Electrical info needed

[Blaze]

Thanks guys, I did not know there was an outlet on the back of the 250EX. Sweet! I plan on getting a couple quotes from electricians ( i figure they can get the materials cheaper). But if it is way to expensive, I'll run the wiring myself and have one of my buddies that knows how to hook everything up apply the power.

[Brian Ski]

But if it is way to expensive, I'll run the wiring myself and have one of my buddies that knows how to hook everything up apply the power.

That is the way to do it... Not to complicated, but you want it done right... BTW If you run the cable make sure it is plenty long enough. It is sure a lot of grief to end up several inches short of making it to the other side of the box.

[MoparCar]

I'm an licensed electrician (now a project manager, not a field working electrician) and pretty much so everything Brian said is correct. If you go through the trouble of putting in larger power make sure you spring for a nice sub panel in the work area. It's so much easier to wire outlets, air compressors, blast cabinets, etc. with a sub panel. Most residential panels will limit you to a 100 amp or maybe 125 amp branch circuit breaker depending on the brand. . If you can install a 100 amp breaker in your house panel to feed a 100 amp panel in your garage you'll like that as your equipment grows. Most items are never running at the same time so it will run a lot of items in your garage without problem for a hobby fabricator. Also if it's in your budget install a couple of different 50 amp welder outlets of the same circuit to maximize versatility with little added cost. Again you will probably never have two welders running at the same time. Remember to make your 120 volt outlets GFCI for safety---it's worth the extra money for the safety factor.

[Blaze]

Been 2 years but finally getting my 250Ex with Cooler, Mig 250 with aluminium spool gun and Plasma 60 coming. Need to check with you all about the size of breakers to install in my panel. The Plasma 60 states 50a max in rush. The 250Ex states 45. The Mig 250 states 40. So I'm thinking I need two 50 amp breakers and one 40 amp breaker to install 240 outlets. Is this correct? These will be in a 200 amp panel dedicated to my shop.

[TheGary]

Personally I would go with all 50 amp breakers. That way you can move any one of them to where ever you want to. If you are a one man shop you could just put them all on one breaker with multiple outlets because only one would be used at a time. If you think you will have another person working in your shop then go with 3 full circuits. I work alone and my whole shop is run off a 60 amp circuit to my garage with a sub pannel in the garage to branch off to the machines. I have never poped my 60 amp breaker. I work alone so only one major tool is run at any one time. I have been in my shop for 20 years with no problem other than the lights dimming in the house for a second when the 5hp compressor kicks in.

[Blaze]

TheGary,
Thanks for responding. To double check. If I used a 50 amp breaker for my Mig 250 that states max in rush 40 amps, would a 40-50 amp charge fry my Mig 250?

[everlastsupport]

No, you need to have a bigger breaker than the highest amps post on the welder. The extra amps hurt nothing and are good to have actually.

[TheGary]

TheGary,
Thanks for responding. To double check. If I used a 50 amp breaker for my Mig 250 that states max in rush 40 amps, would a 40-50 amp charge fry my Mig 250?

There would be no damage to your mig. It will only draw the amount of current the welder demands. The breaker is there to protect the wire , you always want a larger breaker than the expected current draw. If you have 200 amps available you must have a totally separate electrical service to your shop. If you are a one man shop you will never get close to that much electrical draw.

[Blaze]

Thank you for your time! I appreciate it!