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

[GeneV]

But the wiring is still the weak point. It is 12ga and good for 20 amps. 20 amps isn't going to be enough for his welder unless he keeps it on lower settings. He really needs a higher amp circuit and that takes bigger wire.

If I'm reading right in these last couple of pages the OP has an attached garage and all circuits come from the house electrical panel (no sub panel) so that makes things more difficult. Where there's a will there's a way to run new wire though. Just takes creativity and possibly a willingness to demo and reconstruct some stuff.

Rob

Just depends on how serious about 220v and how much you want to fight not having decent gauge wiring coming from your main to your garage. After way too long of running a heavy duty (10gauge) extension cord from my house dryer outlet to the garage (converted to gas dryer so it was available), I finally ran 6 gauge and added a sub panel in my detached garage. This allowed me to have multiple 220v and 110v circuits and no longer did I have to unplug one 220v machine for another.

It's a one man shop so there is no fear of overload but I can run a couple machines at once. I installed a 30amp outlet/breaker for my welder and I can run both my 220v plasma cutter and 220v air compressor at the same time on separate 220v circuits. If you can't you will not be happy.

Anyways... there are work arounds as already been described but if you are wanting to do it right... I say bite the bullet and put in a sub panel in your garage and run several circuits to power various outlets. Even if you don't need it now you can grow into it vs. cobbling together a couple 'hots' and making do. My :2cents:

I hear ya guys, but if I could somewhat improve the functionality of the welder in my garage, doing it the way I'm working at it now, it's a win enough for me.

I kinda hinted it to Mossroad already, if I needed it, I could access full 220v / 50 amp in my shop. It's just that I don't weld in there, I weld in my garage.

 

[WranglerX]

So much differentiation in opinions.... Get a electrician and have outlet put in to building codes and avoid having the headaches and may be having to put in a claim to homeowners insurance for the fire.. Or spouse putting in claim for your life insurance because of your electrocution....

Dale

 

[Industrial Toys]

A little dramatic. Some people are just more adverse to spending money (they may or may not have) when doing something. Not following electrical codes does not mean your place will surely catch on fire, or that you will die. And I have seen some doosies! Some things not done to code could in fact even be safer.

I like running heavier gauge to overcome voltage drop but have run into the problem time and time again that many breakers or other devices won't accept larger wire or boxes capable of containing them.

 

[not2old]

How often do you weld? Sounds like an extension cord might work. Years ago I ran a cord from the dryer outlet for occasional use that also worked a few times to take my welder elsewhere. I recently made up a 50' 4 wire 30A cord for about $100. 3 wire would be cheaper.

 

[dragoneggs]

How often do you weld? Sounds like an extension cord might work. Years ago I ran a cord from the dryer outlet for occasional use that also worked a few times to take my welder elsewhere. I recently made up a 50' 4 wire 30A cord for about $100. 3 wire would be cheaper.

Pretty much exactly what did until I started upgrading my stationary tools to 220v. It got old really quick having chasing around to unplug/plug in each tool using one cord and it was always in the way. If the welder is our only tool then maybe a cord is a solution at least until you get sick of it.

 

[MossRoad]

Pretty much exactly what did until I started upgrading my stationary tools to 220v. It got old really quick having chasing around to unplug/plug in each tool using one cord and it was always in the way. If the welder is our only tool then maybe a cord is a solution at least until you get sick of it.

I don't own any 220v tools, so that would have been an OK solution for me. For that matter, I don't personally know anyone else that has any 220V tools other than welders. I know quite a few that have 3 phase machines. And I know several folks here on TBN own 220V tools. I just don't think they are that common in a home shop setting.

 

[dragoneggs]

I don't own any 220v tools, so that would have been an OK solution for me. For that matter, I don't personally know anyone else that has any 220V tools other than welders. I know quite a few that have 3 phase machines. And I know several folks here on TBN own 220V tools. I just don't think they are that common in a home shop setting.

That is probably a good assumption. I have had the standard fare of 110v stationary tools but over the years and one by one, I upgraded to 220v with dreams of the possibility of my shop making money instead of costing money in retirement! :laughing:

 

[jaxs]

So much differentiation in opinions.... Get a electrician and have outlet put in to building codes and avoid having the headaches and may be having to put in a claim to homeowners insurance for the fire.. Or spouse putting in claim for your life insurance because of your electrocution....

Dale

This advice was offered earlier

Yes,it will double the power. 110volt x 20 amps = 2200 watts . 220 volts x 20 amps = 4400 wats. It isn't a "royal pain" at all for an electrician to run a bigger wire to the garage. Hire one. The fact you have GFIs make this impossible,the fact you don't know electrical make's it foolish to circumvent GFIs in order to do it.

But rejected. Reason given to reject hireing an electrician was because OP has 48 years experience under his belt. Wouldn't you think(A) he should have known 47 years ago how to accomplish this simple circuit, and (B) with 48 years experience wouldn't trust a bunch of interweb strangers with undetermined experience to know more than they do already?

It would be a royal pain for the electrician as well, hence he would charge me accordingly, but that's a moot point. I don't need an electrician just to add an outlet to an existing circuit...I've done plenty of that (and more) in my 48 years and I'm still alive to tell the tale, and have yet to burn down any of my houses I've lived in.

What do you mean by "circumvent GFIs" and why would it be impossible to do this with them in place?

Can anyone tell me why electric questions always draw a growd then wind's looking like monkeys trying to f a football? If those pallets or the drain plug had a wire hooked to them,advice would still be flowing as we speak. I'm serious,unless there's even more ground that need's to be covered,I've always questioned why people come to electric like flys to dead armadillos. Electricity behave's EXACTLY the same every day so that mean's tests don't lie (unless multimeter is broken) but that can't be said of anything else that is discussed here. On the rare occasion a conversation go's well,op clearly understand's and progress is being made,jazzaxes show up and to talk about waveform,phase shift and such that that master electricians never use during their intire career.

 

[WranglerX]

This advice was offered earlier

But rejected. Reason given to reject hireing an electrician was because OP has 48 years experience under his belt. Wouldn't you think(A) he should have known 47 years ago how to accomplish this simple circuit, and (B) with 48 years experience wouldn't trust a bunch of interweb strangers with undetermined experience to know more than they do already?



Can anyone tell me why electric questions always draw a growd then wind's looking like monkeys trying to f a football? If those pallets or the drain plug had a wire hooked to them,advice would still be flowing as we speak. I'm serious,unless there's even more ground that need's to be covered,I've always questioned why people come to electric like flys to dead armadillos. Electricity behave's EXACTLY the same every day so that mean's tests don't lie (unless multimeter is broken) but that can't be said of anything else that is discussed here. On the rare occasion a conversation go's well,op clearly understand's and progress is being made,jazzaxes show up and to talk about waveform,phase shift and such that that master electricians never use during their intire career.

Really!!!!....

And OP already stated he has a shop or garage with 240V already in it but does not want to use it........ Ummm........ Think this is all about the "me" factor and message thread is not really needing advice on electrical issues....

Dale

 

[dragoneggs]

If those pallets or the drain plug had a wire hooked to them,advice would still be flowing as we speak.

Hey hey! I think I proposed using a 'mini ductor' magnetic induction heater on the drain plug... and I haven't given up on the pallets.