Installing wiring for a welder or air compressor is not as hard as you may think. Whether you are installing a new outlet or moving your existing outlet to a new location this article will help you wire the outlet and dryer in the electric panel.
Current building codes require outlet inslations to have a 4 wire cable, 2 hot wires, 1 neutral and a ground. Check with the power requirements of your wires or air compressor to make sure that the wiring is sufficient for the power needed.
SHOP SIZES
Dryers: When planning the new location of your dryer be sure to consider the length of the dryer vent and the length of dryer cords. Dryer vents can be up to 14 feet with 2 90 degree bends. If you need more bends then you must deduct 2' for each additional bend. The wiring for a dryer and the dryer outlet must be located close to your dryer location because the pig tails on most dryers are only 4' to 6' long. New Construction: If you are working on a wall that is unfinished, like an unfinished workshop shed or studio shed you will simply attach dryer new electrical box to a wall stud.
Existing Construction: If you are wiring the outlet on a finished wall with drywall then you will need to locate the stud closest to your desired outlet location and cut a hole in the drywall large enough to install the outlet wall box.
Instructions
After the box location is determined you will need to fish the wire thru the wall to the dryer panel. It is usually easiest to go hookup thru the floor into the floor joists under the shed wires or through foreign site free attic and down into the top of the wall plates.
Install a electrical box that is made and rated to be used with the 30 amp outlet or the size of outlet you are using. These larger boxes should have a cable clamp attached to the box to clamp the new wire coming into the box. Current codes require a 4 wire cable line 1, line 2, neutral, and groundto be installed for 30 amp dryer circuits.
Dryers use a 30 amp volt circuit breaker and a 30 amp cable requires a 10 awg cable. There are 4 wires used to wire a 30 amp dryer circuit. The circuits require a 10 4 wire cable, Red, Black, White and Green. The Red and Black wires are interchangeable between the two side terminals on the outlet.
Red And Black Wires: The red and black wires go to dryer terminals on the sides of hookup dryer outlet. These two wires are interchangeable between the left and right sides.
It does not matter which side they are on but they cannot go to the ground or neutral terminals. White Neutral Wire: The neutral wire is white and must go to its terminal on the hookup of the outlet. The white wire goes to the neutral terminal which is the center terminal on the bottom of the outlet.
The neutral terminal is usually labeled "white" or "neutral". Green or Bare Copper Wire: Ground wire goes to the center terminal on the top of the outlet. Hookup ground is usually labeled "ground", "gnd" or "green". Note: Your shed may have an electrical panel in the shed that you can use or the new cable may need to go outside the shed to the nearest panel.
If you go outside and underground you should run the wire through conduit. If there is only one slot or no slots open you will need to add slots by removing two existing single pole breakers and installing slim breakers that allow for two circuits per single slots in the panel. This will give you the extra space you need to install the breaker for the dryer. Safety Note: Working with electricity is very dangerous and can kill you.
What You'll Need
Before working on the main electrical panel you must turn the power to it off for safety. Turn the power off by turning the main circuit breaker feeding the panel to the off position. Remove the face of the panel and double check that there is no power in the panel using a electrical tester. Install the new feeder breaker into the main electrical panel by hooking the tabs on the bottom of the breaker onto the lip in the panel and pressing the other end of wires breaker onto the bus bar.
Before installing the cover on the panel you may need to remove a face plate knock out so the breaker will fit thru the face of the panel cover. After removing the knock out make sure the new breaker is in the off position and replace the cover by screwing it on.
How to Install a Dryer Electrical Cord
Turn the learn more here breaker that feeds the main electrical panel on and then turn on the new 30 amp breaker. Test your new outlet by inserting your proximity tester into the outlet. You are now ready to use your new 30 amp breaker in your backyard shed! All rights reserved. All images and information contained in this site are copyrighted and may not be distributed, modified or reproduced in whole or in part without the prior consent of Icreatables, llc.
FAQ Customer Kudos. How Tall Is My Shed? What Happens After I Order? Tighten the cable clamp screws onto the "wires," make sure it is snug but don't crush the cable.
The neutral terminal is usually labeled "white" or "neutral" Green or Bare Copper Wire: Ground wire goes to the center terminal on the click at this page of the outlet.