Work Shop 220v Receptacle?

jimg · Dec 12, 2003

One more pt. You would be well served by getting a book on electrics and looking over it before you do the job. It will contain a good bit of info on standards used in wiring, plugs and recpticles. That should take a lot of the mystery out of it.

PineRidge · Dec 12, 2003

A subpanel with a 220 breaker (2-pole) matched to each tool would go a long way in preventing a potential fire hazard. I would also be concerned about fire insurance if its not done correctly.

wroughtn_harv · Dec 13, 2003

I'm not an electrician.

But here's what I'd suggest for your situation.

I'd put in a sub panel with appropriate breakers for each style plug. I'd use the right plug to the right receptacle going through the right breakers.

I have a fondness for the three prong fifty amp welder plug. In fact not only do my three welding machines work off that plug along with my small plasma. I have my power hammer wired for it along with my spa blower that feeds the sand blasting hood. I also have three extension cords with that plug system totalling one hundred feet, twenty, thirty, and fifty feet.

The compressor is always off of a separate circuit. It can come on unexpectedly. Unlike the plasma working while the welder is, can't happen, I'm not that good.

If you place your plugs neatly in logical locations you will have something that allows you to work safely by yourself for darn near ever. It'll be something you'll be proud of too. Jerry rigging things is great for emergencies. You don't want your shop to look like you're an emergency looking for a place to happen.

Phred · Dec 13, 2003

My two cents on this issue is to use NEMA twist lock plugs and outlets.
You can get them at home depot, lowes, or any electrical supply.

They are not cheap but have a couple of key advantages:
1) There are many kinds. Each one is for a given current and voltage. The wrong plug/socket will not mate.
2) They are designed for these types of loads and are the norm in an industrial shop.
3) They lock in place. You stick the plug in and rotate it about 1/8 of a turn. It won't come out until you rotate it back the other way and pull.

Again not the cheapest way but probably the safest.

I have several in my shop. Each is on a seperate breaker rated for the plug marking. I then have a vareity of loads that can be plugged into the outlets as needed.

Fred

dos_perros · Dec 13, 2003

Phred. Good suggestion. That is the direction that I am headed. Sounds safe, straight forward, and avoids mis fires. Thank you.

PineRidge · Dec 13, 2003

Dos_perros wait till you see the price of those babies; you might be changing your mind. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif When the manufacturers start putting them on the equipment then I will use them also. But I can't justify the cost when you can get a good 50-amp receptacle box & plug for less than half the price of a twist lock that does the same thing.

Twist Lock connectors are commercial grade, The kind of thing you would see in a Hospital or the like. They do have their place.

Boxman · Dec 17, 2003

I found the following web site to be a valuable resource when I set up my shop.

Electricity in the shop.

boxman

shado · Dec 18, 2003

When you say 220V wiring is #10, is that the main coming into the panel to feed all of those circuits? If that's the biggest wiring coming into & out of that panel, no matter what type of 'plugs' everybody is talking about, you may not have enough capacity to hook up all of those things in the first place. I'm also not reading anything about what size compressor your'e wanting to run, my T30 IR is a 5 HP unit, nothing less that a 50 amp breaker to it will do, wiring is at least #8. My 250 Miller Vintage Mig needs a 60 amp breaker with #6 wiring to the plug, a little less for the plasma. I have to have enough capacity for the welder/plasma to run & if the compressor kicks in at the same time while I'm working.
J.W.

PineRidge · Dec 19, 2003

If you have #10 wire feeding power into your box then you will never have reserve for more than 30 amps coming out. That is 30 amps for ALL your tools. That's not much reserve!

dos_perros · Dec 26, 2003

Boxman. Excellent article you suggested. Would recommend it to all. My initial plans on simply "cleaning up" the wiring in my work shop have changed. Have now stepped back and will now take a more planned approach. The comments offered have made me more thoughtful. I want the result to be both functional as well as safe. As one has said, "...something to be proud of." When I finish, I will report back. Thanks.