How much power?

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I have a certified electrician (coworker) that will wire up my garage for me. My question is how much power do I really need? I plan on a lincoln ac/dc 225 & a hobart 140.(1 at a time) + lights ,grinders, stereo, ect.I'm putting breaker box out there and running some outlets . How many do you have. Or should I say how many do you wish you had. Now my chance. I figure atleast 2. 220 plugs just so I can limit drop cord length. Heck maybe 3Any input will help I'm sure.
Reply:If your electrician really is one, he should be able to answer your query muchbetter than others.Blackbird
Reply:Rule of thumb: If you can afford more or have room for more, you don't have enough. Now I have no idea about the layout of your garage, and your 110/220V single phase system is quite a bit diffrent from the 230V single phase/400V 3-phase system we use. Anyway, I'd want to have a couple of the 400V outlets where I'd plan on having welder, compressor etc. standing more or less permanently, so they can be plugged in always, and a few extra 400V outlets easily reachable perhaps by the door. All of those wired through a main switch by the door, so I can flip that switch at the end of the day and leave them plugged in without worrying.The 230V outlets for everything "small" would be needed everywhere, so a couple by the work bench, some by the door(s), and more spread on the walls inbetween so there's always one nearby. As I said, not the same system as you have, but you could use the same principle - high voltage outlets where they will be most useful, and low voltage outlets spread out so they'll always be so near you don't have to stumble over countless tangled up extention cords. Adapt to fit your garage layout and what you use to do there.
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonIf your electrician really is one, he should be able to answer your query muchbetter than others.
Reply:Thanks for the input. Yea I want plenty of outlets I know I will add more tools. I like the idea about main kill by door to. I'm going to pull all new wire in the house also and a new panel. Then pull from there to the garage. Acually he is doing the garage first . Then later the house. And I'm going to do all I can to help limit his time. And save me $ & he likes that idea to. Yea we are doing this all above board so insurance can't back out. I just bought this place 2yrs ago and don't want it burnt down. Better safe than sorry. Yea I believe in overkill to.Like I said I'm a DIY type. Been in constuction my whole life. But no way with electric stuff. I was sure glad to hear he is certified and seems passionate. Old enough to been in it for years.:thumbup: and he said deffinatly a box in garage. And is on first name basis with inspectors:thumbup: I just don't want to let him get in hurry and not have enough power. That would bite.
Reply:How big is your garage? Do you need 3 or 4 wire 240 volt outlets? If you can, I'd put a 100 amp sub panel if not that than at least a 70 amp sub. Your buddy should be able to help you decide.
Reply:Just a 2 car with storage section I'm adding on to back to extend leangth. But with weler only having a 10 ft cord + I want to reach outside also. I figure the more the merrier.
Reply:Originally Posted by jethro608Thanks for the input. Yea I want plenty of outlets I know I will add more tools. I like the idea about main kill by door to. I'm going to pull all new wire in the house also and a new panel. Then pull from there to the garage. Acually he is doing the garage first . Then later the house. And I'm going to do all I can to help limit his time. And save me $ & he likes that idea to. Yea we are doing this all above board so insurance can't back out. I just bought this place 2yrs ago and don't want it burnt down. Better safe than sorry. Yea I believe in overkill to.Like I said I'm a DIY type. Been in constuction my whole life. But no way with electric stuff. I was sure glad to hear he is certified and seems passionate. Old enough to been in it for years.:thumbup: and he said deffinatly a box in garage. And is on first name basis with inspectors:thumbup: I just don't want to let him get in hurry and not have enough power. That would bite.
Reply:Oh yea great idea. Forgot to tell him that I want a couple three over head . I hate tripping over cords. I've always said if I have to jump out of a plane I want an air hose or a drop cord. Cause I'll get caught on somthing before I get to where I'm headed
Reply:200 amp service.Lincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.
Reply:Originally Posted by jethro608Thanks for the input. Yea I want plenty of outlets I know I will add more tools. I like the idea about main kill by door to. I'm going to pull all new wire in the house also and a new panel. Then pull from there to the garage. Acually he is doing the garage first . Then later the house. And I'm going to do all I can to help limit his time. And save me $ & he likes that idea to. Yea we are doing this all above board so insurance can't back out. I just bought this place 2yrs ago and don't want it burnt down. Better safe than sorry. Yea I believe in overkill to.Like I said I'm a DIY type. Been in constuction my whole life. But no way with electric stuff. I was sure glad to hear he is certified and seems passionate. Old enough to been in it for years.:thumbup: and he said deffinatly a box in garage. And is on first name basis with inspectors:thumbup: I just don't want to let him get in hurry and not have enough power. That would bite.
Reply:200 AMP serviceHomeruns to each and every receptacle for 20amp. No 'piggybacking' on the receptacles. That way you can run a large grinder or ?? and when your buddy lights off another appliance it will not pop the breaker...For your 220V branches, use larger wire than is called for. Instead of using 10ga for 30AMP, go with #8(40AMP) or #6(50AMP), use the breaker that your present equipment calls for. When you decide to upgrade your equipment, you can just swap the breaker out to the larger amperage. I have all of my 220 branches wired this way so I can just up the breaker without having to break open the wall and run a new line. My inspector liked to have had a cow seeing this until I told him why I was doing this, his only comment was "good idea"! and handed me the green tag! Go overboard, you will be glad you did it in the long run!Good Luck!Classic 300D LN-25Plain Jane O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by Lincolnguy200 AMP serviceHomeruns to each and every receptacle for 20amp. No 'piggybacking' on the receptacles. That way you can run a large grinder or ?? and when your buddy lights off another appliance it will not pop the breaker...For your 220V branches, use larger wire than is called for. Instead of using 10ga for 30AMP, go with #8(40AMP) or #6(50AMP), use the breaker that your present equipment calls for. When you decide to upgrade your equipment, you can just swap the breaker out to the larger amperage. I have all of my 220 branches wired this way so I can just up the breaker without having to break open the wall and run a new line. My inspector liked to have had a cow seeing this until I told him why I was doing this, his only comment was "good idea"! and handed me the green tag! Go overboard, you will be glad you did it in the long run!Good Luck!
Reply:Yea I would hate to be blowing breakers and the possibility of more people being in there is good. So I will see how much he can give me & upgrade cause probably  In less than year I'm upgrading the house. So I will tell him about bigger wire also. I would hate to tear chit apart and do it twice. Thanks for all the great advise:beer:
Reply:200 Amp service. I forgot to mention that part. See what you have now. Older construction had 100 or 150 amp service depending on how old and size of the house. Newer has 200 amp in my area. Upgrade to the service is on the homeowners dime IF the power providers line can handle it.  Service overhead or underground? If you need to upgrade service with underground it gets testy on the wallet.My 20 amp outlets are "piggy back" by wall. Each wall has it's own circuit/breaker. GFCI on each. Unfortunately, the GFCI's don't like my chop saw. Other than that, I've not had any issues.
Reply:That is a big issue right now. I have a 100 amp breaker box in the house right now. I am planning on all new wires in the house and a bigger box. My line comes in overhead.We are running to the garage from the house, I'm digging it in and they (one call) just located and everything but the one dedicated 20 amp line to the garage is out front.So he did tell me what he had in mind but dumb me couldn't tell you what he said after pararlel to the horizontal of the thinga ma jig. But now I do have a better idea of what I need.I will talk to him Mon. & probably pick some stuff up then . And place outlets to see if they will work. I will see how much he thinks he can give me with the idea of making easy to go bigger when house is done.
Reply:Ouch! Get with your power company on Monday and find out what the service feed is capable of.Underground is nice but if I had to do it over, there would be 1, 2 or maybe even 3 extra "future" conduits. The stuff is cheap. Reason being that landscaping, sidewalks, breezeways, driveways, slab for shed/toys, some times change configurations. With the conduits already in place under something you don't want to dig up or cut up, LV stuff like cable, phone, internet, yadda, yadda can easily be pulled in from the house. You know "Man Cave" (formerly known as "Dog House") stuff.
Reply:See didn't even think of that cable,internet phone. Thanks
Reply:Oh yea, some more. Is/are you going to heat it? That's another circuit to plan location on depending what is there/going to be installed. Maybe also a wall mount A/C? That's another one.
Reply:More yet!  Lighting. Lighting is everything. Nothing worse than working in dim lighting. I spent too many years in it on the job as a Millwright.It's a three stall garage. One 16' door and one 8' door. I'm not done yet, but when finished there will be nine 8' flouresent and one 4'.They're switched in three zones with three way switches. One zone is for the back wall area. One is for the two stall area and the other for the single stall area. One of them (back wall) is on the original code circuit from the house so if something goes wrong, they're still be some lighting. The stall switches are in the garage. Two for the stalls at the service door from the house and one switch by each overhead door. Generally I only have one or two of those zones going at any given time.
Reply:Man I'm so glad I ask this question. Sure didn't put as much thought into this as I thought I did. I was thinking wood heat,but "Danger will robinson danger danger" kept popping in my mind.Oops did I just show my age?
Reply:I put on a 2-car garage addition with 3 rooms above (as yet unfinished).  I have 300A service to the house with two 150A panels.  Since I had converted to gas backup heat, I pulled 100A service from one panel to the addition in case we put a new heat pump/air out there or whatever.I put in a 30A 240V outlet in the garage just because.  Fast forward a few years and now we have welders galore so there's a 70A breaker for the Syncro,  50A for the MIG or Dialarc and a 30A for the air compressor."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Ok everybody my power is on!!!So I tied to my breaker in the house and ran a 100 amp sub panel in the garage. I have a total of 5/ 4ways plugs, 5/2 ways plugs 3/220 plugs all on 20 amp breakers, and 50 amps. My wire is big enough to switch to 200 amp when I up date my house breaker here in the near future.My electrician said I was golden, and for my small garage/homeshop I should not blow a breaker. Could even get a couple other guys in working:thumbup: if all goes well.Oh yea I also got my air,heat,and ventalation going on also. Just wish I would have got pics before I started. It was a dark *)#+ hole. This is my only recent pic of lights which I posted in thread shop lights?. Thanks for all the advise. It helped a lot. I mean a lot. Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by G-sonRule of thumb: If you can afford more or have room for more, you don't have enough. Now I have no idea about the layout of your garage, and your 110/220V single phase system is quite a bit diffrent from the 230V single phase/400V 3-phase system we use. Anyway, I'd want to have a couple of the 400V outlets where I'd plan on having welder, compressor etc. standing more or less permanently, so they can be plugged in always, and a few extra 400V outlets easily reachable perhaps by the door. All of those wired through a main switch by the door, so I can flip that switch at the end of the day and leave them plugged in without worrying.The 230V outlets for everything "small" would be needed everywhere, so a couple by the work bench, some by the door(s), and more spread on the walls inbetween so there's always one nearby. As I said, not the same system as you have, but you could use the same principle - high voltage outlets where they will be most useful, and low voltage outlets spread out so they'll always be so near you don't have to stumble over countless tangled up extention cords. Adapt to fit your garage layout and what you use to do there.