At 06:36 PM 12/30/97 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm going to be bringing in an electrician to upgrade my circuitry in
>the garage so I can use a portable heater and lights while I screw
>up.......er ...........work on my MGA this Winter.
>
>Is it logical/reasonable/cost-effective to move to 220V in the garage
>while I'm at it?
>
>Thanks,
>Bob Gaughan
Bob,
A lot depends on your specific layout. In general 220 is a good thing, dual
voltage motors will start better on 220 but it's NOT TRUE that they're any
cheaper to run at any one voltage over another. Same applies to space
heaters, they're rated in watts and watts are what you buy whether at 12 or
600 volts. The advantage of higher voltage devices is in the reduced size of
the wire needed to feed them. The advantages of 220 over 110 are that branch
circuit wiring can be smaller and therefore cheaper, motors start better
(which is an advantage for high torque loads like table saws and
compressors), and motors tend to run a little cooler but this difference is
negligible.
If your going to have a sub panel installed for your workshop area then by
all means install 220, the panel costs the same, the feeder can be smaller
for a given load, and then you'll have the option for 220 in your shop
later. If you're simply adding some extra circuits then you have to figure
whether or not you need the 220 now. If all you want is a little more
lighting and another receptacle or two then it makes no sense to pay for a
complete sub-panel installation. Depending on you circuit load and local
codes you may be able to add them to an existing circuit for very little
cost. If it were me and I was adding NEW circuits to my garage I'd probably
add the wiring for a 220 volt circuit, that's the hard part. Later if I
found a nice 220 welder or compressor it would just be a matter of
installing a double pole breaker and the appropriate receptacle and hooking
up at either end. As far as cost effective goes, well, you have to ask
yourself if you've a need for 220 now or in the near future and then find
out what your electrician will charge to install it.
For any indepth answer you'd have to give a pretty good description of the
work you plan to have done: where your panel is in relation to the garage,
how many circuits are you going to add, how big is your existing service
panel, what do you see being added to the load in the garage etc.
Best way is to find a tradesman you can really trust, show him what you want
done and then ask HIM if it's cost effective to add 220. Then get another
quote (or two).
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