How many amps is the circuit in my garage ceiling?

Question

Ok, so I just moved into a temp condo (4-6 year old building). I am on the 3rd story and have a one car garage on ground level. There is no breaker in the box up here on the third floor for the garage so I cannot just look at the breaker. Is there anyway to tell if the circuit in my garage ceiling (garage door opener and overhead light) is 15 or 20 amps? I ask because I want to do a bit of MIG welding but need the 20 amps to get a proper weld...

Answer 1

If there's a garage door opener, it's a good bet that it's on a

20 Amp. circuit.

Careful though, that just might be a shared 'building' circuit,

and if some-one else opens a garage door while you're welding, you'll trip it.

(Power was cheaper 6 Yr.s ago and they might have saved on copper.)

If so, tripping that breaker will bring the Condo Board down on you.

Answer 2

dont do it  no matter what size circuit it is   the builders designed the circuit for the garage lights and only for the lights and opener  

Answer 3

I would add to pcbeachr's answer by saying when you find the right breaker, go around with a lamp or a tester to see just how many outlets/appliances are using this circuit.  A 20 amp outlet has a T connection on one side instead of just two straight connections, so that also might be a clue to you.  http://ehardwarestore.com/B00002N5EE/M/B...

Answer 4

You would have a 15 amp breaker on that circuit, but if it isn't labled for that area, it may also serve other areas from the same circuit.

Answer 5

O.K. So you want to tap  into a circuit to do some welding.

A lighting circuit right?

A circuit that you don't know the rating of, right?

A circuit that is part of a building that you don't own, right?

And your knowledge base of electricity consists of Yahoo answers.

Don't you see something not right here?

Answer 6

Most garage doors are not put on independent breakers as someone suggested here..they do not pull enough electricity nor have a compressor kicking off and on like an ac or fridge that requires it..they are usually put on a circuit with other wall plugs etcetera...this would be like saying putting a mixer on a independent circuit(which doesn't happen)  and they both pull about the same current...It will take alot of running or the help of a friend but turn the light on that most garage door openers have and turn each breaker off one at a time..and scream back and forth..if the frst one don't cut the light off..turn that breaker back on..then try the next..in the event your garage door does not have the light option..have your friend manually push the garage door opener  each time you turn a breaker off untill it wont work..that will be your breaker..read and see how many amps it is

Answer 7

Unless you can see the breaker I don't know of a way other than plugging something in that draws 20 amps and see if the breaker pops. Even if your wiring is 12 or even 10 , you do not know what load it is rated for(breaker, length of circuit etc).