220v outlet for welder powered by (2) 20 amp breakers

[MF RED in MT]

Gene, if I remember correctly you said you had an unused 20amp breaker at your main electrical panel going to your welding area that has 12-2 wire?

If this run has nothing else on it, maybe you could get a 20amp 110v receptacle for it and start your welding practice of burning rods.

You would have to match the 110v output amps to you welding rod diameter, and if you do not have that small of rod HF has a good selection (about $7 for 2 lbs.) to build on your welding skills.

I fell it's a lot like target practice, you do not want to gain your experience using high price ammunition unless you have very deep pockets full of folding money like them Benjamin Franklin's.

KC

 

[GeneV]

Gene, if I remember correctly you said you had an unused 20amp breaker at your main electrical panel going to your welding area that has 12-2 wire?

If this run has nothing else on it, maybe you could get a 20amp 110v receptacle for it and start your welding practice of burning rods.

You would have to match the 110v output amps to you welding rod diameter, and if you do not have that small of rod HF has a good selection (about $7 for 2 lbs.) to build on your welding skills.

I fell it's a lot like target practice, you do not want to gain your experience using high price ammunition unless you have very deep pockets full of folding money like them Benjamin Franklin's.

KC

Ha yeh, that's what happened exactly, actually. At first I ran it on the garage circuit, did ok until I cranked up the heat, then it popped the breaker. My fault, I had the wireless speaker playing and probably the other stuff plugged into outlets has a little draw. Anyways, I installed a 20 amp outlet on that other unused circuit, it ran great on that.

I only burned the 4 rods that came with the welder, but I really like using this welder a lot. I used the settings from the link k0ua posted to me, started somewhere midrange and cranked it higher if I couldn't get a spark w/o it sticking. Even 1/8" rod did on 110v, but I don't know if it's just for those J422 rods (aka E4303).

Then, ran out to harbor freight and bought all these:

 

[GeneV]

Auto darkening helmet is a must for a newbie, I think. This the one I use, best $40 I ever spent, and it's even cheaper now: Antra AH6-26- Auto Darkening Welding Helmet Wide Shade Range 4/5-9/9-13 Engineered for TIG MIG/MAG MMA Plasma Grinding, Solar-Lithium Dual Power, 6+1 Extra Lens Covers: Arc Welder: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[k0ua]

Ha yeh, that's what happened exactly, actually. At first I ran it on the garage circuit, did ok until I cranked up the heat, then it popped the breaker. My fault, I had the wireless speaker playing and probably the other stuff plugged into outlets has a little draw. Anyways, I installed a 20 amp outlet on that other unused circuit, it ran great on that.

I only burned the 4 rods that came with the welder, but I really like using this welder a lot. I used the settings from the link k0ua posted to me, started somewhere midrange and cranked it higher if I couldn't get a spark w/o it sticking. Even 1/8" rod did on 110v, but I don't know if it's just for those J422 rods (aka E4303).

Then, ran out to harbor freight and bought all these:
View attachment 668805

Some 1/16 E6013 can be handy for tacking up light parts.

 

[GeneV]

Good to know, thanks!

 

[MF RED in MT]

Ha yeh, that's what happened exactly, actually. At first I ran it on the garage circuit, did ok until I cranked up the heat, then it popped the breaker. My fault, I had the wireless speaker playing and probably the other stuff plugged into outlets has a little draw. Anyways, I installed a 20 amp outlet on that other unused circuit, it ran great on that.

I only burned the 4 rods that came with the welder, but I really like using this welder a lot. I used the settings from the link k0ua posted to me, started somewhere midrange and cranked it higher if I couldn't get a spark w/o it sticking. Even 1/8" rod did on 110v, but I don't know if it's just for those J422 rods (aka E4303).

Then, ran out to harbor freight and bought all these:
View attachment 668805

Gene, good for you getting some rod burning time frying some bacon.

KC

 

[GeneV]

Oh yeh, I don't mess around KC. I really loving stick welding! I'm taking to it much better compared to my flux core welder I been using.

I didn't open the 7018 yet, I want to first get one of those airtight containers you guys use. The 6011 was running best when I was up in heat range of popping the breaker, but man they ain't kidding that rod absolutely digs! It was digging to china on the 1/4" flat bar I was practicing on.

Loved welding with the 1613! The slag was peeling off on it's own as it was cooling, that was fun.

But, I popped that 110v/20amp breaker a few times, that was getting old. Today I'm gonna pick up supplies to get the 220v outlet ghetto-rigged into the garage.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Gene, glad to hear you are liking stick welding, now-a-days a lot of welders only know how mig weld well.

KC

 

[GeneV]

Oh man, bad new fellas, common neutral, just like I was worried about.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[aczlan]

Oh man, bad new fellas, common neutral, just like I was worried about.

How big is the conduit? If it's big enough, pull all the wires going to the garage out, pull in three #6 copper THHN wires and a #10 or #8 THHN ground, then put a 50 amp breaker in the panel and a sub panel in the garage.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

How big is the conduit? If it's big enough, pull all the wires going to the garage out, pull in three #6 copper THHN wires and a #10 or #8 THHN ground, then put a 50 amp breaker in the panel and a sub panel in the garage.

Aaron Z

See post 41...

 

[GeneV]

Ha, wrong guy, I think mine's called an edison circuit.

 

[GeneV]

How big is the conduit? If it's big enough, pull all the wires going to the garage out, pull in three #6 copper THHN wires and a #10 or #8 THHN ground, then put a 50 amp breaker in the panel and a sub panel in the garage.

Aaron Z

Naw can't, conduit is full of other wires going in there, I don't know what's all that. This is a dead end for now, booo!

At least it's not a total waste. Whoever wired this hot mess, he had 2 circuits on the same leg, from what I understand that's a big no no. I rigged the 2 circuits to a 2-pole breaker I bought for this project, so at least I got this up to code now (far as I know).

 

[Oldpath05]

I have 200 amp entrance to garage, 100amp entrance cable on a 80 amp breaker to a 300 welding amp Miller Dialarc, also I have 10/2 wire off a 30 amp breaker to a Millermatic 211 mig. I tack with mostly mig, heavy welding with stick, if I tack with stick I use 3/32>7014 on tight joints no rust, 3/32-1/8> 6011 on rusty crap with gaps. I kept all electrodes in a old fridge with 20 watt bulb on all time.

 

[MossRoad]

Ha, wrong guy, I think mine's called an edison circuit.

Nice! :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Naw can't, conduit is full of other wires going in there, I don't know what's all that. This is a dead end for now, booo!

At least it's not a total waste. Whoever wired this hot mess, he had 2 circuits on the same leg, from what I understand that's a big no no. I rigged the 2 circuits to a 2-pole breaker I bought for this project, so at least I got this up to code now (far as I know).

View attachment 668992

OK, I'm confused (nothing new there). You can't put 2 circuits on a 2-pole breaker.

 

[grsthegreat]

OK, I'm confused (nothing new there). You can't put 2 circuits on a 2-pole breaker.

actually you can, but they must share the neutral.

 

[MossRoad]

actually you can, but they must share the neutral.

Why would someone do that? Examples please.

 

[grsthegreat]

Why would someone do that? Examples please.

called an edison circuit. Example would be running a 12/3 romex to a single outlet under a kitchen sink for dishwasher and disposal. Instead of running 2 separate 12/2. Personally i hate them, there dangerous (if the neutral gets disconnected you can put 220 thru everything on those circuits). It is legal but both circuits have to be landed on two pole breaker. In commercial 3 phase jobs, lots of people pull 3 hots and 1 neutral in a conduit to make 3 separate 120 volt circuits. Done all the time...but not on my jobs.