220 v install

[Ranger4657]

finially getting a 220 welder! but i need to run the wire still =[

anyone know what the average price of 8ga wire runs? kinda wondering if they make romex in 8ga i dont think they do... gotta run 60 ft from the box to the garage, so if anyone knows any good cost effective solutions let me know!!! thanks.

 

[bmonee5]

they absolutley make romex in 8 gauge. We use 8/3 romex all the time for range's in houses. 8 Gauge is good for 50 amps for residential purposes with NMB (romex). As far as cost effective just make sure you check wholesale houses for prices but you'll most likely get your best price at like jerry's/home depot type stores, the fact that your running your own wire is going to be cost effective enough. Not sure if the welder needs a 3 wire or 2 wire romex but if you only need a 2 wire that could save a little money. Not 100% sure how much you'll spend anywhere from $.50-1.00 a foot prob. Good Luck!

 

[Ranger4657]

yeah that makes since. i dont know why i didnt even think about range circuits. this is good news, i actually called a few elect. companys and they wanted about 850$ for a new sub panel (Box is full) and to run the wire with conduit etc. total rip off. im sure i can get this done for around 150 to 200

 

[IlovemybroncII]

if you use that romex it will have to be in under ground pipe or buy gound burial cable and put it at least 2ft in ground you must also put another ground rod at garage to ground the pannel for welder you can if you can turn your main off like mine and tap onto main to feed another pannel and feed it to new pannel main then feed to sub pannel at garage

 

[Ranger4657]

i was hoping to just run conduit against the brick wall the length of the 60 ft... i do like the idea of running a line off the main to a new sub, but that would be more expensive wouldn't it ?

 

[Ronv]

If you run your own wires even though you are only using the two (2) hot legs for 240v be sure to run the ground with it. Also you need to check on the ,"Duty-Cycle" of the welder to size the wire properly as well as having a disconnect readily available. Personally I would run PVC conduit from the main service to a sub-panel in the garage since it provides much better protection for the wires. Even though you run the wires in conduit you still need to bury the conduit 24 inches down. Oh yes, the ground rods nee to be 5/8 x 8' also.

Good luck on your installation.

Ron V

 

[Captain Ledd]

You can get double throws for the box (I don't actually know what their technical name is). Our house has a small box as well, and I found breaker switches that have two switches and are the same size and fit into the "standard" single switches. You could re-route a couple 15A circuits off of those and free up a few slots to run a proper 220 breaker.

Not the best way I'm sure, but it can be done.

*Edit: Split Breakers! That's what they're called.

 

[trail B2]

I used split breakers for my shop and they worked good for me.As for 60' ditch in Colorado this time of the year sounds pretty tough.I wonder if you could put it in gray conduit put it up in the eave.Check the paper work on the welder to make sure you don't need a 30 amp circuit.

 

[99RangerBoss]

If its for a garage your probably better off running a 6/3 teck cable which is designed for direct burial its three feet under but thats for canada though, but at least for the small price increase you will have more current available for things like an air compressor and what not most garages i have done for friends we have used either a 6 awg which is good for 60 amps or 4 awg which is good for 80 amps. I DON'T recommend cheaping out and using aluminum though!
Do you guys in the States have to use a ground rod to ground out your neutral in your subpanels though or can you just run a three wire and leave her be?

 

[Ranger4657]

on the one sub panel i have it doesnt have a ground rod. but i do on the main, haha i know exactly what you meen about the alumn. wire. my house was built in the 70s with the damned stuff. and talk about a pain in the ass!!!!! i cant even run a 120 v compressor for any extended period in the garage with out popping the breaker. the crap heats up and just pops off the screw. even with the paste you can add to the wire, worst invention ever!!!!

 

[99RangerBoss]

dude im sorry to hear that that really blows! but ok check with your code rules out there but i don't think you have to put in a ground rod for your subpanel but if your going to use conduit you will have to run a ground wire so your panels will be bonded but you will have to also run a another wire for your neutral. But this is Canadian code im talking about but i know were pretty well the same between Canada and the USA. but dude put a little more money in and you will be way better off if you run a slightly biggar wire anyways!

 

[bmonee5]

If you have some rebar stubbed up in your new garage slab you can use that as a ground. The breakers inside your house are called "Twins" as far as i'm concerned to double up some 15 and 20 amp circuits to make room for a Double Pole 60 Amp breaker or whatever size you decide to use. #4 can actually be good for up to 100 amps maximum but its always a good idea to oversize your wire slightly since you could run into a small amount of voltage drop at 60 ft (not much to worry about tho) but more importantly give yourself some room to expand in the future. Also i'd recommend running a slightly bigger conduit to your garage to allow for more wires or bigger wires if the time ever comes down the road...you will thank yourself in the future when you decide to go bigger....

 

[Will]

You don't need that large of wire for the welder. You only need a 30amp double-pole breaker and 10/2 wire to run the welder--2 hots and a ground. An electric range can draw much, much more current than a welder.

10/3 wire adds the neutral, which you only need if you are running 120V in that particular machine--you would have a 4-prong plug. If your welder doesn't have a 4-prong (maybe a MIG might for a 120V feed motor, I don't know) you don't need 10/3. You definately don't need 6/3 unless you are running a complete sub panel for a whole shop.

 

[99RangerBoss]

ok first off run a ground wire to your main panel to pick up your sub panel so you DON'T get a ground loop thats dangerous and can make weird things happen 2. NEVER use rebar as a ground rod because it WILL corrode and you don't want your rebar thats holding your house together to corrode.

 

[Will]

You don't need a ground rod at the sub panel as long as the neutral and ground aren't bonded in the sub panel. But I don't think you need a sub panel. Just run an outlet box for the welder.