Hiring an electrician to put in a 240v circuit: worth it?

[DarkFlounder]

I'm currently renting a house with a decent-sized garage, and I expect to be here for the next several years. I'm gonna be purchasing a new MIG welder and possibly a new air compressor in the coming months. However, there is no 240v circuits currently wired anywhere in the house, let alone the garage (the dryer is gas and uses 120v).

Would it be worth the expense to have an electrician run a 240v circuit into the garage? Or should I just deal with 120v air compressors and welders for the time being?

Most of the stuff I'm going to be welding is sheet metal, so I don't need a really hot welder. But my current 2.5hp 10gal 120v HF air compressor can't keep up with a simple angle grinder, let alone a media blaster or paint gun.

[rcrahn]

Just my opinion here. Talk to the owner first to get their OK. If they are willing let them hire the electrician and you offer to pay for it.

[DarkFlounder]

Originally Posted by rcrahn

Just my opinion here. Talk to the owner first to get their OK. If they are willing let them hire the electrician and you offer to pay for it.

Yeah, that's part of the plan. I'm just trying to figure out if it's even worth pursuing at this point.

We're on great terms with the owner, so I don't see it being an issue if I offer to pay for it.

[rcrahn]

As far as the question do you need 240 to work on cars? No, not necessarily.
For example:

Instead of buying huge compressor buy a Milwaukee 18V Impact Wrench. Compact, lightweight with 210 lb-ft torque. Nice to take anywhere too.

Instead of buying huge compressor look into the TP Tools Showtime HVLP 90 turbine painter. Small system runs off 110V and produces show quality results. I own one and love it.

Use a 110V MIG welder for sheet metal. I have an old Miller 130 and it does sheet metal work just fine.

If you need media blasting there's plenty of shops around that will do that work for you. I found a place in SJ that does metal castings and is willing to media blast just about anything. Cabs, truck beds, doors, car bodies, frames, etc....They charge a flat hourly rate.

[ptc]

pm sent

['63GENIII]

Hey DF, most of the DC houses that I have come across have the main panel in the garage already. If you have room in the panel for 2 - 2 pole breakers, it should really be no problem. A lot depends on the type of panel that you have and availability of breakers (some are obsolete). I would definitely run the 240v tools as they draw half the current of the 120v stuff. The 240v tools also lend themselves to having more choices of higher capacities like you said.

If you shoot me a pic of the panel, I could tell if you have room and where to get the breakers.

[bs46488]

I think it would depend on the cost. If its something that your panel can support and its a pretty "easy" fix, I'd vote yes. If its major surgery, panel upgrade and replacement...then you'll be okay in the time being.

My 240v welder and compressor are effortless tools compared to the 120v counterparts they replaced.

[cdowns]

Check to see if you have a 240v service to the house first

[tinydb84]

My neighbor came over and ran everything for me. I paid him $200 bucks. As I watched him I realized I could have done it but since I am afraid of doing electrical it worked out. My advice is if you have enough space then run two outlets. I have a 220 welder and 220 compressor and have to plug and unplug. Not a huge deal but should have wired in two outlets.

[71meangreenc10]

Originally Posted by rcrahn

As far as the question do you need 240 to work on cars? No, not necessarily.
For example:

Instead of buying huge compressor buy a Milwaukee 18V Impact Wrench. Compact, lightweight with 210 lb-ft torque. Nice to take anywhere too.

Instead of buying huge compressor look into the TP Tools Showtime HVLP 90 turbine painter. Small system runs off 110V and produces show quality results. I own one and love it.

Use a 110V MIG welder for sheet metal. I have an old Miller 130 and it does sheet metal work just fine.

If you need media blasting there's plenty of shops around that will do that work for you. I found a place in SJ that does metal castings and is willing to media blast just about anything. Cabs, truck beds, doors, car bodies, frames, etc....They charge a flat hourly rate.

Can you post a pic of the Turbine Painter?

Thanks,

Smitty

[rcrahn]

Originally Posted by 71meangreenc10

Can you post a pic of the Turbine Painter?

Thanks,

Smitty

here's link to specs and pics
http://www.tptools.com/Showtime-90-H....html?b=d*8049

[franken]

Step one is can your service support one or more 240V feeds? What's the age of the house and main breaker rating? Next, where is the service in relation to the place where power will be delivered. That is, is the service in the garage, or as far away as possible like mine...
What do you want to run on 240V? A good compressor needs 30A and if you're far from the service, you may want to use 8AWG cable to reduce losses. Similarly w/ a 20A welder you may run 10AWG. If close use 10 and 12.
While you're pulling wire, you may want to run a dedicated 20A 120V circuit or two.
I used to be an electrician, so I understand, but not everyone does. Electricity can kill you, but we're pretty hard to kill. I seem to recall that ~100mA (.1A) can kill when run through the heart. That said, skin is about 50k resistance, so unless you grab both sides in each hand so current flows through the heart, you'll probably be more scared than dead. 240V/50k=5mA and current has to flow through 2 layers of skin so .25mA. Add sweat and all bets are off.

Bottom line is does the OP understand electricity, wiring techniques, the risks, liability, permits, inspections, etc. of doing it him/herself?

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Have you thought about having a electrician put a pigtail off the panel, and then use a 8 or 10 guage extension cord.

I am in a similar situation since my divorce I am back at moms due to the high cost of rent in the LA area combined with child support. Let's face it I don't want beans or rice till the cows come home. My new career is taking off, but I need a few more years till top pay is in my pocket. Also a with a dog I don't want to go to the pound, and no friends who want to share rent. The choice was made.

So I had my friend put a pig tail on the panel, get me a 100 foot 10 guage cord, and build a drop box. He owes me another favor, but I traded a engine I wouldn't be able to sell easily.

[In The Ten Ring]

I want to wire my garage. It only has 1 outlet which isn't even attached to the wall! I want to have 220 V run so I can get a stick welder for steel and put in several 110 V outlets. In my attic, wires are joined with tape only. It's a mess.

Great suggestions in this thread.

[chip46wis]

Friend---as a former landlord-----any such activity would result in a immediate removal of that tenant---NO1 it is NOT your property----the landlords Insurance may not allow it. If he/she is OK with it go for it but around here the electrician would have to have permission from the landlord exclusively as tenants do NOT have the authority to make changes ect. Just trying to save you legal issues here friend.