220v outlet for welder powered by (2) 20 amp breakers

[MossRoad]

As far as I know 2 circuits, one marked "garage" in the panel in the basement, which services the garage door and all the outlets. The defunct shed circuit is the other one, I traced that to it's breaker with a circuit tracer tool thingie.

But the conduit carrying those wires out from the panel is jammed full of other wires too, there's no room to stick two more 10 ga wires in there. So, would need to run a new conduit.

The reason I ask is because here ( I don't know about "there" ), you can only run 1 circuit from the main house to any outbuilding. If you want to run more than 1 circuit, you have to install a sub-panel.

Our house, when we bought it, had a cobbled up mess of wires going to a small garage and the larger garage. He combined 2 110v circuits to make 220 in the garage, junk like that. I pulled it all out and ran proper cable for a 220v sub-panel.

We only have 100 amp service in the house.
I installed a 50amp 2-pole breaker in the house and used that to feed the new sub-panel in the garage.
In the garage sub-panel, there is a 30amp 2-pole breaker, a couple 20amp GFCI single pole breakers for the pool and the small garage, a lighting circuit, and a couple outlet circuits. I never weld when the pool is running. Other than that, I can weld with the Hobart 110v mig, or the 220v stick welder while the air compressor is running.

What I'm getting at, is it might be better for you to really evaluate all the things in the conduit going to your garage, see how many wires you could eliminate, and if that would free up enough space to pull in heavier wires for a sub-panel.

Good luck with your project. :thumbsup:

 

[WranglerX]

I don't know what your garage/shop situation is like, but if I were doing it I would find a way to use a new circuit and the proper sized wire for a new 220V outlet for your welder. Even if that meant putting the circuit near the electrical panel and running a heavy 220V extension cord to where you want to use the welder or running conduit outside a finished wall to do it. Working with tools like a welder or other heavy duty electrical tool is, in my view, way more satisfying when things are done right and it is set up as capably as possible. Cutting corners or trying to make due with a less than optimum setup tends to lead to frustration, limitations and problems (including the risk of fire) that can be pretty stressful. Besides, why wouldn't you want to be able to take full advantage of the welder you bought?

Rob

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!


Dale

 

[WranglerX]

The reason I ask is because here ( I don't know about "there" ), you can only run 1 circuit from the main house to any outbuilding. If you want to run more than 1 circuit, you have to install a sub-panel.

Our house, when we bought it, had a cobbled up mess of wires going to a small garage and the larger garage. He combined 2 110v circuits to make 220 in the garage, junk like that. I pulled it all out and ran proper cable for a 220v sub-panel.

We only have 100 amp service in the house.
I installed a 50amp 2-pole breaker in the house and used that to feed the new sub-panel in the garage.
In the garage sub-panel, there is a 30amp 2-pole breaker, a couple 20amp GFCI single pole breakers for the pool and the small garage, a lighting circuit, and a couple outlet circuits. I never weld when the pool is running. Other than that, I can weld with the Hobart 110v mig, or the 220v stick welder while the air compressor is running.

What I'm getting at, is it might be better for you to really evaluate all the things in the conduit going to your garage, see how many wires you could eliminate, and if that would free up enough space to pull in heavier wires for a sub-panel.

Good luck with your project. :thumbsup:

Another winner....

Dale

 

[GeneV]

Guys, it's just a panel. Here:

 

[grsthegreat]

Guys, it's just a panel. Here:
View attachment 668533

No, not that panel. The garage panel

 

[MossRoad]

I forgot what I put in my sub-panel.
It appears I have a 2-pole 15A breaker for future 220v tools, a 50A breaker for the arc welder, two 20A single pole breakers for outlets in the garage, and two 20A single pole breakers for pool and small garage.

Here's a schematic. It required 4 wires from the house to the garage.

 

[GeneV]

You do not need to fish another wire if you have a dedicated 120v circuit there now. Just use a two pole breaker and remove the wire from the neutral and connect it along with the
滴ot wire to the two pole breaker. You only need 2 wires plus ground for the 240 circuit.
(You would need 3 for 120/240).

Dude, that's brilliantly simple, love it! :drink:

 

[grsthegreat]

Dude, that's brilliantly simple, love it! :drink:

but then you will have no 120v available there.

 

[Popgadget]

but then you will have no 120v available there.

The OP said that there were other GFI protected outlets fed from another 20 amp circuit.

 

[GeneV]

The reason I ask is because here ( I don't know about "there" ), you can only run 1 circuit from the main house to any outbuilding. If you want to run more than 1 circuit, you have to install a sub-panel.

Our house, when we bought it, had a cobbled up mess of wires going to a small garage and the larger garage. He combined 2 110v circuits to make 220 in the garage, junk like that. I pulled it all out and ran proper cable for a 220v sub-panel.

We only have 100 amp service in the house.
I installed a 50amp 2-pole breaker in the house and used that to feed the new sub-panel in the garage.
In the garage sub-panel, there is a 30amp 2-pole breaker, a couple 20amp GFCI single pole breakers for the pool and the small garage, a lighting circuit, and a couple outlet circuits. I never weld when the pool is running. Other than that, I can weld with the Hobart 110v mig, or the 220v stick welder while the air compressor is running.

What I'm getting at, is it might be better for you to really evaluate all the things in the conduit going to your garage, see how many wires you could eliminate, and if that would free up enough space to pull in heavier wires for a sub-panel.

Good luck with your project. :thumbsup:

That's an option Moss, thanks! My garage is attached, but it's on the opposite side of my house where the panel is. The conduit coming out of the panel carrying all the garage wiring is also housing a bunch of other wiring, evidently splitting off somewhere who knows where...it's all behind drywall. But yeh, this a good option.