2x72 grinder 220v to 110v

A generator would work but by the time you paid for it and combined that with fuel cost I’d probably work towards a more permanent option. I think someone mentioned the OP digging the trench themselves. That alone should drop the install price significantly. Honestly the electrician would probably appreciate not having to fool with that anyway. I’d talk to them and see how deep/wide it needs to be and see what that would knock off of the cost.

I have 3 different 220v outlets in my shop. Each are different amps for the different machines I plug into them. Each have different plug shapes so you have to plug machines into the correct amp circuit. I want things to trip if something goes wrong.
 
I agree that digging a trench is not a problem for most folks. The type of soil/terrain may change that if it is rocky or on bedrock. Distance is also a factor. I dug the trenches for the power to the shop (about 80 feet) and all the trenches for the sprinkler system by hand easily. It only took a couple hours to dig the trench to the shop. But, I live in Tidewater VA, so it is about 6" of the grass, then 6" of subsoil, then sandy soil. Finding a rock is a rarity unless it was part of the fill in grading the lot.

I ran 2/0 wires down 2" PVC conduit, buried 18" in the ground. I was 70 when I did that.

As far as a generator, he will only run it when needing 220VAC - grinding, welding, HT oven. He already has 110VAC for lights and most other tools. I don't recall if the OP said what the amperage of the breaker box in the shop currently is.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I agree that digging a trench is not a problem for most folks. The type of soil/terrain may change that if it is rocky or on bedrock. Distance is also a factor. I dug the trenches for the power to the shop (about 80 feet) and all the trenches for the sprinkler system by hand easily. It only took a couple hours to dig the trench to the shop. But, I live in Tidewater VA, so it is about 6" of the grass, then 6" of subsoil, then sandy soil. Finding a rock is a rarity unless it was part of the fill in grading the lot.

I ran 2/0 wires down 2" PVC conduit, buried 18" in the ground. I was 70 when I did that.

As far as a generator, he will only run it when needing 220VAC - grinding, welding, HT oven. He already has 110VAC for lights and most other tools. I don't recall if the OP said what the amperage of the breaker box in the shop currently is.
Click to expand...
I don’t disagree with anything you’re saying. I just think a permanent 220 source gives you more flexibility and less hassle over time. I live on a mountain so digging is a little difficult but I have a big strapping 15 year old for that.

My breaker box is in the corner next to a garage door so I just have 3 outlets mounted to the box and I put longer extension cords on my machines as needed. Since my shop is attached to the house, all heat treating and welding is done outside, everything gets unplugged, and the breakers get shut off at the end of the day.
 
It’s hard to kind of give advice here without any pictures of what you have there but $3000.00 definitely sounds overpriced, unless that electrician was figuring in up grading your main panel at your house as part of the job.
 
ScarFoot said:
I don’t disagree with anything you’re saying. I just think a permanent 220 source gives you more flexibility and less hassle over time. I live on a mountain so digging is a little difficult but I have a big strapping 15 year old for that.

My breaker box is in the corner next to a garage door so I just have 3 outlets mounted to the box and I put longer extension cords on my machines as needed. Since my shop is attached to the house, all heat treating and welding is done outside, everything gets unplugged, and the breakers get shut off at the end of the day.
Click to expand...
About turning off your breaker to the garage at the end of the day.

I have my own house now and the garage is attached to the house. Our breaker is located inside the house. I only have 2 20amp circuits going to the garage. I haven’t gotten to run my welder or HT kiln (both 120) in the garage yet. If I’m only doing 1-2 blades in a given month (sometimes longer) should I worry about cutting power to my garage after I’m done for safety? Or am I find just unplugging everything as usual when I’m done?

I’m currently saving money to have a second panel put in the garage for my equipment. I don’t feel comfortable using the welder without having a dedicated outlet for it close to the panel. But for the kiln I’m going to be using that soon, it’s a 120v event heat 22.5.
 
running bird said:
About turning off your breaker to the garage at the end of the day.

I have my own house now and the garage is attached to the house. Our breaker is located inside the house. I only have 2 20amp circuits going to the garage. I haven’t gotten to run my welder or HT kiln (both 120) in the garage yet. If I’m only doing 1-2 blades in a given month (sometimes longer) should I worry about cutting power to my garage after I’m done for safety? Or am I find just unplugging everything as usual when I’m done?

I’m currently saving money to have a second panel put in the garage for my equipment. I don’t feel comfortable using the welder without having a dedicated outlet for it close to the panel. But for the kiln I’m going to be using that soon, it’s a 120v event heat 22.5.
Click to expand...
I’m only cutting off the breakers to the shop equipment and that’s mainly due to my own paranoia. The main thing with any circuit is that everything is sized to trip when it needs to. Breakers are mainly protecting the wiring from overheating and catching on fire. If I’m getting a new piece of 220 equipment I always look at the specs to see how many amps it pulls. I don’t want to hook a piece of equipment that only needs 20 amps to a 50 amp breaker. If something goes wrong that breaker won’t trip until it burns up enough stuff to cause a dead short. When I’m heat treating I’m mainly concerned about what would happen if something goes wrong during an oil quench. I always do that outside where the concrete is sloping away.

I’ve also got a higher amp 110 circuit for larger power tools and stuff. That’s what everything on the bench is hooked to. The regular 110 circuits stay energized all the time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top