Wiring 2 Post Lift to be Multi-functional

[Mr. Notorious]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to plan out my wiring for my 2 post lift. It's a Challenger VLE10 which requires 208/240 - 20amp service. I was hoping to achieve a few things, ideally with the simplest setup.

1) Run the required power to the lift
2) Would like to wire an outlet on one of the posts to have the ability to plug in a welder.
3) Have a 110 circuit available for an additional outlet on the post, plus a switch to run back up towards the ceiling for some to-be-installed overhead LED lights around the lift area.
4) I'd like to be able to kill the lift locally (without going to the fuse panel) incase the push button fails / gets stuck. This is important for me because my limit bar will be above my open rafters until I can figure out how to drop it down.

Coming from the RV world, I (wrongfully?) assumed the 3 prong welder plugs I saw online were 30amp services. So I bought 80ft of 10/2, 30amp break, and plenty of 1/2 conduit and was hoping to rough in the wiring in order to support the lift install.

Similar to the sketch below, my ideal plan was to run the wire to the lift, install a box and 3 prong receptacle on the lift, and then leave the lift motor plugged into that outlet. If I ever need to weld something, I'd just unplug the lift and plug in the welder (wish #2). Since the lift is in a central-ish location, I figured this would be beneficial. This also meant if the lift button malfunctioned, I could pull the cord in an emergency to support my wish #4. I am now realizing that I think the common 3 prong welder plug is really a 50amp (NEMA 6-50). So now if I look at 80ft of 6/2, the price just doubled.

- Do I just bite the bullet and go buy 6/2 and just run the whole setup to 50amp service?
- I assume 6/2 can't be run in 1/2" conduit?
- Am I trying to do too much with 1 run?
- Would it be dumb to try and run welders / plasma cutters off a 30amp circuit? (1/4" will likely be my max material thickness)

This wiring idea came from youtube around the 8min mark.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Im not sure why you keep bringing up welder plugs.

A welder is a different beast than a motor.

We need to backup here. Post a pic of the motor nameplate. The wiring needs to be sized based on the motor HP and FLC charts.

And dont reference youtube videos... lots of incorrect stuff can be found on you tube

 

[infinkc]

All depends on your welder, but I would wire it for 50amps.

 

[Mr. Notorious]

Im not sure why you keep bringing up welder plugs.

A welder is a different beast than a motor.

We need to backup here. Post a pic of the motor nameplate. The wiring needs to be sized based on the motor HP and FLC charts.

And dont reference youtube videos... lots of incorrect stuff can be found on you tube

Sorry I don't have the lift/motor yet, but I was able to pull the requirements from the manual's wiring diagram.

I'm mentioning welder plug, because if I'm going to run a high amp circuit for the lift, I'm thinking about making that cirucit dual purpose (lift and welder), since I'll never use both tools at the same time.

 

[Mr. Notorious]

All depends on your welder, but I would wire it for 50amps.

I don't have a welder yet, I was probably going to get a hobart or harbor freight 175-190amp mig (maybe multipurpose) model. Looking at their images online they all use that 3 prong 50amp plug, but I couldn't easily find what actual amps they're expecting to pull.

 

[TurnipTruck]

I used a 4 slot breaker box as a local disconnect for a 50a weld outlet, 20a receptacles top and bottom, and a 30a hoist motor.
I used #6 xhhw in 1” rigid and flex to a junction box in the attic with Polaris splices to 6-3 nm-b back to the front breaker box.

 

[mike93lx]

It's one thing to add a 120v receptacle off the lift circuit,but IMO, I would keep the welder separate. Just run a second circuit, #10 is fine assuming you don't have some abnormally high duty cycle welder or a really long run

A 20a 240v circuit is not what basically anyone would call a "high amp" circuit.

 

[bad_idea]

I run my welders off of a 30 amp circuit. Have never tripped the breaker. Will be fine.

 

[mike93lx]

That's a nice setup @TurnipTruck

 

[Walkers]

You have 3 different circuits, just run them as such, don’t try to pull your 120 volts out of your welder circuit, or your lift circuit, it is just not worth it. Just run the extra wire and be done with it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Sorry I don't have the lift/motor yet, but I was able to pull the requirements from the manual's wiring diagram.

I'm mentioning welder plug, because if I'm going to run a high amp circuit for the lift, I'm thinking about making that cirucit dual purpose (lift and welder), since I'll never use both tools at the same time.

but a 240v 20a circuit is NOT "high amp"

if you want all 3 of these circuits, you should just pull 6/6/6/10 (you can skip the #10 if entire run is EMT) and set a subpanel on the lift. then branch out your individual circuits from there.

The welder and lift will require different size circuits so its not really practical to share one circuit between both

 

[Norcal]

I used a 4 slot breaker box as a local disconnect for a 50a weld outlet, 20a receptacles top and bottom, and a 30a hoist motor.
I used #6 xhhw in 1” rigid and flex to a junction box in the attic with Polaris splices to 6-3 nm-b back to the front breaker box.

Not code compliant, 120V receptacles require GFCI protection, but not hard to fix either.

 

[mike93lx]

Not code compliant, 120V receptacles require GFCI protection, but not hard to fix either.

Maybe the breaker feeding it all is gfci...

 

[75slant6]

I used a 4 slot breaker box as a local disconnect for a 50a weld outlet, 20a receptacles top and bottom, and a 30a hoist motor.
I used #6 xhhw in 1” rigid and flex to a junction box in the attic with Polaris splices to 6-3 nm-b back to the front breaker box.

I know this is an old post but I’m researching lift install and I’ve got some 8/3 NM-B wire on hand. Could this same setup be run with 8/3 instead of 6/3? It’d be about a 50’ run from main panel to the sub panel.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

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