Questions on adding a subpanel

[flypa38]

Hey fellas,
Tried to search, but didn't find anything. My apologies if this has already been answered.
Currently have 50 amp breakers in my main panel in the basement feeding the welder receptacle in the garage. What I'd like to do is add a subpanel where the welder receptacle is now, then branch out of that to the welder receptacle, a 220V heater, and a regular 110V outlet. My plan is to use breakers in the subpanel as switches so I can use either the heater or the welder, but never both since running them together would probably exceed the amperage of the breakers in the main panel. Is it OK to do it this way since the circuit would be protected by the 50 amp breakers in the main panel and the 50 amp breakers in the subpanel? Either breaker tripping would shut off power to anything outside the subpanel.
Secondly, using the subpanel to branch out to a standard 110 outlet, would the outlet need to be a GFCI, or would a properly sized breaker in the subpanel be sufficient?
If there's a better way to do this, I'm open to suggestions! Hopefully I explained my plan well enough to understand what I want to do.....
Thanks!
Johnny

 

[The Cobbler]

the experts will chime in, but a location will probably be their first question.

 

[Bert_]

Your biggest problem may be that most welder receptacles have two hots and a ground, no neutral. Can't really feed a sub panel with that.

If by some miracle you have four wires at the outlet then you could re-purpose the wire and install a sub panel.

 

[flypa38]

****......you're right. Back to the drawing board.

 

[flypa38]

the experts will chime in, but a location will probably be their first question.

Not sure exactly what you mean by location, so I'll answer both things I think it could be.
I'm located in PA in case code varies by state.

If that isn't what you meant, my main breaker box is in the basement and I have the wire running across the ceiling to the garage. It's an attached 2 car. The subpanel and all wiring will be inside the garage and mounted on an interior wall inside conduit.
Location of the subpanel is another concern as far as height from the floor. I only have enough wire run to mount the subpanel a foot or two off the floor. I'm not in a flood zone, but regardless, everything I've been able to find says no minimum height, just a max of a little over 6ft. Is that correct?
Bert, there may be a glimmer of hope. I sort of remember the wire being 6/3. That would mean two hot, a neutral, and a ground, right? Hope I accidentally helped myself out!
Thanks for the replies so far!
Johnny

 

[pattenp]

If the 50A circuit is supplied by 6/3 then a subpanel can be used. You can do as you are asking and any 120V outlet in a garage needs to be GFCI protected. Safety wise it's best to mount the panel higher. It's not specified for residential garages but in commercial garages outlets and such need to be off the floor by 18". The issue is the possible ignition of gases at floor level from a spark. You should use a junction box and extend the circuit to a normal height for a breaker panel.

 

[prostreetamx]

I believe breakers must be from 4'-6" to 6'-4" for residential. This does not apply to commercial as some of the breakers I work with at my job are only 1' off the floor. You could always add a junction box to extend the feed up. In my new garage I ran neutrals in every box, even welder plugs, just in case somethings changes in the future.

 

[flypa38]

Thanks guys! One more question.....the heater instructions say that it will draw 20.9 amps on the high setting. What size breaker should I buy for it?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thanks guys! One more question.....the heater instructions say that it will draw 20.9 amps on the high setting. What size breaker should I buy for it?

Since a heater is considered a continuous load, you would need a 30a circuit.