Gas genie for tig welder

[BenDover]

What kind of gas generator would I need to power for this tig welder? http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html

Im about to build a shed and don't know if its cost effective to use generator or wire it to the house electicity. Think it would piss the neighbors off hear the generator running since all them are so loud.

[DSW]

The link says it needs a 30 amp 230v circuit. That would mean a 7 KW gen set maxed out to run that machine under perfect conditions. I'd want at least a 10 KW genset to allow for losses in efficiency and to keep from bogging down the genset. Note some gensets don't make power that's clean enough for some electronic components like computers. That tig machine you show is an inverter and has a lot of electronics.

I'd opt for house power vs a genset myself. You will want power for lights, fans, AC, power tools etc anyways. I'd pull at least 50 amps of 230v power minimum and I wouldn't go lower than 100 amps myself.

[Broccoli1]

House power for sure.

You can get way with 50amps as a one man shop but if you have room in the Main panel 100amps for the sub would be better.

[BenDover]

The shed I want to build are the one from Tuff shed. I want to get insulated but dont know if Im able to get the wired up. My house is old like 60s(?) and dont know if the panel would accept the new wiring unless they going to install one in the shed? Appreciate the replys guys, Im such a noob a electrical.

[Broccoli1]

Hmmm...

Tough call but you still need power for the shed and a genset isn't really the way to go- like you said they are not quiet and the ones that are quiet cost $$$$

Are you building the shed or are you having a Tough shed contractor build it?

Most cities require a permit for anything over 100 sq/ft

The electrical will also need a permit.

Iffin' you want to deal with permits.

I would call an electrician or two and have them come out and give you a guestimate on running a Sub panel to the future shed. They'll at least be able to look at your existing panel and give an answer/solution- might not be what you want to hear but at least you'll have a starting point.

[farmall]

"House" power need not come from the house!

I got a separate service on a pole with 220 and 110 outlets on the pole, which facilitated building my shop, which was then fitted with a subpanel fed by that pole. Outdoor outlets remain as a very convenient bonus. Also got a security light on the same pole so that area of yard stays illuminated.

[BenDover]

Home depot carries the tuff shed and also deliver/install from what I understand. About the permit for the shed, we have a existing one since we lived here. So its OK to replace it without one? Talked to a guy who said running the wiring underground thats if are panel will accept it. Really dont want to tear up concrete patio that we just refinish. Can't the power come from the pole down?

[DSW]

Depends on where you live. We have to get a permit even if we are replacing an existing shed where I live ( not that everyone does). If you want to roll the dice and play with the township, go ahead. Keep in mind they are never wrong ( in their eyes) and have unlimited funds to fight with you. They get paid to waste your time and fight with you in court, even if it takes years to resolve. In general if you do fight, keep in mind no matter what it's supposed to be, you are guilty until you prove you are innocent when you fight this sort of stuff. Been there, done that. It's no fun at all and even if you win, you usually loose. My fight ended up costing me at least $7K in lost work to "win" and I didn't have any choice but to fight them.

As far as power, again it all depends on what the regs are where you live. At the house/shop I rent, we can have power run to the buildings overhead. AT my place they won't allow that even though power comes to the house itself over head for some reason. We have to run power underground.

[Broccoli1]

permits for things like sheds usually depend on your neighbor's nose

Actually it is/could be as DSW stated- law may require permit but something like a shed may go under the radar unless your neighbor likes to stick their nose in your business.

and iffin' the city does come by to take a looksee and you build w/o permit then you have to tear it down and start over with a permit. They may allow for an inspection after and not make you tear it down.

My buddy out here got nailed for a deck- 6" off the ground but the sq./ft was over a 100 and they made him tear it all down- even though it was built to code


Anyhoo- regardless of permits I still recommend running power to the shed since you seem to be wanting to weld quite a bit- you're investing in a Tig machine right?

You can make a clean cut through the concrete driveway, burry the wires and then pour new concrete in the trench. If you are worried about the look stamp a pattern in the new concrete to make it look like it was an intentional arteeeestic addition to the driveway.

Honestly- I would build the shed myself - those Tuff sheds are $$ I think a 10x10 is almost $3,500.00

You have the aptitude to weld... might as well swing a hammer and save a BUNCH of cash- put the savings in to running the power.

I imagine there's free plans out there for sheds and I know they have those books at the check out area for about $25.00

[ccawgc]

Best thing to do about permits is to go down to you local building dept. And ask questions.
Are they required and what is the price. If you build it your self, the plans may have to be approved by them and stamped by an engineer.
Also ask about repairing the old shed. If permits are required. In some cases if you leave at least one wall and replace everything else it is still a repair. Just find out what your local rules are and stay out of trouble.

[zipzit]

A couple of questions...
1) are there any extra slots available on your house circuit breaker box? You don't have to take the whole cover off, just open the door. If you see metal breakout tabs where circuit breakers go, you've got extra slots available. If unsure, take a photo, post it here.
2) Can you get to both sides of the patio where you want to run the wires across, or is the concrete poured right up against the house?.. If you can get to both sides of the patio, you can dig hole, use water hose and pvc pipe to 'drill' an access under your patio.. It makes mud pies, but it will work. Obviously that won't work if patio is up against the house. hmmm.. a general sketch of the house, patio, shed locations would help. Have you heard of Microsoft Paint.. its a pretty simple program.. you can draw lines, boxes, circles, save as xxxx.jpg, upload to this web site.

You will be way better served with 120/240v in the shed from the house.. You will need TWO available slots on the breakout box.

And the recommendation to talk to the city/county building department about new or rebuild on the shed is the best way to proceed.

[BenDover]

Originally Posted by zipzit

A couple of questions...
1) are there any extra slots available on your house circuit breaker box? You don't have to take the whole cover off, just open the door. If you see metal breakout tabs where circuit breakers go, you've got extra slots available. If unsure, take a photo, post it here.
2) Can you get to both sides of the patio where you want to run the wires across, or is the concrete poured right up against the house?.. If you can get to both sides of the patio, you can dig hole, use water hose and pvc pipe to 'drill' an access under your patio.. It makes mud pies, but it will work. Obviously that won't work if patio is up against the house. hmmm.. a general sketch of the house, patio, shed locations would help. Have you heard of Microsoft Paint.. its a pretty simple program.. you can draw lines, boxes, circles, save as xxxx.jpg, upload to this web site.

You will be way better served with 120/240v in the shed from the house.. You will need TWO available slots on the breakout box.

And the recommendation to talk to the city/county building department about new or rebuild on the shed is the best way to proceed.

Update- The city told me Im need a permit to replace my shed even though it under 100sp ft.

I checked the breaker box inside the house, there's no empty space in the panel.
Also the patio is poured right against the house so thats more bad news.

There goes my chance for having a welding space at the house. Just tempts me to just build everything without a permit but the risk but getting fined is not worth time/money. Even though its ghetto around here and I see bunch of shed built here around my house.(pretty sure they have no permits) This just plain SUCKS, all I want is a place to weld.