Home wiring needs for my new Pro Plasma 50

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11-17-2012, 03:09 PM
Ed the noob

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Home wiring needs for my new Pro Plasma 50

First off Thank you tctop911 for your reviews and videos, they were invaluable in my decision making process. I just received my powerplasma 50 and cannot wait to play! My only hurdle at this point is wiring, i want what is best for my equipment and not burning my house down from an electrical failure would be nice to . What kind of set up do you guys have in terms of breakers and panels? i can wire up the stuff my self i would just like some input from anyone who has similar equipment and some experience. i slapped together a diagram of more or less what i had in mind. Please by all means tear it apart. :)

lincoln 180 dual mig
pro plasma 50
Attachment 8509
11-17-2012, 04:46 PM
acourtjester

What you ask sometimes does not have a simple answer.
Local codes may have effect or wire sizes for current handling.
For a reference you can check the web for wire sizes, lengths, and types to use in house hold electrical system. Make sure you use grounds, neutrals, and power leads as they are in the main box.
I ran a similar system to you diagram, main box on house input, to a sub box in my shop out back.
I ran a single receptacle from my sub box for both mig and plasma as I don’t use the mig and plasma at the same time. My cart has both mounted on it and a 10’ long extension from the cart to the wall receptacle. I set up a parallel receptacle on the cart to plug in the two units. other wiring for the wall receptacles in the shop.
Simple chart
http://www.wattco.net/infopdf/wireguagechart.pdf

Wire type and insulation come into play too.
11-17-2012, 04:53 PM
Rivets

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed the noob

First off Thank you tctop911 for your reviews and videos, they were invaluable in my decision making process. I just received my powerplasma 50 and cannot wait to play! My only hurdle at this point is wiring, i want what is best for my equipment and not burning my house down from an electrical failure would be nice to . What kind of set up do you guys have in terms of breakers and panels? i can wire up the stuff my self i would just like some input from anyone who has similar equipment and some experience. i slapped together a diagram of more or less what i had in mind. Please by all means tear it apart. :)

lincoln 180 dual mig
pro plasma 50
Attachment 8509

Ed,

1- You can't feed two panels from the Main Cable. Your Sub Panel must be fed from the Main Panel. No need for a Main breaker in the Sub Panel.

2- Your diagram seems to indicate two circuits per breaker, for each of your two 230V circuits. Can't do that.

rivets
11-17-2012, 05:25 PM
sportbike

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rivets

Ed,

1- You can't feed two panels from the Main Cable. Your Sub Panel must be fed from the Main Panel. No need for a Main breaker in the Sub Panel.

2- Your diagram seems to indicate two circuits per breaker, for each of your two 230V circuits. Can't do that.

rivets

I believe the boxes he shows the the 230V circuits would be for the wire size rather than showing a separate circuit.
11-17-2012, 06:33 PM
Ed the noob

yes, the main panel is my existing household panel i intend on only adding one subpanel for my garage. I apologize for the crudeness of my drawing i slapped it together at
work with excel the two boxes between the plasma cutter and mig welder are intended for the wire gauge once i figure that out. OMG! it has been a while since i have purchased
electrical wire its sooooooooo damn expensive! :O especially since it looks like im gonna need roughly 80-90 feet of either 4/3 or 2/3 copper wire. I think i just fainted a lil there for a second. :)
11-17-2012, 07:02 PM
Rambozo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed the noob

yes, the main panel is my existing household panel i intend on only adding one subpanel for my garage. I apologize for the crudeness of my drawing i slapped it together at
work with excel the two boxes between the plasma cutter and mig welder are intended for the wire gauge once i figure that out. OMG! it has been a while since i have purchased
electrical wire its sooooooooo damn expensive! :O especially since it looks like im gonna need roughly 80-90 feet of either 4/3 or 2/3 copper wire. I think i just fainted a lil there for a second. :)

Yes, copper has gone crazy. As much as I hate the stuff, you might want to see if aluminum wire is code legal for your application. The run from your main to sub will be at least 4/4 for what you want. You might want to rethink what you need. Is this going to be a fulltime shop or just a hobby for yourself? If your are by yourself, you will only be using one machine at a time and can live with a single 50 amp 240V circuit in your shop.