Thread: Outlets and breaker box?

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I am needing to put in some 220 Volt outlets in my garage and another breaker box for them. Does anyone have a rough estimated idea on how much it might be to get the materials and pay an electrician to do this? My dad can't do it since he is working and doesn't feel like doing it so I have to pay someone to come out and do it for me. I wan't there to be enough outlets for a couple ovens for my powder coating, a compressor, welder and maybe a few other things that I am looking at getting later on for powder coating, for maybe about 6 outlets or so I wan't.
Thanks a lot for any information on this!

Shawn-

Shaun,

I'm guessing that you're overdoing it. It's doubtful your main circuit has enough power to handle all of that. Ovens are generally very high draw. A compressor and welder might not be a problem - depending on the rating of your main box.

Like some of the car questions, it's impossible to provide much help without data, like:

- recommended breaker size for welder, compressor and ovens.
- size of your current box (100 amps?)
- how much of your box is in use now, and do you have an electric clothes dryer, electric oven, electric water heater?

Even if you put in another breaker box, you may not have enough power in the service to handle all you want, and running a whole new service from the street is muy expensive.

I wish I could help on cost, but I was capable of doing my own, so I don't know.

Being married to an electricion, I can tell you that you can have your local power company bring you another line in from the pole unless you can loop off of your existing panel. Then you can install a 200 amp panel which will give you safely three 220 plugs and several 110 which the stoves will run on. Panel, wire, outlets, wirenuts will probly run you $230.00 give or take depending on how much wire you use (12/2 romex)and where you purchse the items. Then add probly a day or two of a pro to install at anywhere from $25.00 an hour to $75.00 an hour depending on your local rates.

What size panel do you have now? If you have a 200 amp panel you can subfeed off it.
Welders have to be 125% of their rated load.Generally 50amp breaker. Compressors vary on hp.
6 receptacles can be run off one 20 amp breaker. I would split it between two 20 amp breakers due to type of tools used in a shop.
Ovens depend on amperage.Generally 125% their rated load. A common household range/oven are on 50 amp breakers. They are considered a non-continuous load, so rating them is different when there is more than one. This applies to figuring what size panel you need.
I wouldn't go smaller than a 125 amp panel.
If you have more info on hp,voltages, amperage,current panel size, shop dimensions, etc. I will figure what you need. And approx what it will cost you. Copper prices are pretty high right now.
I don't have my code book with me right now. My brother has it in the truck.
I am a licensed Journeyman Electrician in Texas. Code is code no matter where you are.

I am going out of town tonight for 11 days. Wiring Wal-Marts, gather your info and pm it to me and I'll get back to you soon as I get back. I'll figure it up and then let you know. I could also use a layout of how you want it for wire length info.

Thanks for the info guy's. I am 99% sure my dad said the breaker box we have now is 200 amps. We have our whole house up to it (of course) and have a washer and dryer, a stove and oven is the 220 and the dryer, etc. My dad said we would need another breaker box because there is no space in the one we have now. I plan to run a 220 welder off it, the 220 oven and later on a compressor with about 7 HP 80gal, etc which will be 220. So for now only those three things. The space I am working at is under the crawl space of my house which is pretty small like 15X15 or so and it's completely on the other side of the house from where the breaker box is.
I am hoping this won't be some 1000 dollar thing because I don't have the money for that and if I can't get this oven hooked up then I will have to sell all my powder coating machine and a bunch of other stuff I bought for it.
Thanks again!

You will need 2 spaces to subfeed your other panel. Unless you plan on having everything on at once you should be fine subfeeding off the exhisting panel. When I get my code book back I can tell you exactly what you will need. Formulas are too many to keep in my head. Plus I been living commercial and residential is a little different when rating panels. If I lived closer I would do it for free, you buy material of course. I like installation for some odd reason.

FMX---Last year I had an electrician come and install one 220 volt outlet in my garage, about 25 foot of cable, and tapped into my 200 Amp service, which fortunately had one open rack left to add the required breaker to. That cost $250. For what you want, especially if a second box has to be added to your 200 amp box, you will easily be over $1000----if you do it yourself and don't have it approved and inspected by the Hydro service provider, then your fire insurance won't cover anything if your house/garage burn down.

I don't know about NC but in Texas the homeowner can make allmost any mods without a permit and being inspected. As long as a contractor is not involved.

Thanks again guy's. Brian, I won't do it myself because of that reason mostly. My dad won't do it because he is busy all the time, etc. He said he had an electrician look at it and he won't do it because the electrician said that powder coating is dangerous and needs to be ventilated. What the hell does an electrician know about powder coating anyways, it's safer than friggen spray painting!

What if my dad is a contractor jramshu?

I'd consider running one 50 amp 220 circuit for the welder and oven. You can use the same outlet for both. Put the oven on casters so you can store it out of the way when you are not using it.

And one 30 amp 220 for your compressor.

If your pannel box is full you may be able to free up the necessary spaces by using "piggy back" breakers. They are available for some types of pannels. Essentially they are two thin breakers in one module that replaces a single regular sized breaker. Freeing up spaces using "piggy back" breakers is almost always cheaper than adding a sub pannel for two or three circuits.

Thanks Bib_Overalls, I will tell my dad your idea and see what he thinks. He said that he will talk to another electrician (even though my dad does this work) but he said he will try and see what he can do because he doesn't wanna mess with this thing right now since he is really busy right now and has a couple huge things he needs to do around the house right now that need to be finished. Next thing I need to do is make me a little ventilation system for above the oven and my spray booth too. That should be fun. I may not even worry about the welder right now because I don't even have a 220 welder but do plan on getting one and thought I may just get all the outlets in right now so I don't have to worry about it. I plan to live with my parent's for one more year, go to a community college and take some more classes, etc and then move somewhere on my own and then I will have to worry about that place, heh.

I can wire 110 and have done a lot but, never worked with anything 220.