What a difference

[700jfm]

Last week I was looking at 1000' of 12-2G wire it was $219.00 today it is $144.00 bucks, what a difference . I also picked up some 6-2G 125' for $104.00 dollars. I think if I had waited one year to do my garage I could of saved about 1/3 of the cost. But most likely I would not of started it, out of fear for the economy.
Here is my plan is to run all the 110v in the 12-2G with 12-3G for the three way switches. All the 220v in the 6-2G for welder compressor etc.
To use the 20amp spec. receptacles, and to pig tail all the 110v switches and receptacles. except at the end of the run.
Now can I pig tail the 50amp. welder recep. and run 40' to another or do I have to give it it's own breaker?

 

[Gary S]

About 2 1/2 years ago, 12-2 w/ground NM was selling here for $90 for 250'. Last month I saw it going for $38. The bottom fell out of the copper market and copper wire prices are reflecting that now.

 

[FlameOut]

Just yesterday I bought 2 rolls of 12-2 w/g at HD for like $36 each

 

[2LTim]

Pig-tailling the welder receptical is a no no, dedicated runs only. Also, why use 12G on lighting circuits when most switches are rated at 15A? Or are you going to cut loose with some big bucks and buy all 20A rated devices?

 

[Marcusr13]

Last week I bought 12-2 for $34. It is on is way up thought. If you need wire, buy it now.

Also, I would run 12-2 for everything. Even the 15 amp outlets have a 20 amp feed through. I like to pigtail everything, keep them in a parallel, not a series circuit.

As far as dedicated runs, can you use a welder and compressor at the same time? If so, dedicated circuits, if not, there is no harm in a pigtail. Just make sure you select a breaker to protect the wire, not the device. Ex. #8=40 amp, #6= althoung rated at 55, use a 50 amp.

 

[700jfm]

Last week I bought 12-2 for $34. It is on is way up thought. If you need wire, buy it now.

Also, I would run 12-2 for everything. Even the 15 amp outlets have a 20 amp feed through. I like to pigtail everything, keep them in a parallel, not a series circuit.

As far as dedicated runs, can you use a welder and compressor at the same time? If so, dedicated circuits, if not, there is no harm in a pigtail. Just make sure you select a breaker to protect the wire, not the device. Ex. #8=40 amp, #6= althoung rated at 55, use a 50 amp.

Thanks Marcusr13 that's what I was planning. To run everything 110v in 12-2 I did a search and that's seems to be the way most are doing their garage. I bought 1000' ft. spool @$144.oo Wednesday. The welder will have It's own 50amp. breaker only one plug will ever be used at one time. The 220v plugs @30amps. The compressor will have a 20amp. breaker. and will be in the attic, the 6-2g to the compressor will be wired for110v for now but the wire will be there when I get a new one @ 220v

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Pig-tailling the welder receptical is a no no, dedicated runs only.

Care to cite a NEC "chapter and verse".

Charles

 

[Fast Orange]

I wouldn't hesitate a bit to pigtail a 220V 50A welder circuit-but I would do it in a separate 4 11/16" box and use split bolts that were properly taped and insulated.Even though there are wirenuts rated to do 3 #6 stranded wires,I don't have a lot of faith in them at that current level.
As for wire pricing-watch copper on the commodities markets-it's slowly working it's way up again-if you are going to need wire soon,buy it now.It's not going to be this cheap again for quite a while.

 

[BigGMC]

Doing a little thread excavating tonight......

This popped up in a search, holy hell did I pick the wrong time to wire!!
1000' 12-2 about $270 these days at the HD.

 

[PRH44]

Copper commodities are always a game. Sometime when you bid work at the high price you make some money by the time you buy and the prices have gone down.
Its the other way when it bites you in the rear, especially if its a larger project like a manufacturing plant. When you could be buying miles of large feeder cable.

 

[CoopVA]

Take a look at 630.11 and 630.12... Generally, you want a dedicated circuit for each welder. It gets complicated if you are running multiple welders on the same circuit. Also generally you have to use a larger breaker (200% of nameplate supply amps) but do not have to add the 200% to the conductor size.

 

[CoopVA]

Copper commodities are always a game. Sometime when you bid work at the high price you make some money by the time you buy and the prices have gone down.
Its the other way when it bites you in the rear, especially if its a larger project like a manufacturing plant. When you could be buying miles of large feeder cable.

Yep. We watch copper pricing like a hawk. Steel too...

 

[Autorotica]

Copper commodities are always a game. Sometime when you bid work at the high price you make some money by the time you buy and the prices have gone down.
Its the other way when it bites you in the rear, especially if its a larger project like a manufacturing plant. When you could be buying miles of large feeder cable.

Back in 2008 when I was getting quotes at work, it wasn't uncommon for them to have a week expiration. Due to all the commodity price movement.

Chris

 

[PRH44]

Back in 2008 when I was getting quotes at work, it wasn't uncommon for them to have a week expiration. Due to all the commodity price movement.

Chris

We have had some luck locking in prices for several months by guarantee purchase of X amount of copper. This was issued as part of our bid specification to several vendors. It has helped us somewhat but we were never able to take advantage of falling prices at that moment. Just like the vendors would have to eat the difference for higher prices if they did not secure the cable right away. The life in the commodities market

 

[Norcal]

Because of the metals market in the last few years some companies have bit the dust, a local boat manufacturer, & a conduit fitting manufacturer in Southern CA, Regal Fittings, are a couple. At one time for example, 250' of 12/2 NM cable was over $100, just crazy.