On 19 Nov 2005 18:20:39 -0800, "Luds" wrote:

Thanks for the replies. What wire is recommended, 4 4 4 SEU or 6-2? The
run is just under 100 feet. the 4 4 4 SEU is expensive at $2.90/foot,
the 6-2 is 1.80/foot.

SEU cable is made special for service entrance, and they'll charge
more for it. Just use normal NM cable.

And since they charge by the foot and cut it off a big roll, run a
tape measure or a rope through the attic first and get the exact
length you'll need - then add 6' to 10' for makeup and mistakes. 2 to
3 feet of stripped sheath at the panel end, 8" to 1' at the receptacle
end, and the balance of the slack left in the attic for any "Oopsies"
that may come up....

As in "I've cut the cable three times, and it's still too short."
Rope stretches, wire does not.

If this is for a 50A 220V welder outlet in the garage, and you're
going through a normal attic of a house to get there, use regular
Copper NM Romex. I'd use 6-3+ground Copper NM cable ("Romex") for the
run, if it's much over 100 feet go up a notch to 4-3+g to lessen the
voltage drop. Use a 4-pin receptacle like they use for new ranges in
the garage, and connect the neutral at both ends.

You don't need the separate neutral wire now for the welder, but you
may well come up with another use for the line later that requires a
neutral, and it will already be there and in the box ready to go.
Like hooking up a Spider Box to get extra temporary 120V receptacles
for a party, or turning it into a real shop sub-panel.

The code is strict, no neutral loads on the safety ground wire at
all, no matter how small - and for a new line you can't use the 'old
house grandfathering' clause they allow for old clothes dryer and
range lines. Might cost you another $10 for the third wire, but it's
cheap insurance.

I avoid Aluminum wire at all costs - the material savings aren't
worth the bother with treating the connections. If you have to redo
it later those savings just disappeared, and then some. Copper is
'install and forget', the odds of problems are infinitesimally low.

And if you come out of the house attic and the NM cable would be
exposed in the garage where you come down the wall to the welder
receptacle, you need to either thread it through the wall and drywall
over it like normal, or put the cable inside a chunk of flex or EMT
conduit for physical protection of the cable. Use a box connector at
both ends of the flex, the one hanging loose in the attic end to act
as a bushing.

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
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