everlight44 Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 Anyone have an electrician they recommend? I'd like to add a 240v outlet. The fuse box is in the garage with open slots. I know how to wire in 240v (double fuse, 2 hot wires, one ground), but there is no main power switch to turn off the fuse box. I think that the main power off switch is not required since it is not indoors, and it does not strike me as a good idea to work on any kind of live wires. As far as I care the 240v outlet can be right next to the fuse box in order to require minimal drywall / cable routing. Thank you, Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 Fuse box? Not breakers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everlight44 Posted May 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 Breakers... sorry said the wrong thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 I find it hard to beleive there isn't a way to turn off the whole box, but wiring to it with it on isn't that bad just don't touch the hot parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 I find it hard to beleive there isn't a way to turn off the whole box, but wiring to it with it on isn't that bad just don't touch the hot parts. Or pull the meter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everlight44 Posted May 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 I pulled whole cover off yesterday and there was no switch. Maybe I'll wait for the next power outage then just slap the breaker in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmrmnhrm Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 The breaker feeding the garage panel should be in your main panel (probably in the basement). It'll be a two-pole breaker, likely 30, 50, or 60 amps. Since you're already going to be in there, adding a service disconnect just in front of the garage panel wouldn't be a bad idea, and isn't particularly expensive, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck531 Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 Mine in the garage is the same way. I have some push button box. Also, there are two lines coming off the bottom of my meter. If I cut power to the house with the main breaker in the basement, the garage power stays on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 Breakers... sorry said the wrong thing. If you are comfortable, wire in the circuit to the breaker out of the box, keep the breaker turned off, pop it in the box and turn it on. Bam, no need to turn the main off. I do it this way all the time if I can't get the main off or don't want to interrupt service. I find it hard to beleive there isn't a way to turn off the whole box, but wiring to it with it on isn't that bad just don't touch the hot parts. Yeah, it has to be fed from somewhere, just need to find where it's fed from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadz89GTA Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 Just trip the main and see where it's at in the main panel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zx2guy19 Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 Michael flory. 6146747468 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 This thread is full of win/lols. RIP everlight44 - we hardly knew ye. Tombstone will read "novice shadetree electrician" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 I rewired multiple houses without calling to have the meter pulled. Didn't feel like waiting around for their 7-10 day window to cut, then another 7-10 days to restore service. Insulated ladder, electrician gloves and common sense FTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 I rewired multiple houses without calling to have the meter pulled. Didn't feel like waiting around for their 7-10 day window to cut, then another 7-10 days to restore service. Insulated ladder, electrician gloves and common sense FTW. My dad (a journeyman electrican at one time, now in sales) pulled the meter himself when wiring my uncle's generator. He had full arc flash gear on, but no issues :fuckyeah: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 My dad (a journeyman electrican at one time, now in sales) pulled the meter himself when wiring my uncle's generator. He had full arc flash gear on, but no issues :fuckyeah: Yeah, if you know what you are doing and have the proper gear, its no big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everlight44 Posted May 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 This thread is full of win/lols. RIP everlight44 - we hardly knew ye. Tombstone will read "novice shadetree electrician" Indeed, negating the possibility of shocking myself would be ideal. I searched nearby rooms looking for a main box but did not locate any. We are in a condo so perhaps it is shared somewhere... quite inconvenient. My other option is to borrow the dryer outlet that is just inside the door to the house, but the type of outlet is different (angled plugs vs. horizontal) Thanks for the replies. My little welder won't show up for a little while so I have some time to wire in the outlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zx2guy19 Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 Dude call Michael lol. He's weird as fuck but a killer electrician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 Dude call Michael lol. He's weird as fuck but a killer electrician. Yeah, if you don't know what you are doing, call someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWill Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 ......... My other option is to borrow the dryer outlet that is just inside the door to the house, but the type of outlet is different (angled plugs vs. horizontal)....... You can just make an extension cord with the two different plugs if you want to go that route. Or cut the plug off the welder and put on an angled one if the cord is long enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SloSVTruck Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 Explain this to me a little more...... your in a condo right? It has a detached garage that goes with this condo? And the garage has its own electrical panel in it? Is there multiple garages attached to yours or is it stand alone? Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everlight44 Posted May 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 You can just make an extension cord with the two different plugs if you want to go that route. Or cut the plug off the welder and put on an angled one if the cord is long enough. This may be what I wind up doing. Thank you Our condo has an attached garage and is connected to 3 other condos. I'm unsure where any kind of main breaker box would be, as it is not in our condo anywhere. Here's a picture of the inside in case there is something I am missing. http://i.imgur.com/AqmGrMq.jpg?1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 I am not an electrician, I just play one while I'm in my own house. That is a main lug panel. You must have a service disconnect somewhere; most panels have the service disconnect built in i.e. main breaker. The service disconnect is probably built into the meter box. If the service line runs more than a certain distance in the building, there must be a service disconnect outside; the usually 'rule' is 5 feet. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/6147ZwXpx7L._SL1500_.jpg There is probably a place the power comes to your set of condos and there is a bigger version of that with 4 meters and 4 disconnects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SloSVTruck Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 So thats the panel you are trying to shut off??? More than likely the main breaker is at the end of the building on a meter pack (a bank of meters for all the units) your number should be on one of the breakers. Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SloSVTruck Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/419d40336e4fd1703df45dd2ce59fad1.jpg Its more than likely something like above, at least thats what we used to install for our multifamily buildings. Under the little black tab id a breaker, they should have labeled each one for the unit numbers, sometimes the numbers are under the lids. Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versluis Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 If your going to pull the meter, please be careful. Most of my installers have to pull the meter for jobs and AEP (if your installer) can be a pain about it. Just don't break anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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