A couple dumb electrical question...

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We're needing to convert part of our garage into living space, so I figured I'd take the time to plan ahead.  Right now, I have a little Eastwood 135 MIG unit, but at some point, it'd be nice to be able to upgrade to a bigger unit.  Problem is, I have no 220 outlets in the garage.  Since we need to remodel anyway, I thought I could have one installed while they're doing construction.  Is there a standard type of 220 outlet that welders use?  I know there are a few different physical plug configurations.  Also, do I need a 50 amp breaker?  Thanks!
Reply:I had my electrician put a dryer/oven type plug on the wall, then mad up and extension cord up for the welder with the proper plugs.
Reply:run 6/3 wire from the panel box to where ever you want a future outlet( you can leave it capped off in a outlet box till you know what kind of plug you need) and put it on a 50 amp breakerOf all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:So what you really want to do is weld in the new living room... 50 amp is the minimum I'd opt for in 230v service to a garage. Some older machines can want even more power, say 60-100 amps or more. Breakers are chosen to protect the wires in the wall, not the equipment. You can always put a smaller breaker on larger wire, but not the other way around.If you need a lot of new electrical work for the new space, you might think about having a sub panel run to the garage. That way you can have multiple circuits and decrease the long runs of large wire. When they swapped out my 100 amp breaker panel to a 200 amp one, I had them move the old panel to the garage even though at the time we didn't add anything to that panel but one temporary 20 amp circuit for a a quad box. Later I added 2 circuits for welder/plasma and 2 circuits for outlets and a new lighting circuit off the 100 amp panel no problem. I still have a huge amount of space in the panel if need be..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:In reference to the title of your thread, there are no dumb electrical questions.If you move ahead on house wiring without understanding exactly what you are doing, the result is fire. Thank you for asking first.Be wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:I can't remember anyone saying they had too many outlets in a shop...Consider welder - the old, affordable, transformer based welders might need 100+ amp direct wired connections.Air compressor, 25 Amps at 230 I believe is what a 5-6hp welder wants.Enough power to run a chop saw (You really want a 20 Amp plug, but 15 Amp 110V might do).Enough power for work lighting.And having all the above breakers nearby would be best.Consider putting a small fuse box in the workshop. 150 Amp or maybe even 200.  Its not that you will be using full 200 all the time, its just the combined surge.Also, put lighting on a different circuit than outlets.  Sucks when you bear down on your chop saw and 'pop', not only does your saw die, but you are left in the dark.BTW, air compressor is my first line of fire suppression, so its always on when I weld.  Also a decent compressor is needed to drive the air for a plasma cutter.  Pretty much 230V only.BBTW, the typically 230V welding plug is a NEMA 6-50.   Beyond 50Amps, I know of no standard plug.  There are some here that used some specialty connectors.BBBTW the reason for 100 Amp capacity for welders is that when you are look at used, big welders, like a Syncrowave 250 (or even 350), you can safely use them at full capacity.  Well, maybe not the 350, but close enough.  Its not that hard to find a Synchro 350, with all the bells and whistles (timers, cooler, pedal etc.) for under $2000.  Most people consider the 350 too big for a home shop and overlook it.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Maybe I should have said "basic" electrical questions Thanks for the info so far!  It's a two car garage that is basically getting cut in half to provide a handicap accessible bedroom / bathroom area for one of our kids.  The garage already has a breaker box that is branched off the main box in the basement.  Runs some of the stuff in the laundry room, the garage outlets, and some outside lights and outlets. I have no idea how exactly that will shake out, since the wall that currently houses that breaker box may be getting moved.Right now, the current electrical service hasn't given me any problems and has run a mix of small power tools (bench grinder, drill press, circular saw, small compressor, etc).  I believe the ceiling outlet the garage door opener uses is 20 amp, but everything else seems to be 15.  I'm just doing hobbyist art projects, but I figure I want to be set for a bigger unit if I decide to upgrade in the future.I won't be doing any of the work   But I wanted to be armed with enough info to let the contractor know what I'm interested in.
Reply:I put a 100 Amp subpanel in the garage.  30A for the compressor, 50A for medium welders and a 70A for the Syncrowave 250."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:Originally Posted by con_fuse9BTW, air compressor is my first line of fire suppression, so its always on when I weld.  Also a decent compressor is needed to drive the air for a plasma cutter.  Pretty much 230V only.
Reply:I was wondering the same thing   I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box, but every time I've introduced forced air to a fire, it gets bigger.
Reply:To answer your original question, NEMA 6-50 is what most of us use as a standard welder receptacle.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Thanks, gravel!
Reply:I'm running 6/3 to a NEMA 14-50 for my garage outlet.  This provides two hots, neutral and ground.  The advantage is that I can run both 120 and 240 from it.  This was done to give me a good solid 120V option for my current MIG welder.  I have built a mobile sub panel that has 2x 6-50R and 2x L5-20R in it.  That is 2 standard 240V welder receptacles and 2 20A twist lock 120V receptacles.  There was room to mount all of those inside the sub panel box, on the hot wire side of the breakers.Part of this is that I don't know how long I'll be in this place.  With a 5' cord, I can hang this right near the plug and take it with me if we move, just having to run another 6/3 to a 14-50 at the new place.  And I'm really sick of using my dryer adapter cord to TIG weld or trying to MIG weld and having the wife decide to use ANYTHING on the same circuit as the garage.Last edited by sacherjj; 01-20-2015 at 08:27 AM.AHP AlphaTIG 200DX (2nd Gen)Lincoln WeldPak 3200HD Bird Poop GeneratorLotos LTP5000D Plasma Cutter
Reply:You will need a step down transformer to get 220 volts. Your power supplier provides 240/120 or in some multi family installations, 208/120 three phase. The good news is you don't want 220 either. There will be some loss in the conductors, but any welder available in USA is happier at 240 than 220.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:Originally Posted by GravelTo answer your original question, NEMA 6-50 is what most of us use as a standard welder receptacle.