you didn't need both sides of the switch energized at the same time.

 

[Adk Mike]

I have my 220 compressor hooked into the power line that I use for my welding. A plug on each end of the shop. If I’m welding I make sure the compressor is off.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Not sure the technical term, but what about a knife switch which energizes the "up" pair, or the "down" pair? I also don't know what their rating is, but I've seen them. You would use this where you didn't need both sides of the switch energized at the same time.

It's called a transfer switch, and it's used to switch from one load to another, or from one source to the other.
No problem with the capacity, they're commonly used with generators to switch buildings from the power company's source to the gen.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

3.7hp. Compressor is on a separate outlet & breaker though. it's only the bandsaw & welder that I want together.



The welder was actually the first 220 machine that I got, after that I just wired up all the rest of the 220 machines that I got later on with the same plug, so that they would all be the same. No other reason really.

Are you suggesting that I should put the less power hungry machines on a smaller amp plug, which might have Y cables available? Or adapters with multiple outlets?

well technically the compressor should be hardwired and not on a plug and outlet since its rated >3hp

 

[sberry]

What welder do you have and what breaker is on this circuit? On smaller equipment it may require a current limited circuit. The cords, switches, controls and wires are not rated to be connected to 50a. The machine relies on the circuit breaker for internal short circuit protection. This is why we dont simply connect all 240 equipment to big circuits, its why stuff comes with specific plugs to be used with specific outlets. Things that plug in to 120v must be designed for 20a short circuit.
There is a common misconception that a breaker only protects the building wire. About the only place it does in that sense is multiple outlets on a circuit. This is why the breaker cant exceed the outlet rating, not always for thermal but for fault in connected equipment.

 

[Matt Matt]

well technically the compressor should be hardwired and not on a plug and outlet since its rated >3hp

Is this 100% or is there any step arounds?

If there is a lock out switch after the plug, that is attached to the machine as means of disconnect, under the NEC, Can the plug horsepower rating be overlooked as the means of disconnect? (But not to supersede its amperage rating)

The reason why I ask this is... I have one machine that is been totally certified with a plug that is powering a 4 hp motor with a L6-30(which only has a 2 hp rating, with 30 amps, The motor rating is only 18A FLA)... the plug feeds a manual disconnect lock out drum switch, attached to the machine. After the lockkout drum switch, it powers a contactor (motor starter) with overload protection. This machine is a European machine that resides in Canada.