- Thread starter Drmozr
- Start date
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Depending on the length of the cable run a 4mm might do, and also where the output socket is located.
Is it in a garage/workshop integral the building with the fuse box or a seperate building, this would have a bearing on the type of cable required for the installation?
It's a workshop about 30 metres from my house. Previous owner put a 2.5mm swa ring in it from the consumer unit, which is obviously underpowered for my purpose.
So it's either hire a mini digger and run another higher gauge swa cable or get a 10kva generator.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Do you have a fuse-box/consumer unit in the workshop fed by a single cable (a single 2.5 swa?) from the house fuse box?
It would be unusual to have a true ring main for the workshop from a fusebox 30 metres away...
It would be unusual to have a true ring main for the workshop from a fusebox 30 metres away...
It's a true ring main alright!
Unusual as it is. 32 amp from the CU and a small fusebox in the workshop on a 32 amp switch. It's my workshop, but it was more of a shed/garage for the previous owner.
I'm completely bought in to the dewalt battery platform and I'm wondering whether the Dcb1800b would solve the the issue, although I might need to rethink my welder.
TIA!
Unusual as it is. 32 amp from the CU and a small fusebox in the workshop on a 32 amp switch. It's my workshop, but it was more of a shed/garage for the previous owner.
I'm completely bought in to the dewalt battery platform and I'm wondering whether the Dcb1800b would solve the the issue, although I might need to rethink my welder.
TIA!
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,347
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
If you have loads of dewalt battries you could buy the esab battery powered welder!
But first, if you are only welding 1mm steel just put a 13a plug (or get an adapter) onto your welder and try it from a normal socket.
It should work fine. Worst thing that will happen is the fuse will blow.
But first, if you are only welding 1mm steel just put a 13a plug (or get an adapter) onto your welder and try it from a normal socket.
It should work fine. Worst thing that will happen is the fuse will blow.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
A so 32 amp breaker in the house CU feeds a small fuse box in the workshop.
Are the two x 2.5mm swa cables wired into the main breaker switch connections in the workshop fuse box, fed from the houses CU 32amp breaker?
If it's a true ring main you shouldn't/wouldn't have a fuse box in the workshop (the only breaker would be in the houses CU), or is it two (2.5mm swa cables) run in parallel to increase cable core area?
Which possibly might mean the workshop has a 5mm supply cable feed (using 2 x 2.5mm run in parallel)?
@brightspark might be able advise....
PS:-
Pictures of the house CU and Workshop fuse units wiring connections would help no end, but you have to feel capable of removing and replacing the covers on both fuse units safely,
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
- Messages
- 7,707
- Location
- Cumbria
Yes, no bother at all.
Not sure what all this hand wringing is about by other posters. You have the right size ring main wiring protected by the right size MCB.
It might trip the MCB at high amps, but very unlikely to be a problem under 150 amps
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
I agree that it could be used at less than maximum ampage on a ring main, but we all know that at some point that dial will be turned up to max, why because we have all done it at some point .Yes, no bother at all.
Not sure what all this hand wringing is about by other posters. You have the right size ring main wiring protected by the right size MCB.
It might trip the MCB at high amps, but very unlikely to be a problem under 150 amps
That's why my old buzz box had a 1/4" H/Tensile steel bolt as a fuse in the 13amp plug.....
until the thermo switch went fuzz....
and then into the skip it went...
Thanks.
I'll take some pictures this weekend.
Now that you say that, I may have been talking ********. I've recently moved in and getting my head around it all. The fusebox may be a waterproof junction box to terminate the swa to normal 2.5mm T&E inside the workshop, and not be fused.
I'm at work so can check till tomorrow. Thanks for the input.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Now here's a possibly if it is a true ring main...
Buy a fuse unit for the workshop and rewire as required, use the 2 swa cables as a spur feed from the houses CU, this will increase the supply cable diameter to 5 mm theoretically , but it depends on the cable condition also I don't know what the supply capacity would be..
An unorthodox method of increasing possible supply in my books, but ......
.You would have to consult more with one of the resident sparks for more info.
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
- Messages
- 7,707
- Location
- Cumbria
Thats why the 32a MCB is there, to protect the ring main. It will trip, and nothing will fail dangerously.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Famous last words....
...... 
.PS:- I also have a project on the go atm, which relies on that saying, in my mind.
It depends on how it works out, if it ever makes it way on to the forums pages.....
.
Last edited:
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
- Messages
- 7,707
- Location
- Cumbria
Why would it? Its literally why wiring regs exist. The MCB protects the wiring on a ring main. The 13a fuses protect the devices on 3 pin plug sockets. The 32a plugs and sockets and welder cable are all rated for 32a so the MCB protects everything in this case. It's pretty basic stuff.Famous last words....
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Agree, but a lot of members will have a welder/plasma cutter and a compressor, possibly on the same circuit. What happens if the welders/or plasma is on max power and the compressor starts up on load and the trip fails to protect the circuit?
When was the last time we all checked our MCB'S for correct operation, I would have tested it after I installed it (pushed the test button), because I was there, but since then........
?????????There can be more than one thing turned on at once, also there can be more than one person working at once...
This weekend my 2 sons are coming here... there could be 3 welders, 1 or 2 plasma cutters, a compressor, a lathe or mill working at any one time... but they're not all on the same circuit....
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,347
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
The emp210 comes fitted with a 16a plug.
Or a 15a in Europe or 14a in the states.
Just plug it in to anything. Start welding.
You'll be more likely to burn the shed down from the splatter than the wiring.
Or a 15a in Europe or 14a in the states.
Just plug it in to anything. Start welding.
You'll be more likely to burn the shed down from the splatter than the wiring.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
In that case, install a 16amp socket, slightly better than my 1/4" steel bolt option....
.OP asked about a 32amp socket, originally.
