Wiring second lift outlet on same circuit?

[ket-tek]

I'm thinking about adding a second 240v outlet on the other side of the garage so that I am able to move the 4 post lift for future projects and have a convenient plug in without using an extension cord.

My question is, is it ok (safety wise and by code) to wire two 240v outlets either in series or both outlets out from a common junction box? I would only ever use one at a time, even if there were ever 2 lifts only one would operate at a time anyway?

I just don't want to take up another 2 breaker spots for something that will hardly ever get use, as my panels are filling up quick.

The current run is about a 90ft run of 10/2 with a 30amp breaker. The additional outlet would be about 20ft away.

The outlet is in the ceiling and the wire runs thru the attic, My thought is to put a 4" junction box part way back on the feed in the attic and then have two feeds out of that to the two ceiling outlets. So the runs would be the same length and I don't have to try make up and fit the super stiff 10/2 connections into the current gang box with the outlet in it.

Thanks..

 

[Stuart in MN]

People often say that multiple 240vac receptacles on a single circuit aren't allowed, but I haven't been able to find anything in the NEC that prohibits it. It may be something that is prohibited by local regulations, but you'd have to find that out.

Functionally, I don't see any issues in what you have planned.

 

[fefarms]

People often say that multiple 240vac receptacles on a single circuit aren't allowed, but I haven't been able to find anything in the NEC that prohibits it. It may be something that is prohibited by local regulations, but you'd have to find that out.

Functionally, I don't see any issues in what you have planned.

So long as the branch circuit is protected by a 30 amp two-pole breaker this should be perfectly safe and code legal. If you exercised the provisions of article 430 of the NEC (motors and motor circuits) to upsize the breaker to something larger, then there's an argument that a future owner could plug two "somethings" into the circuit instead of the lift, overloading it in the process, and leave the circuit without proper overcurrent protection.

 

[ket-tek]

If you exercised the provisions of article 430 of the NEC (motors and motor circuits) to upsize the breaker to something larger, then there's an argument that a future owner could plug two "somethings" into the circuit instead of the lift, overloading it in the process, and leave the circuit without proper overcurrent protection.

A bit confused on what this means?

The lift instructions called for a 25amp breaker, I have a 30amp as I couldn't find a 25amp for my brand of panel, the manufacture tech support of the lift said 30amp was ok to use.

Should I be running a different breaker in either a single or dual outlet senario?

The motor plate says max working load 230v @ 18amps..

thanks

 

[fefarms]

30 amps is fine. It's within the capacity of 10AWG wire, provides adequate protection to the lift motor, and would allow for multiple outlets.

For a dedicated motor circuit, you are allowed, under article 430 (with significant limitations) to upsize the branch circuit to 60 amps or more, if needed to start the motor without tripping the breaker. A lift is an easy-starting load (because of the hydraulic pump) and does not usually need this upsizing. A conveyor belt or big saw, or something else with a lot of mechanical inertia, would be a hard-starting load. A DEDICATED 10AWG motor circuit on a 60 amp breaker is safe only because the motor controller is expected to provide its own overload/overcurrent protection. But multiple independent loads plugged into multiple receptacles would not be safe.

There is nothing magical about 240 volts. Consider that much of the world uses 240 volts for normal household receptacles, with the USA, Canada, Spain, and Japan being the odd-balls at 120 volts. It is the high-current nature (>20 amp) of this branch circuit that makes it "different".

 

[CGarcia]

Yes, you can add another outlet. And the breaker is sized to protect the wiring, not the appliance that you plug into it. In other words, you can have a 100amp breaker as long as the wire and outlet are rated for 100.

 

[SuperchargedWS6]

I did exactly this in my garage and it met code (at least in my area). As said above, the breaker protects the wire from overload in case you try to run two lifts at the same time, so there are no electrical worries.

 

[ket-tek]

Thanks fellas. Seems ok to do then, surely someone would chime in if it was totally wrong.

Now I have yet another task to add to my to-do list.