32a install

[pondy]

Possibly have the opportunity for a larger plasma cutter which requires a 32a supply.
This is my current install. Would it be simply enough to add a socket in garage? Want some idea before I get an electrician in.
House consumer unit. Garage is 40a on the right

Garage consumer, have a couple 16a sockets, one of which can go as no longer required

This is the cable linking the two Believe it is 10mm

 

[hotponyshoes]

In theory you could just add a 32a breaker to the consumer in the garage and run it to a 32a socket.

Problem is the 10mm cable would want to be a bit bigger really. The size should be marked on the insulation of it somewhere so I would check it.

To run a 32a plasma you are going to need a large size compressor and I expect that even if you can run both of those and the lights at less than 40a then the breaker in the house is still going to trip if you are cutting and the compressor kicks in.

 

[WorkshopChris]

I cant see any reason why not, the only possible may be the discrimination differences you already have a c32 in the workshop if you fitted another for the plasma socket depending on the size the B40 may pop while a C32 holds.
The B40 may be upgraded to a C40 providing the earthing arrangements at the main are suitable to continue meeting the required disconnection times.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Ps, move all that stuff (looks like paper) off the top of the consumer unit. Looks like a fire hazard!

 

[knighty]

which plasma cutter?

it probably just needs a 32amp socket but I doubt it uses that much power at all..... it's probably just too big for a 16amp socket


how long is the cable from the house to the garage?

 

[pondy]

which plasma cutter?

it probably just needs a 32amp socket but I doubt it uses that much power at all..... it's probably just too big for a 16amp socket


how long is the cable from the house to the garage?

It's a r tech p50hf 50a unit. Doesn't say how much it draws just that it needs a 32a supply.

It's a 25 metre run from consumer units

 

[knighty]

40amps continuous over 35m of 10mm at 240v drops about 6v, which according to google is within recommended limits

(43 amps is ok, 44 needs larger cable, to fit in with regs)

but that's with an exposed cable, not inside walls/insulation etc...

if I were you I'd fit a 32amp breaker and a 32amp socket and then try it and see... give it a go on full power with the lights on and compressor running and see if it trips the 40amp fuse in the house... if it does then you'll need a bigger breaker in the house and bigger cable from the house to garage


plenty of people here have plasma cutters or welders that are supposed to need 16amp sockets fitting but run them on a normal 13amp 3 pin plug no problem

 

[addjunkie]

All my machines require a 32 amp supply, but dont all draw the full 32 amps. My tig for example is 26 amps, mig only 32 at peak start up. My dust collecting plasma is 28 amps, but not an issue as its more hassel than its worth!

Have to agree Id give it a go and see if it trips.

 

[brightspark]

if the wire is 10mm to garage you can change the 42 amp breaker in house to a 50 amp if needed if you want the comp and plasma cutter on at the same time .the comp is not going to start at the same time as the cutter so its only running load and allowing for diversity not a problem .here's the table of installation type for cable carrying capacity https://www.google.co.uk/search?sou....0....1..gws-wiz.....0..0i131j0i3.tzpKudCxEaM if the comps only a 14cfm 3 hp its only going to pull about `12 full load amps when running

 

[brightspark]

just drop a 32 amp socket out of a 32 amp breaker using 6.0mm cable or 4.0mm cable and give it a go. uprate house garage feed if needed but its probably not necessary

 

[roofman]

just drop a 32 amp socket out of a 32 amp breaker using 6.0mm cable or 4.0mm cable and give it a go. uprate house garage feed if needed but its probably not necessary

pretty much what i have just done and advice given by yourself

 

[Shedendman]

pretty much what i have just done and advice given by yourself

same setup here and both compressor and plasma work fine,never a trip

 

[pondy]

if the wire is 10mm to garage you can change the 42 amp breaker in house to a 50 amp if needed if you want the comp and plasma cutter on at the same time .the comp is not going to start at the same time as the cutter so its only running load and allowing for diversity not a problem .here's the table of installation type for cable carrying capacity https://www.google.co.uk/search?sou....0....1..gws-wiz.....0..0i131j0i3.tzpKudCxEaM if the comps only a 14cfm 3 hp its only going to pull about `12 full load amps when running

I've found out this plasma draws 24a at full chat. The compressor is a 3hp 14cfm like you mentioned and has a normal 13a plug

Worst case I'll have plasma on, compressor, lights, a radio and this time of year a small heater. Very rare the plasma will be on full power.

The charts you linked too shows amps for different cable installs, in walls, clipped and under insulation etc. My 10mm cable runs in trunking from the house consumer unit straight up into my loft (bungerlow) across the top of the insulation, out the side wall across a 2foot gap into the garage where its in more trunking into consumer. The gap from house to garage the cable runs inside waste pipe. In the loft it's not clipped, if I ran some wood and clipped It down would this help?

 

[angellonewolf]

i belive from memory when doiing the calcs you use the worst one when calculating volt drop

eg as above in conduit or insulation as yours had insulation you would use that to do the calcs

 

[brightspark]

don't get too hung up over it just run what you have and at worst it will trip the breaker if it is overloaded and that will only be if everything starts at once just fit the socket and a 32 a breaker . the only time I have seen a problem with cable getting warm is on a 10kw shower on 10mm cable . that is a constant full load and it was in insulation in wall and attic its not going to happen on your set up