Just bought a used Airco 225 amp arc welder. $60 total with a package of 6011 rods. Decided on the stick welder because I'll be outdoors and didn't think a mig would work with the wind and such. Anyway, I've been unable to find any information about this welder on line. On the front it says HD-1 for the style. And it has the word "Stinger" on the panel as well. 2 rod jacks for high and low amperage. I'd like to find a manual and source for parts. When I turn the amp adjust the indicator gauge does not move so something is broke in there. To hook it up will 8 guage wire be big enough or do I need to go to 6? Sucker sure is heavy.
Scored a welder. Is it any good?
- Thread starter Marada
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Gary Fowler
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I have a 350 amp miller AC/DC machine that is fused to a 50 amp breaker as required by the maximum load rating for the machine. I doubt that your 225 amp would run more than 30 amps so number 8 is more than sufficient if you have copper wire and the right insulation See the chart attached.
To calculate the amperage for a circuit, first add up the wattage of all the electrical devices that will be on the circuit. Then, divide the total wattage by the voltage of the system, 110 or 220, and that will give you the expected current or amps.
Wire Size and Amp Ratings
Wire Gauge Size Copper Aluminum
60ｰC
(140ｰF) 75ｰC
(167ｰF) 90ｰC
(194ｰF) 75ｰC
(167ｰF) 90ｰC
(194ｰF)
NM-B THW THWN-2 THW XHHW-2
UF-B THWN THHN THWN THHN
SE XHHW-2 SE THWN-2
USE USE-2
USE
XHHW XHHW
14 15 15 15 --- ---
12 20 20 20 15 15
10 30 30 30 25 25
8 40 50 55 40 45
6 55 65 75 50 60
4 70 85 95 65 75
3 85 100 110 75 85
2 95 115 130 90 100
1 --- 130 150 100 115
1/0 --- 150 170 120 135
2/0 --- 175 195 135 150
3/0 --- 200 225 155 175
4/0 --- 230 260 180 205
250 --- 255 290 205 230
300 --- 285 320 230 255
350 --- 310 350 250 280
500 --- 380 430 310 350
600 --- 420 475 340 385
750 --- 475 535 385 435
1000 --- 545 615 445 500
WARNING! Installation of electrical wire can be hazardous, if done improperly, can result in personal injury or property damage. For safe wiring practices, consult the National Electrical Codeｮ and your local building inspector.
ｩ Cerrowire
To calculate the amperage for a circuit, first add up the wattage of all the electrical devices that will be on the circuit. Then, divide the total wattage by the voltage of the system, 110 or 220, and that will give you the expected current or amps.
Wire Size and Amp Ratings
Wire Gauge Size Copper Aluminum
60ｰC
(140ｰF) 75ｰC
(167ｰF) 90ｰC
(194ｰF) 75ｰC
(167ｰF) 90ｰC
(194ｰF)
NM-B THW THWN-2 THW XHHW-2
UF-B THWN THHN THWN THHN
SE XHHW-2 SE THWN-2
USE USE-2
USE
XHHW XHHW
14 15 15 15 --- ---
12 20 20 20 15 15
10 30 30 30 25 25
8 40 50 55 40 45
6 55 65 75 50 60
4 70 85 95 65 75
3 85 100 110 75 85
2 95 115 130 90 100
1 --- 130 150 100 115
1/0 --- 150 170 120 135
2/0 --- 175 195 135 150
3/0 --- 200 225 155 175
4/0 --- 230 260 180 205
250 --- 255 290 205 230
300 --- 285 320 230 255
350 --- 310 350 250 280
500 --- 380 430 310 350
600 --- 420 475 340 385
750 --- 475 535 385 435
1000 --- 545 615 445 500
WARNING! Installation of electrical wire can be hazardous, if done improperly, can result in personal injury or property damage. For safe wiring practices, consult the National Electrical Codeｮ and your local building inspector.
ｩ Cerrowire
moeh1
Gold Member
Welders have a special section in the NEC manual for wire sizing due to the duty cycle ratings, but I don't have a current copy. Think about how long your wiring run is as well. Enjoy your new toy.
bobodu
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Good old welder!! I think parts are still available from Miller.
tommu56
Elite Member
as bobodu it probity is a miller private labeled to airco
I had one similar ac only
Is the crank on the top? if sow take handle off and remove cover it should wind a screw that moves the cores apartand back to gether to change the settings.
While you are in there check the fan make sure its free.
tom
I had one similar ac only
Is the crank on the top? if sow take handle off and remove cover it should wind a screw that moves the cores apartand back to gether to change the settings.
While you are in there check the fan make sure its free.
tom
LD1
Epic Contributor
I'd go with 10 ga SO cord. 10 is pleanty big for 225A welder. I actually used 12ga SO on my 225amp MIG and havent had any problems at all. I wanted 10 but 12 was all I had on hand, na dwhen you think about it, 12ga solid wire is rated for 20amp breakers on a 110v circuit. On a 220volt curcuit, you have two power wires, so a 40amp 220 breaker makes sense with 12ga wire.
Also, 6011 is not a very good rod, unless welding extremely rusted old heavy farm equipment. definatally not a good beginner rod. You didn't say in your post if you have welded before, but 6013 and 7014 IMO are the easiest two rods to learn with, and if you are just a guy that likes to tinker in his shop and build stuff, those two rods will do anything you want.
There are guys that swear by 7018 as being the "best" or "strongest" rod, but bottom line A good weld with 7014 will hold better than a bad weld with 7018.
Good luck with the welder, and when do your first project, be sure to post pleanty of pics.
Also, 6011 is not a very good rod, unless welding extremely rusted old heavy farm equipment. definatally not a good beginner rod. You didn't say in your post if you have welded before, but 6013 and 7014 IMO are the easiest two rods to learn with, and if you are just a guy that likes to tinker in his shop and build stuff, those two rods will do anything you want.
There are guys that swear by 7018 as being the "best" or "strongest" rod, but bottom line A good weld with 7014 will hold better than a bad weld with 7018.
Good luck with the welder, and when do your first project, be sure to post pleanty of pics.
mbrule
Gold Member
NO IT DOES NOT!!!!!!
12 AWG wire is good for 20 Amps and only 20 Amps. A 40 Amp 220 Volt (2 pole) breaker will allow 40 Amps in each leg! That is way too high for 12 AWG!!!
Basic rule of thumb:
14 AWG = 15 Amps
12 AWG = 20 Amps
10 AWG = 30 Amps
8 AWG = 40 Amps
6 AWG = 50 Amps
I am not an electrician, but use htese basic rules of thumb and believe I am safe and to code. Also consider upsizing for long runs to avoid voltage drop.
I would use 8 AWG for your welder of I could, but 10 is probably enough most of the time. Be sure to breaker or fuse at the correct amperage either way.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Well I'm not an electrician either, and I am not recomending anyone do as I do, I'm just saying what I did, and it works. I do think they tend to underrate the wires a good bit, to build a huge safety margin. The SO cord has stranded wires, which is better than solid.
Without arguing the 40amps down one leg thing, the SO cord that I have is 600v rated 12ga. So 600v with 20amps is safer than 220v with 40 amps???
I know that everybody goes by amps, but volts do mean something. IMO things should be rated in how many watts they can carry, because that is a more accurate representatio of what can be done.
As an example of what I mean by volts count for something
A car battery cable is usually 4 or 6ga. And they are connected to over 500amps.
12v @ 500amps is the same wattage as 120v @ 50amps.
I know I am probabally the only one that looks at the wattage like this, and the code says this and that, but from experience I have welded for about 3hrs straight, on a high amperage welding beams, and when done and rolling up the 30ft cord, it wasn't even close to being hot.
Without arguing the 40amps down one leg thing, the SO cord that I have is 600v rated 12ga. So 600v with 20amps is safer than 220v with 40 amps???
I know that everybody goes by amps, but volts do mean something. IMO things should be rated in how many watts they can carry, because that is a more accurate representatio of what can be done.
As an example of what I mean by volts count for something
A car battery cable is usually 4 or 6ga. And they are connected to over 500amps.
12v @ 500amps is the same wattage as 120v @ 50amps.
I know I am probabally the only one that looks at the wattage like this, and the code says this and that, but from experience I have welded for about 3hrs straight, on a high amperage welding beams, and when done and rolling up the 30ft cord, it wasn't even close to being hot.
mbrule
Gold Member
LD1,
Please do not recommend that anyone do as you are doing, as it is unsafe. That said, I would not be afraid to do what you are doing with an attended temporary extension cord. But if marada intends to permanently run this wire behind walls he should do it correctly.
I am not an electrician. Voltage rating on wire is purely for the insulation, it is the max voltage that the wire should be used with to avoid a safety hazard. The current rating is the max current that can be safley carried by the conductor, that is why wattage would not be a good way to rate wire.
I apologize, if I sound abrasive or as a know-it-all, I do not intend to, just don't want to see anyone unkowingly do something unsafe!
Please do not recommend that anyone do as you are doing, as it is unsafe. That said, I would not be afraid to do what you are doing with an attended temporary extension cord. But if marada intends to permanently run this wire behind walls he should do it correctly.
I am not an electrician. Voltage rating on wire is purely for the insulation, it is the max voltage that the wire should be used with to avoid a safety hazard. The current rating is the max current that can be safley carried by the conductor, that is why wattage would not be a good way to rate wire.
I apologize, if I sound abrasive or as a know-it-all, I do not intend to, just don't want to see anyone unkowingly do something unsafe!
