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Wiring question for welder - 230v

Keitha

Keitha

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I am making an adapter/extension cord for my Miller 211 welder. The 230v outlet behind my dryer has 3 wires going into it - Red, Red, & White. I will keep the white wire for the middle prong on the plug (round prong). Does it matter which side of the plug each of the Red wires go to? Are there any polarity issues if I get them crossed?:dunno:

Thanks,
Keith
 
No, there are no polarity issues. If the white is in the middle on the live outlet then just match it up as your plannin. Make sure you get the right size wire for the extension though. If your cord is going to be longer than 25' I would go with 1 size bigger than your welder requires.
 
Thanks. My cord is only about 4' long. I used a 50amp dryer replacement plug/cord and wired the open end into an outlet that works with the welder plug.
 
Should be fine then. I made a 50' extension for mine. Found some #8 awg rubber cord. Now I can weld almost anywhere in my yard (tiny a$$ yard:doah:) For future reference, The only thing that runs on AC power that has polarity issues that I know of is PC's. My buddy fried 2 mother boards before we learned that one. I've been an industrial electrician for 14 years and I hadn't even heard of that one. No 220/240v stuff does though.
 
My extension was more just to get the plug out from behind the dryer. I was doing some reading on it last night as well. I did not realize that it is basicly 2 120v cuircuts combined. I replaced the 30amp breaker w/ a 50amp breaker as well.

Thanks again Shady,
 
I did not realize that it is basicly 2 120v cuircuts combined.

The voltage actually comes to the house as a single phase 220V circuit.
The panel is then grounded (bonded) at the middle to create 120V x2 at the panel.
When you replace the breaker make sure you use a 2 pole breaker that is mechanically tied together such that both legs trip at the same time. other wise if only one side tripped it would "single phase" keeping one side hot. a very unsafe condition.
 
Make sure the wire size from your panel to the outlet is at least #8 if your switching that breaker to a 50. It should really be #6's. #8 is minimum. I'm sure you will never weld hot enough or long enough to pull over 30 amps, but if you do and the wire is only #10 or something YOU WILL BURN DOWN YOUR HOUSE. I'd check the back of your welder right were the cord enters, it should say somthing like

220/240, 32A

Or look in the owners manual or online even. Then use the smallest breaker that will cover the amps it draws. Note that if it says 32 amps like above, a 30 will probably cover that because thats what it draws at the very peak of high amp welding. Unless you weld 3/8 or 1/2 single pass alot.
Just make sure you check.
 
Does this mean that I am good with the 30amp breaker? I really do not want to burn my house down so thanks for the advise.

Input Power​
230 V, 25 A, 60 Hz, Single-Phase​
120 V, 20 A, 60 Hz, Single-Phase

 
yeah at 25 amp draw the 30 will be fine:waytogo:
 
shady said:
. It should really be #6's. #8 is minimum. I'm sure you will never weld hot enough or long enough to pull over 30 amps, but if you do and the wire is only #10 or something YOU WILL BURN DOWN YOUR HOUSE. I'd check the back of your welder right were the cord enters, it should say somthing like
.
Click to expand...

#6 or #8 is a must have if you're making an extension cord, the certified electrician (my father in laws friend) that helped me out when I hooked up my welder said anything smaller would just be asking for trouble. He also said you can go to a welding supply store and buy welding cable for a stick welder in any length you want (get three pieces the same length) them tape em together and put your ends on.

on a side note does anybody think the welding companies like lincoln and miller should probably address this in their manuals? Same guy wired me for 240 and when I said it says use #10 for a 50' distance or less he laughed his ass off, told me if I wanted a total shop bonfire he'd do it. He didn't get paid either, the wire was his personal supply and he did it as a freebie for my father in-law.
 
i run a 25' 6/3 extension cord for my 220... overkill, but a good place to be overkill.... and yeah, 220 is just 2 hot legs...
 
I use a 6/3 cord on my tig welder with a 50 amp breaker also, but unfortunately it (miller 330abp 460 amp machine) requires 104 amps on 220v for full output. That would require #2 wire from the breaker to the welder, if i recall correctly. I just stay on the 250 amp max range setting on the welder. I once tried to jump up to the next range to weld at 275 or so. It didn't take long to heat up the breaker.
 
Keitha said:
My extension was more just to get the plug out from behind the dryer. I was doing some reading on it last night as well. I did not realize that it is basicly 2 120v cuircuts combined. I replaced the 30amp breaker w/ a 50amp breaker as well.

Thanks again Shady,
Click to expand...

DO NOT change the breaker, If you need 50amps get a box and 50 amp outlet and surface mount it at the panel and run a new circuit.
 
I wont give any techincal advice on or even advise about why this is a bad idea. But enough to say that if you wire up something that is less then code you stand a chance at burning down your house.

There's a reason whey they have codes and inspectors. Is it really worth it?
 
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