Linclon 125 DC 115 volt is tripping the breaker

[ampa]

Thanks for the reply "Transit"......but I'm unable to open your supplied link for some odd reason....I've had problems in the past with viewing YouTube clips but for some odd reason once again.....I have no more problems.....could be that I'm still running XP Pro on this new Emachine of mine....my other new custom built computer running Windows 7 Ultimate gets very little use since I only use it for editing my HD home movie clips......I will try to open your supplied link on that computer when I get back home this afternoon....thanks Ampa

 

[Soundguy]

remember that 1000w is about 9a at 120v.. I know you keep mentioning this '1000w' block heater like it's a huge draw.. but really.. the average hairdrier is more of a draw..

soundguy

 

[ampa]

I know what your sayin' Soundguy.....I'm not reffering or meaning this outlet would run my Lincoln wire feed welder....I wouldn't even think of running my 15 amp rated chop saw on this light guage extention cord....if and when I use this 14 guage extention cord which at the time is all I had to choose from....just didn't want to throw it out.....I needed something small as I needed to run two sections of wire through the same 1/2 or 3/4 PVC pipe to run my security lights and the one for the tractors "B"Heater.....in fact the only option I had for the two lights was some old two wire extention cord I also had kicking around down the basement at the time.......and this is plugged in the same outlet... and when I had the blockheater switched on....it was dark out a few times this winter when I needed to use the tractor.....and it never tripped the breaker.....I was just down the basement checking the guage wires out on my chop saw and my Lincoln welder both units have no more heavier guage power cords than my table saw/mitre saw/1/2" heavy duty Black and Decker contractors drill/ or my heavy duty drill press...now what I'm meaning to say how? can anyone run something like these through a 20-30 amp dedicated outlet without burning up these power cords....just my thinkin'.....but I'm open to all answers.....and if someone on this forum can tell me why....then I've just learned something I didn't know before....I'm not tryin' to be a smart guy or anything like the sorts.....cause I do appreciate all the good advice you guys have gave me so far on this topic....infact I didn't expect so many to answer my call for help.......U guys are all a "Great" bunch of people.....this thread or topic should or will be on the archives for someone else who needs help or information for this same question...just give the other person the link to this....long and winded thread.....and once again thanks ever so much guys..... take care.......Ampa......:thumbsup:

 

[Soundguy]

if I was in a situation where I couldn't add a line, I might think about adding a 20a breaker to the box, and running some romex or other suitable line right out of the box.. hard wire a plug on the end for your welder.. 220 or 110.. kill panel, add breaker an line when needed to run.. buy a heavy gauge so you can have some length to it.

then you can kill the panel and pull it when done..

that or make a heavy gauge extension cord from romex and plug into a dryer outlet.. and run a real welder.. etc.

soundguy

 

[ampa]

Yep.....this was what I thinkin' of doin' Soundguy.....Romex would be way too heavy to manage....I managed to find the amp rating on the back of the Lincoln.....how stupid of me of not looking there first instead of looking on the inside cover.....anyhow it's rated for 20 amps....then it mentions something about 90 amps and 20%....I'm sure they're not meaning that you can only run it at this amperage don't make sense......cause it don't mention duel power like 115/230 volts.....what good would this welder be if you couldn't use the full 125 amps.....like buyin' a new car with a 2 cyl. engine sayin' it could run a 150 mph when infact it could if you added 6 more cylinders lol......anyhow I picked up an 50' 12 guage heavy duty extention but it's only rated for 15 amps so back it goes for a full refund....and over to Lowes and see what they have to offer on an 50' 20 amp extention cord....I don't mind going this route cause I can always pack it up and use at a new place if we moved....I didn't buy this Lincoln welder at Princess Auto as they only sell the 230/180 amp. units....I got this Lincoln welder at Canadian Tire....and they are not as forgiving as P Auto....this store needs unused and in the original package/carton before I could return it unless there is something wrong with an item then they may just exchange it for another one.... same kind.....anyhow like I mentioned before I'm only gonna' be weldin' maybe at the most 1/8 steel......I would not trust my welding any heavier than this....so why would I want a 230 volt welder....well if I get good enough in the future....and I come into some extra cash.....then maybe I'd get the Big Boy....I'm gettin' way too old for new toys don't U think.....Thanks again Soundguy for the great work around....I hate to hear that word impossible.....and as always take care.......

 

[Soundguy]

th e 90a/20%% is duty cycle.. for instance.. at 90a the duty cycle is real low..2 minutes of weld, , then 8 to cool off at least..

a small welder can do alot of stuff if you take yer time.. clean metal, v-grooves, and lots of passes. I have a 70a stick, and a 235A stick.. learned on the 70..

soundguy

 

[toy]

ampa in our lowes you can get flexable wire 10 3 that would make a good extension cord. They may even have a heavier gauge than that and then you could put your own ends on it.

I have made up several extension cords for 220 v using #6 wire, but I got that wire at an electrical supply house. I also have one that is 75 foot long which was given to me, a friend that was tearing down a guarriage and didn't have need for it any longer, that was my lucky day.

 

[Soundguy]

I've got a 4-wire extension cord for my 220 welder.. it's 20' long and about the size of a quarter.. heavy stiff stuff.. works great.

soundguy

 

[toy]

Soundguy is that wire strand wire or is it solid wire? Are you using that 4th wire?

 

[_RaT_]

All extension cords are stranded. The only reason for 4 wire is when you run either 3 phase or 120/240V in combination. The rule of thumb for circuits is 14 gauge is protected with a 15 amp breaker and should not be loaded continuously with more than 80% of that rating or 1440 watts or 12 amps. For a 20 amp circuit its 1920 watts or 16 amps. That's where you need the NEC code book. Welders are wired based on duty cycle. Its more complicated than I want to explain here*. A bare bones minimum will be a 20 amp breaker for any welder running on 120V. I trip my old Millermatic 90 all the time on a 15 amp breaker. If I run it to the highest settings, I trip a 20 amp easily as well. I have wired it to a 30 amp 120V with #10 and the problems have subsided. The welder protects itself with a thermal breaker, the wire is protected by the breaker. How long the run of wire is from the main panel is also critical. Stick a volt meter on the outlet and have someone look at it while you weld. Look at that voltage which will be less than the static voltage (no load). If you have 120 volts static and you read a voltage below about 110V or more while welding, your developing a substantial voltage drop. The wire is the primary reason for this for this drop given the current welding configuration. Solution, up the wire size/ breaker trip current, increase the voltage form 120V to 240V (or more) or decrease the current draw. Since most welders use a pre-determinded voltage (some are bi-voltage), your only sloution is to increase the wire and breaker size. Most homes (includes rentals) use convenince outlets with 15 amp/14 gauge wire. In my opinion, garages should have 20 amp outlets.

*A good example of wire size not matching breaker size is with AC units. Most homes have a much larger fused disconnect than the wire could continuosly handle. The reason for the large breaker is to handle the extremely large startup current the compressor requires. Once running, the compressor draws significantly less current.
Look on the compressor unit. You will see "maximum fuse size" and "minimum circuit size". Minimum circuit size refers to the wire size. You can always go larger.