LD1
Epic Contributor
Worth it for the price difference IMO
Installing 240V Service To Your Shop - Price Breakdowns...
- Thread starter MossRoad
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muddstopper
Veteran Member
Aluminum is used a lot around here too. Years ago I bought a double wide and Aluminum was ran from the pole to the trailer. It lasted 5 or 6 years before it blew out a hole in the ground. Wire was probably nicked during installation, but anyways, where it blew out you could tell there was a ton of corrosion. Had the same thing happen to a buddy of mine. Both where replaced using copper. I buried the aluminum wire to my shop inside the gray pipe for electrical. The run was just to long to buy copper for. I havent measured the run but suspect 75ft maybe a 100ft. Same size wire as is ran overhead from a pole to the weather head of a house.
My current fuse panel in the shop contains 2 big 60amp main fuses and 2 30amp screw in fuses. Until about 2 wks ago, I had never blown one of the 60amp fuses. At the time I was using the welder and only had the lights on in the shop. Blew same fuse twice and it was the one that also fed the lites. I have been working in that shop since 1999, build many a welding project using a ac/dc tombstone. This was the first time I had ever had a welder that would do 250amps dc. Since my current shop feed from the house is a 100amp breaker, I will probably limit my new breaker box in the shop to 100amps, but I will be looking to see if I can get a bigger breaker for the house panel. Easy to see that 60amps isnt big enough for the welder and a couple of lights at full load.
I think if I was doing a new install, 100amp would be the minimum size box I would use and dont think i would recommend any thing smaller to anybody else. Have to plan on what you might need in the future, or face what I am of having to upsize now. My current 60amp service has worked alright for 15years, but changeing to a bigger welder made the small service obsolete. Most likely if I found a 200amp box on sale ( usually someone has a sale going one), I would go that route. 200amp panels are pretty common and not that hard to find. I know of a trailer that burnt a couple years ago and I think I will check it out as a possible donor for a used 200amp panel. It should also already be full of small breakers as well as some 220 breakers for the heat pump, dryer, stove, etc. Whether the breakers would be the size I want might be a question mark.
My current fuse panel in the shop contains 2 big 60amp main fuses and 2 30amp screw in fuses. Until about 2 wks ago, I had never blown one of the 60amp fuses. At the time I was using the welder and only had the lights on in the shop. Blew same fuse twice and it was the one that also fed the lites. I have been working in that shop since 1999, build many a welding project using a ac/dc tombstone. This was the first time I had ever had a welder that would do 250amps dc. Since my current shop feed from the house is a 100amp breaker, I will probably limit my new breaker box in the shop to 100amps, but I will be looking to see if I can get a bigger breaker for the house panel. Easy to see that 60amps isnt big enough for the welder and a couple of lights at full load.
I think if I was doing a new install, 100amp would be the minimum size box I would use and dont think i would recommend any thing smaller to anybody else. Have to plan on what you might need in the future, or face what I am of having to upsize now. My current 60amp service has worked alright for 15years, but changeing to a bigger welder made the small service obsolete. Most likely if I found a 200amp box on sale ( usually someone has a sale going one), I would go that route. 200amp panels are pretty common and not that hard to find. I know of a trailer that burnt a couple years ago and I think I will check it out as a possible donor for a used 200amp panel. It should also already be full of small breakers as well as some 220 breakers for the heat pump, dryer, stove, etc. Whether the breakers would be the size I want might be a question mark.
Turbys_1700
Elite Member
The shop that I am now in was once a shop for my dad's motor home. He ran a line from the barn and installed a 50 Amp service to the back of the building. Since my welder and compressor is in the front of the building I had to run a drop cord to the front. The building is 50 x 20. My local electrician sold me 40' of #6 and that was a pretty penny. But I can run my compressor and welder with no issues. Later I added a work bench with a few 110 outlets and a shop light. The building has minimal lighting but I am making do. If I was building from scratch I would go with at a 200 Amp service. The way I look at it one and done. The labor cost is the same.
The house that I live in was built by my grandfather in 1953. I added a heat pump 20 years ago and was fortunate that sometime in the 70's my grandfather upgraded to a 200 AMP service. That saved me quite a bit of coin with the heat pump install. When I got my first welder I was able to run a 50 AMP service line from that 200 AMP breaker. The added capacity of a larger than needed service is nice.
The house that I live in was built by my grandfather in 1953. I added a heat pump 20 years ago and was fortunate that sometime in the 70's my grandfather upgraded to a 200 AMP service. That saved me quite a bit of coin with the heat pump install. When I got my first welder I was able to run a 50 AMP service line from that 200 AMP breaker. The added capacity of a larger than needed service is nice.
muddstopper
Veteran Member
Turby, what size welder? I got by for years with a 60amp service to my shop. It wasnt until I upsized my welder that I started running into problems. 250amp DC and a couple of fluorescent lights and it will blow a 60amp fuse. I doubt I could run my welder at full capacity off your 50amp service. Kinda of funny, I thought I was upgradeing when I bought the big welder, heck all I did was create more problems. Who was it that told me i needed to learn to tig weld aluminum anyways.
MinnesotaDaveChalmers
Platinum Member
Turn that sucker up and tig thick aluminum - electricity is cheap - crank it up and let it eat :laughing:
muddstopper
Veteran Member
:thumbsup:
DarkBlack
Elite Member
100 amp worked fine for me, until I got the plasma.
Plasma 70 amps
Compressor 30 amps
Lights 20 amps
The math gets a little wonky adding those up to 100
And then there is my Airco, 60 amps input works for tig aluminum up to 230 amps, so I'm good until I go over 1/4" aluminum.
Then I have to use the 70 amp circuit - it would take 100 amps if I could find some thing to weld at 470 amps :laughing:
But regardless, my son can't use the plasma when I'm using the Airco - have to plan ahead a little.
Wow, What plasma cutter do you have that draws 70 amps at 240 volts?
MinnesotaDaveChalmers
Platinum Member
Miller Spectrum 700 - and I did not remember correctly - 64 amps draw.
I have it on a 70 amp breaker.
74 amps is for 200 volt service
Only two settings on the old girl, high and low.
OP
MossRoad
Super Moderator
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Is that an older model? The reason I ask is because the 700i (your's might not be an "i" model) only calls for a 25A breaker. Just wondering, becuase I could see getting a plasma cutter in my future. Thanks. :thumbsup:
MinnesotaDaveChalmers
Platinum Member
Yeah, mine is an older 225 lb transformer based machine.
If it ever burns up I'll get one of the new fangled light little machines too
