There ya go, its usually the simple answer
Garage Lift install elect question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
Garage Lift install elect question
got a rotary 7000lb lift set up in the garage, now how to get elec to it. I assumed it would need 220v, but there are only 3 wires coming from the motor, a black, green, and white wire. I have little exp with AC wiring, but I thought that 220v would have 4 wires. Is it 110v or 220v?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 473
Likes: 6
From: New Port Richey FL
That doesn't really tell you much. All the lifts I've ever seen have been 220 though. You'll probably have to add a 220v breaker to your breaker box. If you don't know what your doing with it, I STRONGLY suggest getting an electrician. Adding a breaker isn't bad if you know what your doing. If you don't know what your doing, you can easily kill yourself or burn your house down, or even both.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
your typical 220v electrical service is 2 hot wires out of phase with each other and a neutral. you get 110 between either hot and the neutral and 220 between the 2 hots. a simple 220v device would still only have 2 wires(both hot) and a ground. the 4th wire is only there is there is a need for 110v for something else in the device. you need to find some specs for the motor or the lift to know what you have for sure. I spent the past few weekends putting a new subpanel in my garage and moving all the bench plugs, welder outlet, compresser plug, etc over and it really isn't rocket science, but as was already said call a pro if you're not sure what you're doing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
A standard 220 volt device is only going to be three wires 2 hots and one ground. It should say in your specifications what you need. I fit is for sure a 220 volt one hot to black one hot to white and one bare or green to ground. Find out the amperage draw and I will give you the wire and breaker size you will need. Or if you give me the web site I will look it up for you.
Originally Posted by Gage
got a rotary 7000lb lift set up in the garage, now how to get elec to it. I assumed it would need 220v, but there are only 3 wires coming from the motor, a black, green, and white wire. I have little exp with AC wiring, but I thought that 220v would have 4 wires. Is it 110v or 220v?
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
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From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
If the manufacturer followed the code then 240v should be blue/brown. Black/white signifies 120v. But I agree with TimAT, you have to look at the motor plate to be sure.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
Typically on motors the data plate will say 120/240 the wiring leads are what makes it so.
Originally Posted by ratflinger
If the manufacturer followed the code then 240v should be blue/brown. Black/white signifies 120v. But I agree with TimAT, you have to look at the motor plate to be sure.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
Originally Posted by toupstrio
A standard 220 volt device is only going to be three wires 2 hots and one ground. It should say in your specifications what you need. I fit is for sure a 220 volt one hot to black one hot to white and one bare or green to ground. Find out the amperage draw and I will give you the wire and breaker size you will need. Or if you give me the web site I will look it up for you.
There is a white, green, and black wire coming out of the motor. My elec box is on the other side of the house. AC air handler is in the attic over the garage, anyway I can tee off it?
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
I'm sure there's plenty of juice at your AC, the question is, is there 12 amps extra? If there's not, then running both might trip the breakers or overload the wiring. There will be a big difference between your AC start up requirements & it's operational requirements. The electricians that wired your house wired each load as appropriate. You would have to determine the load rating of the wire to your AC, then the load rating on the AC breaker vs the actual startup/operational current for your AC. If your cable is delivering the extra amps to the AC breakers (plus a safety factor), then you could add the extra breaker to the box and wire from there.
Be warned though, if you live in an area where code compliance is mandatory & you make wiring changes (unless you are a master or working under a master) & the changes cause a fire, your HO insurance may refuse to pay.
Be warned though, if you live in an area where code compliance is mandatory & you make wiring changes (unless you are a master or working under a master) & the changes cause a fire, your HO insurance may refuse to pay.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
I think I will run the wire from the lift to the box, and then have an electrician connect it to the box for me. The box is about 60 ft from the lift, What type of wiring do i need to buy?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
12 amps really isn't a whole lot, 14 guage is usually good for at least 15 amps unless you're talking about really long runs. the actual type of wires you need depends your local codes. if you can use romex(non-metalic shielded) cable that'd be the easiest by far. where I live romex isn't allowed and all house wiring needs to be run in metallic conduit-PITA.
If you ever plan on getting a 220v welder for your garage, you could upgrade to 10 or 8 guage and have the reserve there.
If you ever plan on getting a 220v welder for your garage, you could upgrade to 10 or 8 guage and have the reserve there.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
12 amps really isn't a whole lot, 14 guage is usually good for at least 15 amps unless you're talking about really long runs. the actual type of wires you need depends your local codes. if you can use romex(non-metalic shielded) cable that'd be the easiest by far. where I live romex isn't allowed and all house wiring needs to be run in metallic conduit-PITA.
If you ever plan on getting a 220v welder for your garage, you could upgrade to 10 or 8 guage and have the reserve there.
If you ever plan on getting a 220v welder for your garage, you could upgrade to 10 or 8 guage and have the reserve there.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Not that it isn't done a lot, but I'm surprised an electrician would recommend that. Not code anywhere.
If you insist on doing it that way then do the splice inside a 2 gang box in the attic.
Since your dryer will be on a 30amp breaker you should run #10 wire (no less) to the connection box of your lift. You can then use a single breaker box with a 20 amp breaker to the lift switch/motor.
One thing that I'm not clear on:
Isn't your lift supplied with a switch that your feed wire should go to and not to the motor??
Double check your motor. Usually, Black/white/green is 110v and red/black/white and/or green is 220v.
If it were mine, I would run #12 romex from your main panel, with a new 20 amp breaker thru the attic to a single disconnect box in the garage. (250ft should be around 30.00 bucks). You can put it in conduit from the ceiling down for protection.
If you insist on doing it that way then do the splice inside a 2 gang box in the attic.
Since your dryer will be on a 30amp breaker you should run #10 wire (no less) to the connection box of your lift. You can then use a single breaker box with a 20 amp breaker to the lift switch/motor.
One thing that I'm not clear on:
Isn't your lift supplied with a switch that your feed wire should go to and not to the motor??
Double check your motor. Usually, Black/white/green is 110v and red/black/white and/or green is 220v.
If it were mine, I would run #12 romex from your main panel, with a new 20 amp breaker thru the attic to a single disconnect box in the garage. (250ft should be around 30.00 bucks). You can put it in conduit from the ceiling down for protection.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I would NOT recommend splicing those wires unless you do it inside an enclosure. They do make junction boxes for that purpose. If you live where you can do it yourself (city codes), pick up a book on basic wiring and study it. If codes don't allow it, find an electrician.
I rewired my whole house from 100 amp service to 200 amp. Got tired of the lights getting dim when the air compressor came on.
I rewired my whole house from 100 amp service to 200 amp. Got tired of the lights getting dim when the air compressor came on.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Media PA
Great lift ! I have one of those. The clack of the safety locks are loud.....you'll jump the first few times.
The motor draws less than 2 amps. If you have room put a 15 amp double breaker in you box. One half of the breaker goes to the black the other half to the white. ground is ground.
For wire 14 guage is plenty, but 12 guage just feels better. If you use a 20 amp double breaker and 12 guage wire you can also plug your compressor into the outlet. I used a 20 amp 220 plug and outlet with 12guage wire. I have even plugged my MIG welder into it.
Some people "double tap" off of something like the dryer breaker. It works, but is not the best and not code at all.
A lift is the best!!!
The motor draws less than 2 amps. If you have room put a 15 amp double breaker in you box. One half of the breaker goes to the black the other half to the white. ground is ground.
For wire 14 guage is plenty, but 12 guage just feels better. If you use a 20 amp double breaker and 12 guage wire you can also plug your compressor into the outlet. I used a 20 amp 220 plug and outlet with 12guage wire. I have even plugged my MIG welder into it.
Some people "double tap" off of something like the dryer breaker. It works, but is not the best and not code at all.
A lift is the best!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
Man no licensed electrician in the world that knows anything about wiring would tell you to run it off of your dryer circuit. Run 12-2 romex from your lift to your breaker panel it will have a black,white,& bare wire inside a yellow sheath. Hook up the black wire to one side of a 2 pole 20 amp breaker and the white wire to the other half of the breaker. Hook the bare wire up to your ground bus in your panel. I am a licensed electrical contractor in the State Of Texas pm me if you need to call for advice.
I had an electrician come out and he recommended tapping off the 220v going to the clothes dryer in the laundry room which is in adjoining rm, and just don't dry clothes when I use the lift so as not to trip the breaker...I found the wiring which leads to the dryer outlet in the attic. Do I just cut the wire and splice a 12 ga wire from it to the lift motor?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
i also wouldn't use a white wire on one of the hot poles of the breaker, just because someone could open up a box somewhere down the road and think its a 110 circuit or nuetral and fry themselves. One of those where you'd think they'd check the breakers and know what they're doing first, but better to be on the same side. I'd run a 3 conductor wire(+ground) anyway which would have black, red, and white just in case you decide you want to plug in something with a 4-prong plug.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Man no licensed electrician in the world that knows anything about wiring would tell you to run it off of your dryer circuit. Run 12-2 romex from your lift to your breaker panel it will have a black,white,& bare wire inside a yellow sheath. Hook up the black wire to one side of a 2 pole 20 amp breaker and the white wire to the other half of the breaker. Hook the bare wire up to your ground bus in your panel. I am a licensed electrical contractor in the State Of Texas pm me if you need to call for advice.
WHITE is always neutral. You guys exempt from the nec in Texas?
