Linclon 125 DC 115 volt is tripping the breaker

ampa · Mar 7, 2010

Yep this is what it's doin'..... think maybe I should lower the amp settings to perhaps a 100 or less....or maybe just switch out a 15 amp for a 20 amp breaker from another spot on the panel that don't really need a 20 amp breaker...it's not our house.... we only rent it....we pay enough for rent....so I don't want to spend or invest money on something that is not ours.....another thing is I'll be usin' this little welder outside and run it from the very short extention I have setup for my 1000 watt block heater for my Compact diesel tractor.....I may have to install heavier wire for this as I only plug it into the basement wall plug that as far as I know only runs the basement lights....just need some solid advice....the reason for me buyin' a 115 volt unit is I'll only be welding up very light weight material....thanks in advance....Ampa....:confused2:

Just Bill · Mar 7, 2010

Hello
I would be careful about changing a breaker to a larger one especially if it wasn't my house.
That said , the reason it is a 15 amp breaker might be that it has 14 ga. wire.
Make sure of the wire size to the outlet before you do anything.
The outlet has an amp rating also.
You might need to run a new wire from the panel.

Transit · Mar 7, 2010

Ampa, you just cannot pop in a larger circuit breaker and be done with it. A 15 amp breaker limits the current to 15 amps because it protects the wire in the wall from overheating and causing a fire.:thumbdown: If you install a 20 amp breaker, yes you will not trip the breaker but you risk starting a fire in the wall when the current draw is larger than 15 amps. Trust me, when I say that the owner will be very, very pissed when you burn his house down. :shocked:
The choices you have are;:dance1:
Weld at a lower setting.
Find what is also connected to that branch circuit and turn it off.
Find another 15 or 20 amp circuit that you can use.

15 amp breaker = 14 Gauge wire.
20 amp breaker = 12 Gauge wire.

The NEC forbids you [you not being the home owner] from messing with the wiring. :smiley_aafz:

Transit · Mar 7, 2010

Just Bill said:
Hello
I would be careful about changing a breaker to a larger one especially if it wasn't my house.
That said , the reason it is a 15 amp breaker might be that it has 14 ga. wire.
Make sure of the wire size to the outlet before you do anything.
The outlet has an amp rating also.
You might need to run a new wire from the panel.

The NEC forbids you [you not being the home owner] from messing with the wiring.

mustangsallysdad · Mar 7, 2010

ampa said:
Yep this is what it's doin'..... think maybe I should lower the amp settings to perhaps a 100 or less....or maybe just switch out a 15 amp for a 20 amp breaker from another spot on the panel that don't really need a 20 amp breaker...it's not our house.... we only rent it....we pay enough for rent....so I don't want to spend or invest money on something that is not ours.....another thing is I'll be usin' this little welder outside and run it from the very short extention I have setup for my 1000 watt block heater for my Compact diesel tractor.....I may have to install heavier wire for this as I only plug it into the basement wall plug that as far as I know only runs the basement lights....just need some solid advice....the reason for me buyin' a 115 volt unit is I'll only be welding up very light weight material....thanks in advance....Ampa....:confused2:

You can run a 20 amp circuit breaker with 14 guage wire "ONLY" on a dedicated circuit.

2manyrocks · Mar 7, 2010

Some rental properties are built to minimum standards to save costs. This means they use the minimum wiring to meet code, and it might be good enough to run a couple of overhead lights, but that wiring isn't necessarily good enough to run a 115v welder. If you overload the wiring, you may or may not wake up to a house fire that night.

ampa · Mar 7, 2010

It's Dang good thing I asked....Hmmmmmm a dedicated circuit.....Mustang Sally???....like I mentioned...I'm thinkin' that the one I have my 1000 watt blockheater plugged into runs only the lights down the basement.....this duplex was all done over new block basement new brick work.....all new wiring including the new electrical panel.....the owner was gonna' live in it but changed his mind and bought a newer place in another area ..and decided to rent it out to pay for renovations....now the building codes must have been followed...now if this circuit I'm mentioning is connected to the upstairs bedrooms....I run a small window air conditioner with no problems (summer time)....my youngest son has the ajoining bedroom and if the air is on and he uses his microwave it pops the breaker on the panel down in the basement......the only way I can check is to plug a lamp in the upstairs bedroom and get my lady to tell me when I click off the 20 amp fuse breaker and it goes out as well as the one I use for the 1000 watt block heater....yes the owner would be

.......I got to do this correct.....Thanks tons guys..... P/S.....I could just run it on the 15 amp circuit on a lower setting.....one thing for certain the 15 amp is workin' okay.......Ampa......:thumbsup:

kevinj · Mar 7, 2010

ampa said:
It's Dang good thing I asked....Hmmmmmm a dedicated circuit.....Mustang Sally???....like I mentioned...I'm thinkin' that the one I have my 1000 watt blockheater plugged into runs only the lights down the basement.....this duplex was all done over new block basement new brick work.....all new wiring including the new electrical panel.....the owner was gonna' live in it but changed his mind and bought a newer place in another area ..and decided to rent it out to pay for renovations....now the building codes must have been followed...now if this circuit I'm mentioning is connected to the upstairs bedrooms....I run a small window air conditioner with no problems (summer time)....my youngest son has the ajoining bedroom and if the air is on and he uses his microwave it pops the breaker on the panel down in the basement......the only way I can check is to plug a lamp in the upstairs bedroom and get my lady to tell me when I click off the 20 amp fuse breaker and it goes out as well as the one I use for the 1000 watt block heater....yes the owner would be .......I got to do this correct.....Thanks tons guys..... P/S.....I could just run it on the 15 amp circuit on a lower setting.....one thing for certain the 15 amp is workin' okay.......Ampa......:thumbsup:

You should look at the welder rating plate and see what it calls for, then make sure have it available and not cobbled up.

AlanB · Mar 7, 2010

That welder calls for 20 amp service.

Turn down welder (and they still pretty regularly will pop a 15)

Or find, make, whatever a real 20 amp service. 12 gauge wire and a dedicated circuit would be my reccomendation.

Is the breaker box in the garage where you are trying to use it I hope?

yomax4 · Mar 7, 2010

Any 115v Welder needs a 20 amp breaker period. That is with no extension cord. Please buy a 230v unit and install 230v in your shop. it is fairly easy to do and You're Welding expierience will be good and no crappy weak welds.

Thanks.