Need Tool Help!!! Generators...!!!???

[CTENG in KS]

Well, I got my truck in the garage at the apt...she fits!  Buuuutttttt, there are no electrical outlets, only lights on a switch.  So what are my options here?  I need some power for tools, occasional 110v welder, etc.  Would I be better off buying a small generator?  How big would I need?  You can grab a 2500 watt or so for bout $400, but the bigger, 6000+ watt are $1000 plus = too much.  What about a dual battery set-up in the truck with an inverter?  Will the batteries w/truck running be ble to power a welder?  What about size, how big an inverter I need?  Is welding to a running truck off its own battery power safe?

HELP...

[Rocksurfer]

Cant' you feed off the light?

[MiniSimp]

Find someone who knows electrical and have them run a junction box off the panel.

[CTENG in KS]

There is no panel available...it is locked in a little cubby hole.  The light wire is not very heavy gage, I would be worried about pulling the kind of amperage I need through it.

[Rocksurfer]

There is no panel available...it is locked in a little cubby hole.  The light wire is not very heavy gage, I would be worried about pulling the kind of amperage I need through it.

You're thinking too much. Just try it and see if it works. I use the circuit for my light all the time and run some heavier stuff through it all the time.

[CTENG in KS]

The main thing here is the welder, grinder, e-impact, sazall, etc...

[whiteman]

In my shop i have a ceiling light the is your regular light bulb socket, the socket housing has an aditional plug in adapter.  I have a 8 port power bar pluged into it, I have ran a set of halogen lights, a 110 welder, a chop saw, and two aditional light bulbs off of it all at the same time.  I blew the breaker once and that was when the chop saw was bogging down, so I did not apply as much pressure. 

You can pick up a light socket like I am talking about at the hardware store for like $10, shut the breaker off so there is no powr o the shop and wire it in, it is more complicated to wire in a stereo that a house socket and breaker, just make sure that the poer is off because the shock will hurt a touch more than a stereo power wire, you dont want to get .

[Rocksurfer]

The main thing here is the welder, grinder, e-impact, sazall, etc...

I use my e impact, grinder, etc, etc off that cord and never have a problem. Don't have a welder but the others draw a good piece of power.

[CTENG in KS]

Hmmm. maybe I will have to try it.   

[whiteman]

Do it, what the worst that could happen.....you burn a house down or somthing 

[CTENG in KS]

It is a free-standing row of garages at the apt. complex I live at.  I got the end unit...and a light bulb. I will be very interested to see how much power I can suck through that wire.  Perhaps I should put a surge protector with like a 15 or 20 amp fuse on it...my welder draws 15.  least I would fry a fuse before the garages.   

[whiteman]

My cousin is in the same boat you are and he just welded a swing arm up a few weeks ago, he did have one wall outlet that was tied in with the light socket power supply wire.

[burnyota]

shoot- its not like your converting your service to 220v or something

[BLACKDOG]

just use one at a time you'll be alright. 

[CTENG in KS]

Alright, I'ma gonna give it a whirl, maybe this weekend.  I have to rebuild the front end first though, so that won't require more than light and hand tools...and time.  Fun fun!

[lowgeared]

Pull the switch out.  Install a receptacle/switch combo in it's place.  You will also need a duplex receptacle plate to cover it.  Now you have a receptacle before another 20 ft of 14g romex.  It's real easy and you can do it hot.  I do it all the time.

[CTENG in KS]

Your assuming there is any type of coverplate to begin with...no ceiling in this puppy, just 2X4's.

[Rocksurfer]

Your assuming there is any type of coverplate to begin with...no ceiling in this puppy, just 2X4's.

That would be even better, swap out the box for a bigger box. Is the light on 100% of the time or is there a swtich? You could swap that out for a bigger on too.

[CTENG in KS]

There eeese a sweetch on dee wall...and a bulb in dee rafters.

[Rocksurfer]

Ok, deeen yu kin put a box wit de tree prung ploog rite nuxt tu et.

[CTENG in KS]

De bulb or de sweetch?   

[BLACKDOG]

De bulb or de sweetch?   

Eder wun, but de sweetch wud be beter

[CTENG in KS]

I got me a hold of one of these bulb/socket combo dealios.  Haven't tried it yet though cause don't really need power for front axle rebuild.  Will report findings laterz!