Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors 2


I haven’t been able to weld since we recently moved about 8 months ago because there are no 220V outlets in the new garage. Read more to see how we ran wires through the finished basement to the other side of the house to run my welder and air compressor!

Since I want to be able to run BOTH my compressor and welder at the same time (plasma cutting) I had a slightly more complicated situation which is why I called an electrician instead of doing it myself. Merry Christmas to me!!

In the spirit of DIY, usually I do these things myself, but this time I wanted to make sure it was done right. So I called up Enlighten Electric here in Shawnee Kansas to come hook it up for me. No I don’t get anything for mentioning them here, I just like to recommend people and products that work well! Check them out if you are in Johnson or Wyandotte county area of Kansas!

http://www.enlightenelectrickc.com/

Troy at Enlighten quoted me two different ways. The first way was just to run two separate 30 amp 220 wires. While that would have worked and was the cheapest way, I know I will be building a shop eventually on this side of the house. After talking through it with Troy, we ended up deciding to run a single large 100 amp 220 wire to a sub-panel then have two breakers within it, one for the compressor and the other for the welder. I did it this way so I can eventually hook into the sub panel and use it as a junction box to run 100 amp service out to the future shop without having to redo any other wiring.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

The finished basement was one of the biggest reasons I contacted an electrician instead of trying to do it by myself.

In the pic above you can see the black frame with Sam’s paintings on it. The breaker box is behind it, and this HUGE 100 amp wire had to go from there up over the ceiling by the can lights to the other side of the basement.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

To get the wire up and over they were able to remove the two can lights you see here to help maneuver the wire up and over.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

It then snakes along the main beam of the house (there was nowhere else to get across) to the other side where the basement is unfinished.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

The wire goes overhead until it drops down to the sub-panel you see on the right.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

There is one drop in the basement for the compressor. I put the compressor in the basement to isolate the noise and save space in the garage.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

Once I build a shop in the yard on the outside of this wall, I will just remove the two 220 plugs and use this sub panel as a junction box to continue the 100A wire out to the new shop. I was trying to set this up with future expansion in mind.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

From the box, there is conduit going up then a wire going through the wall into the garage.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

Once into the garage it goes into a junction box then through conduit up to the dryer style 220V plug.

Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

YAY!! I can weld again!!!!!!!!

Next up, I need to figure out how to get the compressed air up to the garage. In my last house it was a much shorter run (but still from the basement to the garage), so I just popped a hole in the wall and ran flexible hose down to the compressor. This time I want to do it correctly so I have been looking at some Rapid-Air and Maxline systems, but haven’t made my mind up yet. Stay tuned for an article on it!!

 

 


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2 thoughts on “Running 220V to Garage for Welders and Compressors

  • Asif

    Hi Paul,
    I brought an air compressor from The product link given by you. It was very good and worked well. Thank you for sharing such an informative experience.

  • John

    Hi Paul! This article was extremely helpful. I must say that the wiring is so nicely done. Just to be sure, after putting the air compressor in the basement, is it completely noise proof or is there still some sound and how disturbing is that? thanks!