[GlennCMC70]

there is no 220V service in my garage - thats about to change.

i picked up a 250V 30A outlet (3 slots arranged in a circle w/ one looking like a "L") which matches the plug on the welder.
i have a 30A breaker that takes up two slots in the breaker panel for the house (located in the garage!)
i have some new 10 gauge 3 conductor wire (black, white, and green conductors).
snap the breaker in place - make sure its switched off.
install a black and white conductor in one of the two set screw slots in the 30A breaker.
connect the other ends of the black/white to the outlet and the ground to the ground on the back of the outlet and inside the breaker panel (metal box).


to be honest here, the only thing i know about A/C electricity is it can kill you. other than that, i don't know jack. i can replace a bad outlet/socket/switch, but i couldnt wire any 110v circuit from the box to the wall if i had to.

so does the above sound right? i know there should normally be a red wire to use in place of the white, but i've read thats really only required for 4 prong plug/outlets.

looking for the FRAXX guidance here oh wise one's. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

[nape]

As ironic as this is going to sound, I had an electrical issue at the hotel I'm staying at tonight.

I started noticing a "zip zip" or "bzzzt" sound. At first, I thought it was just the hard drive on my laptop which was on the desk and I was sitting on the bed. Then, my laptop went to sleep and I still noticed the sound but it was coming from the direction of the door. After a while, I noticed it seemed to be coming from the wall outlet. Sure enough, I turned off the lights in the room and could see an arc behind the trim plate.

Yet another irony, I left my tool bag in the back of another guy's truck today so I brought them into my room for the night. So, I took off the trim plate and the hot wire on the receptacle is arcing away and melting the recept. I went up to the front and talked to the desk girl (who likes us, 8 guys from the contractor are staying here). I didn't want to move rooms so I offered to fix it for the night.

Anyway, the issue with the wiring is that the lazy (or unknowing) person who wired this place up didn't bother to pig tail the recepts and just decided to hook and go on each side of the recept. The problem with this technique is that it puts the device in series with the circuit and depends on the device to take the load of everything on the circuit, not just what is on that recept. The other issue that I found is that the convenience recepts for the same room number on different floors (ex. 102, 202, 302) share the same circuit. Therefore, there is the opportunity for 3 mini fridges, 3 microwaves, 3 alarm clocks, 9 lamps plus whatever the renter plugs in to be on the same 15A breaker on #14 wire.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I found out the whole place is wired in Romex.

Are you glad that the owner of the building was able to save money building the place now that you know some of what goes on? Strict codes may cost more initially, but piece of mind is worth it in the long run. The same goes for the trained craftsmen that build these buildings and know the codes vs. guys off the street with a pair of wire strippers.

Support your local IBEW Electricians and build Union (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

PS- I used the microwave to make mini pizzas tonight. Tomorrow, I think I'll go to Subway and leave the electrical work at work. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

This post has been edited by nape: Nov 11 2008, 04:24 AM

[TOO Z MAXX]

As ironic as this is going to sound, I had an electrical issue at the hotel I'm staying at tonight.

I started noticing a "zip zip" or "bzzzt" sound. At first, I thought it was just the hard drive on my laptop which was on the desk and I was sitting on the bed. Then, my laptop went to sleep and I still noticed the sound but it was coming from the direction of the door. After a while, I noticed it seemed to be coming from the wall outlet. Sure enough, I turned off the lights in the room and could see an arc behind the trim plate.

Yet another irony, I left my tool bag in the back of another guy's truck today so I brought them into my room for the night. So, I took off the trim plate and the hot wire on the receptacle is arcing away and melting the recept. I went up to the front and talked to the desk girl (who likes us, 8 guys from the contractor are staying here). I didn't want to move rooms so I offered to fix it for the night.

Anyway, the issue with the wiring is that the lazy (or unknowing) person who wired this place up didn't bother to pig tail the recepts and just decided to hook and go on each side of the recept. The problem with this technique is that it puts the device in series with the circuit and depends on the device to take the load of everything on the circuit, not just what is on that recept. The other issue that I found is that the convenience recepts for the same room number on different floors (ex. 102, 202, 302) share the same circuit. Therefore, there is the opportunity for 3 mini fridges, 3 microwaves, 3 alarm clocks, 9 lamps plus whatever the renter plugs in to be on the same 15A breaker on #14 wire.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I found out the whole place is wired in Romex.

Are you glad that the owner of the building was able to save money building the place now that you know some of what goes on? Strict codes may cost more initially, but piece of mind is worth it in the long run. The same goes for the trained craftsmen that build these buildings and know the codes vs. guys off the street with a pair of wire strippers.

Support your local IBEW Electricians and build Union (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

PS- I used the microwave to make mini pizzas tonight. Tomorrow, I think I'll go to Subway and leave the electrical work at work. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

LOL I knew you were a union electrician, you guys all hate romex wire. The city of San Fransisco has some strange rules about romex because the union complained so much. Conduit is the way to go, but nobody is willing to pay for it.

[nape]

LOL I knew you were a union electrician, you guys all hate romex wire. The city of San Fransisco has some strange rules about romex because the union complained so much. Conduit is the way to go, but nobody is willing to pay for it.

I hate Romex, because it's a pain in the ass to add on to in residential. Also, when that solid 14ga wire gets old/brittle and snaps of right as it comes into the box, you're screwed. Time to chop the walls all the way back to the panel or abandon the outlet. I noticed that last night about the hotel I'm staying in. The swipe cards don't work at two of the outside doors. If the problem means new wire, you have to abandon it since no proprietor is going to chop the walls in a hotel for a minor inconvenience like that.

I don't think Romex has any business in Commercial or Industrial work, period. If you run an extension cord on the wall and affix it with the Romex nails, it's illegal because you've just made a temporary product permanent. What makes Romex any better?

No one wants to pay for pipe in new construction because chances are they won't go through an addition or major add-ons while they live there. I can't even imagine doing one with Romex. Good luck pulling new home runs or a sub-panel feed.

People will learn though, especially near cities. The cost of real estate is so high without going 60 miles away that they're going to have no choice but to put on an addition if they want a bigger house. My $.02.

I forgot the 1st commandment of residential re-model work. NEVER BURY A BOX BEHIND ANYTHING! That includes tile, drywall, carpet, wall board, cabinets, etc, etc, etc. I don't want to have to take the tile on your bathroom wall down anymore then you do, so hire people who aren't going to hack it in. Moving the box in the first place is a lot cheaper then tearing down your $5,000 tile wall when your lights don't work.

This post has been edited by nape: Nov 12 2008, 11:49 PM