220 Question

[Charles]

I called an electrical company about running setting up a 220 outlet in my garage. He gave a high ballpark figure of between 185$ to 235$. He said on the high side because it was over the phone est.
I got some idea of what is involved in setting this up. Is this estimate a good deal? Could I do this myself without burning the house down? LOL I got a lesser qualified guy wanting to do it but I dont want him buring the house down either with a faulty wiring job. Can just about anybody do this safely?
Since my welding(235 ac Hobart stick welder--looking at buying) will be sporadic I dont want to pay the above price to run the 220 either.
I know it will be harder to weld with the stick but the price is right and its heavy duty

[vipermanz]

that's honestly a good quote (around here atleast) if it includes materials, if possible you can just add a new breaker to your box and just run a 10 gauge wire to your workshop yourself (self satisfaction). i might just let someone do it though, alot of people are quite hesitant around electricity for good reasons.
But you are certainly on the right track with the machine you are looking at , It'll probably last a good 45+ years!!!


Happy Holidays!!

[Charles]

Thanks for the info Vipermanz. I am tempted to try it myself. I have gotten so I do most everything else. Just have to overcome the working with electricity...
Hope you and your family have a nice Christmas too.

[1grnlwn]

It all depends on where your breaker box is. If it is in your garage it sounds a little high. #10 wire is only good for 30A. I am not sure what your buzz box will draw but the standard plug for welding is a 50A. which would require #6 wire. That being said I run my wire welder, plasma and tig on a 30A. w/#10 wire. I have not blown the breaker yet. This equip draws fewer amps and I am working at the lower settings. The key to safety is to never use smaller rated wire that the circuit protection(breaker). for example never use a 30a. breaker with #12 wire. Good connections and wire needs protection from hazards (heat, physical damage, vibration, etc)

[Charles]

Thanks 1grnlwn. The garage is about 10ft from the breaker. I will need more wire than the 10ft to run it up to the breaker and up or down to the outlet. I was looking at a 50 amp buzz box. Got a guy who put in my AC awhile back coming to install it up to code

[UNISCAPER]

WE took double ought cable with a 100 amp breaker off a main load center, ran 220 to into a smaller 60 amp load center fro the shop. All 220 circuits are 8 guage, 110 has a 30 amp circuit with 10 gauge, then the rest are 20 amp with 12 gauge.

WE can't load every single plug, but for what we do it is pleanty sufficient and have had no issues. All wire is run in conduit, no romex here.

[olderthandirt]

Originally posted by Charles
Thanks 1grnlwn. The garage is about 10ft from the breaker. I will need more wire than the 10ft to run it up to the breaker and up or down to the outlet. I was looking at a 50 amp buzz box. Got a guy who put in my AC awhile back coming to install it up to code

Sounds like the right idea. Each city has its own code and if you put it in improperly and there would be a fire, ins. could deny claim. Unless your lisc. electrician and are up to what the codes are, it really would be cheaper in the long run to hire it out. Also if the wire is not inside of wall of a garage it has to be in coduit[NEC]

Mac