Power Arc 140ST

[undercut]

what type of plug do you have for your dryer , and wears your fuse breaker panel box since some time dryer outlet are not high enough run a welder since most dryer outlet are only 30 amps in new homes

I'm going to need to pull the dryer out a bit to see the plug. 30 amps should be good if I get the 140st. Tempted to look at the 160 which might be a bit out of my reach. Given the typical rod sizes and the size of the beads I might weld, 30 amps should be good.

[Rivets]

Ah, and then install a thin 220v breaker along side the existing 120v breaker in the garage. I don't know the gauge of the wire as I'd have to pull the cover off to take a look but unfortunately, the garage breaker at the main box says 15A so that doesn't look promising. It may take me a bit to move everything away from the front of the garage breaker box so that I can get at it. What gauge am I looking for?

You can't install the thin double breaker along side the existing one. That would give you zero volts at the outlet.
You need to straddle the two panel legs with the thin double breaker for 220 volts.

Then two single breakers, one on either side of the double, for two 110 volt outlets.

12 gauge wire would be nice. It would allow you to install 20 amp breakers all around.

My guess is that it's 14 gauge; if so you're limited to 15 amps all around. You can find out from the main panel if it's more convenient.

For your welder, 15 amps at 220 volts is definitely better than 15 amps at 110 volts, although you still won't be able to get the max rated output.

HTH,
rivets

[Rodsmachineshop]

no it has to be center and the breaker in it removed and 1 thin on each side of the new thin 220 center , what get my brother that a electrical contractor is why the install these boxes since a 8 box is like only 20 bucks more . also when he installs wire in new homes he will only install the main box in the garage if they have a garage or out side if the house has no garage , box is better out side so firemen have access to shut power off if a house is on fire . and by code in California 10 is the smallest you can use for a 30 amp dryer outlet house wiring

[Rodsmachineshop]

looking at picture also it amazes me how lazy dry wall guys are when doing a clean job would of only took him a couple of extra minutes to clean around box cover when doing around the box

[undercut]

looking at picture also it amazes me how lazy dry wall guys are when doing a clean job would of only took him a couple of extra minutes to clean around box cover when doing around the box

Yeah. A lot of things in this house they could have done better with very little effort or expense .... *sigh* didn't have a lot options.

[Rodsmachineshop]

my brother said if that box is wired rite it will be a 35 to 70 amp box depends on what size wire the laded when installing sub d box . it should say on out side or inside cover what rated box it is . when he dose a sub box he always run 6 gauge so if they have a large 220 water heater the wiring will handle it

[Brian Ski]

Ah, and then install a thin 220v breaker along side the existing 120v breaker in the garage. I don't know the gauge of the wire as I'd have to pull the cover off to take a look but unfortunately, the garage breaker at the main box says 15A so that doesn't look promising. It may take me a bit to move everything away from the front of the garage breaker box so that I can get at it. What gauge am I looking for?

14 ga is for 15 amp
12 ga is for 20 amp
10 ga is for 30 amp

The problem you will run into, is if you go by the code book you need 10 gauge 3 wire plus ground. You more than likely do not have the 3 wire let alone the 10 ga wire. So you are back to running a new wire.

At the same time I would upgrade the little box into something nicer... Sounds good but the cost keeps going up.

[undercut]

14 ga is for 15 amp
12 ga is for 20 amp
10 ga is for 30 amp

The problem you will run into, is if you go by the code book you need 10 gauge 3 wire plus ground. You more than likely do not have the 3 wire let alone the 10 ga wire. So you are back to running a new wire.

At the same time I would upgrade the little box into something nicer... Sounds good but the cost keeps going up.

Even if I run new wire into the garage, put in the 220v service and receptacle, I would probably need a 25 - 30 foot extension cable to get it outside where I would want to weld. I'll go 50 foot from the dryer receptacle and call it a day. Learned a lot and that pretty much galvanizes the decision with no second thoughts!