adding 220v plug in garage: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Oct. 28, 2011 11:01 p.m. donalson SuperDork

I'm going to be in this house for a while and would like to add 220v plug to the garage...

as it stands in order to weld I have to run the cable though the garage door and plug into the dryer... not the end of the world but i'd rather not have to keep the door cracked for that HUGEly thick extension cable...

as it stands we've got the circuit breaker panel in the garage... but I'm uncertain if I can add 220 with it... or what i'll need

right now i'm just looking to see if I can... or what I'll need for down the road...

thanks guys :) mark
Oct. 28, 2011 11:18 p.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

If its wired with a box like that, chances are you've got both 110 legs in there- pop the cover and see if there are two wires coming in, each feeding alternate breakers. If so, you are golden. Plug a double pole breaker in with one pole on each leg, you got 220.

Providing the garage is fed off a big enough breaker in the house.
Oct. 28, 2011 11:35 p.m. oldopelguy Dork

You will need a 220 breaker just like the second one from the top on the left, and a double breaker like the ones on the bottom on the left. The third breaker down on the left will be replaced with the double, one side for the wire that's there and the other side for the wire from the top breaker on the left.

That should leave you with enough room in the panel on top left for your new 220 breaker, you will just have to pop the one blank out of the cover.

This assumes neither of the singles on the left are GFCI and their ratings are close enough to the same that one rating ill work for both.

Now wiring in the outlet without tearing up your sheet rock....