building a gargage
 

k my parent are building a gargage at our lake house on lake anna and i will be liveing there when i graduat from hight school and working so the quetion it since it new what ampreage plugs should i get

Re: building a gargage
 

It depends on a few things. I'm an electrician in PA, so i don't know what your codes are out there. Will the garage have it's own service? Or will it have a sub-panel off of a house? If so, what size Main panel is on the house? Usually i do garages in 12/2 wire with 20 amp outlets for normal stuff like grinders, drills and crap like that matched to a 20 amp breaker. Depending on how many outlets you have decides on how many 20 amp breakers you use. For welders and stuff like that i usually run 30 amp outlets for migs, and 50-60 amp outlets for stick and tig welders. Garage usually has either a 100 amp main, or a 100 amp sub-panel on a disconnect. Only 15 amp circuits that i do in a garage are for lighting only. But check local codes and such first to make sure of everything.

Re: building a gargage
 

the builder saided i can get 220volts out there and 120 or both im going with both so he says amp as many as i like or some thing like that

Re: building a gargage
 

good to see another electricain on the boards...im in WA state.

as stated above, 20amp breakers for regular 20 amp plugs, not sure what else your gunna have in your garage...id go with a 30 or 40 amp breaker if your gunna plasma gun, or whatever along those lines. soo basically whatever slow crx said

Re: building a gargage
 

both is adviseable. 220 is the sex.

Re: building a gargage
 

im thinking like for the 220 100 amp and a few for the 120 90 amp

Re: building a gargage
 

you probablly know this, but make sure that the wire gauge size is the right size for the braker size. Its not just the braker you have to worry about. And that will change the price, since thicker wire is more expensive.

but I would bite the bullet and get the bigger suff that way you have no worries.

I was looking at redoing my garage, but I have to do all the wires if I have to do bigger brakers.

Re: building a gargage
 

the contracter is doing it all man

Re: building a gargage
 

If you have 220, you will also have 110 there. In other words, 110v power is one "leg" and 220 is 2. Another way of looking at this is that if you look at your dryer plug, it has 3 prongs. You could put a wire in one of them, and one in the ground slot, and run your average radio off of it. However, if you put the two wires in the two "legs" and none in the ground slot, you will get 220v and blow up your radio.

When looking at the amperage availability you need, consider what welding machine you will be using. Some of the older transformer types may need a 100amp or more breaker. A newer inverter based machine will use a lot less amperage. Odds are, a 125amp box in the garage will suit you fine. If the wiring is put underground to it, I'd make sure that the wire is able to handle a higher load down the road, in case you decide to upgrade the box or add in another one.

SOmetimes the home improvement stores will offer better deals for buying the breaker box with breakers in them, rather than buying them individually...the price difference can be pretty big. If my memory serves me right, a 125amp breaker (not the box, just the one breaker) is something like $50-65 alone.

Re: building a gargage
 

not sure what the money situiation is for you/your parents, but if the money situation is good, meaning you have no worries about money trouble, id just get have your local electric company(PUD) whatever yours might be called and have them pull a brand new service. not sure of what your ampres are at the house right now, but say you have a 200ampre service for your house, have them pull a 400 amm for the house/garage. get ---- done right, you wanna get what you can while you have the choice.

and when you say garage, im thinking shop, like 2000 sq foot, not some dinkey 500sq foot garage.

whatevers clever

Re: building a gargage
 

Have a steel I beam incorparated so you can use a over head hoist for pulling motors.It make engine swaps much nicer and although the cost of steel has risen dramatically it wont ass alot of cost to a new structure.

Re: building a gargage
 

its 25 x 28 with living room up top and bathroom bed room small kichtin so i will be living there when i get a good job

Re: building a gargage
 

I'd say stay in high school and take english/grammar again to learn how to spell or talk first before anything

Re: building a gargage
 

Are you sure you're gonna gradiate?

Re: building a gargage
 

---- all lol

Re: building a gargage
 

lmao, just ------ with ya. More than likely plans for a 220 are already there since it's a garage and most people put their washer/dryer sometimes a fridge and stove in there as well. If not then ask/suggest it. Are you sure they're going to let you weld and crap in there anyways?

Re: building a gargage
 

hell ya they are

Re: building a gargage
 

Any time a service or disconnect is added into a building, there is 220 (or 240 in PA). The 3 lines you see running from a pole to your house/garage consist of 2 110 (120) volt legs, and a ground. Even on disconnects running from your house to a garage have 220 (240). Usually the disconnect from the house will be a 100amp 2 pole breaker (2 pole meaning 2 110v legs), and also a 100 amp 2 pole breaker at the disconnect in your garage. Either way, you'll have all the power you need. Most older houses still run an entire house off of a 100 amp main. If it can handle the draw of a house, a garage is no problem, even with a welder. Just tell your contractor to make arrangements for an outlet for a welder, and he should be able to take care of the rest if he really knows what he is doing. Another thing not to forget is to make arrangments for heat as well, whether it's some type of gas or electric. Trust me on this one, especially if you have cold winters at all. And insulate insulate insulate...can never have too much insulation in any building. Keeps them cool in the summer, and hot in the winter. Good luck with everything!