I just built a new garage and in the process of running the power. My question how do you guys run power for 2 machines. I have to run 50 amp for welder and was thinking should I run two separate circuits one for welder and one for plasma cutter or just two plugs on same circuit or just one plug and keep changing back and forth. I don't even have a plasma cutter yet but do plan on getting a 220 volt that will cut at least 1/2. The run will be about 60 feet from panel box and plan on running 6-2 wire Thanks
Power for welder and plasma cutter
coalman
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I just built a new garage and in the process of running the power. My question how do you guys run power for 2 machines. I have to run 50 amp for welder and was thinking should I run two separate circuits one for welder and one for plasma cutter or just two plugs on same circuit or just one plug and keep changing back and forth. I don't even have a plasma cutter yet but do plan on getting a 220 volt that will cut at least 1/2. The run will be about 60 feet from panel box and plan on running 6-2 wire Thanks
Use the Plasma and Welder to make a heavy duty box, mount two outlets, one for plasma, one for welder. One man shop will only use one machine at a time. I have been using this one for about 8 or 9 years. Millermatic250 on one outlet, Powermax85 or Powermax45 on the other. Jim Colt Hypertherm
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Dont forget the 240 for air compressor your gonna need for the plasma. The air compressor is going to run when the plasma is running so separate circuit there.
I run 2 separate circuits for welders. One is twist lock the other is dryer type. A third circuit goes to air compressor and forth was originally for mill/drill but has same plug as HYPERTHERM so gets used for plasma. That one is only 15 amps for mill/drill but never had a trip or any problem using for plasma. I plan to add dedicated plasma circuit but need to remodel my garage first.
At one time, I was using the 120 circuit rewired to deliver 240 to compressor. I lifted the neutral from ground bus at sub panel and ran it to its own breaker to get 240 to my compressor. This was temporary for like 3 years. I dont reccomend doing this but it got my compressor going.
I run 2 separate circuits for welders. One is twist lock the other is dryer type. A third circuit goes to air compressor and forth was originally for mill/drill but has same plug as HYPERTHERM so gets used for plasma. That one is only 15 amps for mill/drill but never had a trip or any problem using for plasma. I plan to add dedicated plasma circuit but need to remodel my garage first.
At one time, I was using the 120 circuit rewired to deliver 240 to compressor. I lifted the neutral from ground bus at sub panel and ran it to its own breaker to get 240 to my compressor. This was temporary for like 3 years. I dont reccomend doing this but it got my compressor going.
Run more 240 volt circuits. I have 4, and it's one short half the time..:laugh:
I have plenty of other circuits I ran all 12-3 wire with double plug outlets every 8- 10 feet that way each rec in the box is on different circuit I have 14 plugs outlet on 4 circuits the lights are on there own also compressor is also on its own just wondering about the welder and plasma sitting side by side best way to hard wire it Thanks
Leave them turned on if you are going back and forth. They use very little power when an arc is not struck. My plasma and new mig are inverters and are silent when not being used, so they stay on. My tig and tig cooler have noisy fans so they get shut off if it will be more than a couple minutes until I need them again.
I made a power distribution box from spare parts. Mounted a 50 amp outlet in the wall at the center of the garage and some 6/4 cord and the small breaker box that was removed from my garage when the service was upgraded. I have enough cord to reach every corner of the garage and about 15 feet out in the drive way. I use it to test and work on appliances, pool pumps, compressors, air conditioners and also to power my welders.
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not sure how to fix sideways pic
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I can only use one at a time so usually turn whatever is not being used off. I did have 2 welders running at same time but that was for comparing the two with 6010 and 7018.
The two that always run together are the compressor and plasma obviously. Thats why I brought it up. I didnt think about 220 when I built my place and all 220 in garage was after thought and ran in conduit over course of 20 years..
The extension cord jimcolt showed is what I would do if I didnt already have 4 circuits.
The setup tpumphrey has looks good if you need to expand.
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Coalman,
All the ideas above a great, but each different because each guy needed something different.
I am different still in that I desired all my then owned welders and plasma on one roll around cart....So this is how I fingered out the power problem....I found a ripped out really nice metal box contractors had tossed in trash at work...It was perfect size to contain 3 each 6-50R's....Sucks, in about two hours that sucker was installed on the cart I was building to hold my Mig, Stick and plasma.
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That was two years ago...NOW the cart holds different equipment(upgraded), but I STILL love that 3 outlet gang box!
I installed top quality swivel lock casters on cart and hangers to hold 50' of 6-3 extension cord....I simply unwrap however much extension cord I need from cart and plug it into my only 6-50r in whole shop...I leave all welders and plasma plugged in to gang box on cart....50' of cord allows me to roll cart anywhere in my shop.
I have plenty of 240V outlets in shop, but only that one 6-50r type is required.
You might decide to place the plasma on same cart as welder, so consider my idea.
All the ideas above a great, but each different because each guy needed something different.
I am different still in that I desired all my then owned welders and plasma on one roll around cart....So this is how I fingered out the power problem....I found a ripped out really nice metal box contractors had tossed in trash at work...It was perfect size to contain 3 each 6-50R's....Sucks, in about two hours that sucker was installed on the cart I was building to hold my Mig, Stick and plasma.
That was two years ago...NOW the cart holds different equipment(upgraded), but I STILL love that 3 outlet gang box!
I installed top quality swivel lock casters on cart and hangers to hold 50' of 6-3 extension cord....I simply unwrap however much extension cord I need from cart and plug it into my only 6-50r in whole shop...I leave all welders and plasma plugged in to gang box on cart....50' of cord allows me to roll cart anywhere in my shop.
I have plenty of 240V outlets in shop, but only that one 6-50r type is required.
You might decide to place the plasma on same cart as welder, so consider my idea.
I have one 40 amp 240v circuit with 3 different receptacle configurations. I have only used one at a time. The feed to my garage is 200 amps with 100 amps going underground to the house and the rest distributed throughout the garage to different machines. The main feed goes into a 200 amp fused disconnect before going into the distribution panel.
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