Need Your Thoughts On A New Welder

[jthibodeau89]

When looking at Lowes or other big box store check for precut tag ends. You can find them discounted 20-50%. I paid something like $0.65/ft for a 30' piece of 2-2-4 AL to repair a spot the excavator dug up. Needed 25', but the 30' cut piece was 45% discount.

No need for conduit indoors. I ran the 225'direct bury 2-2-2-4 cable to the barn underground in 1 1/4" pvc conduit just to be safe.

 

[Sberry]

2 alum is good for 90 panel to panel or to a recept. Good for 100 for service entrance.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I'm late to the discussion, but my Miller Multimatic 200 does really, really well on a 20A 110 up to about 5/16" material 6010 and mig. On 220 20Amp it goes to 3/8." Neat welder, portable, easy to use. I've mostly used it on 75/25 mix using the mig function, but even with all the new stuff, I'd buy my Miller Multimatic 200 again.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'm late to the discussion, but my Miller Multimatic 200 does really, really well on a 20A 110 up to about 5/16" material 6010 and mig. On 220 20Amp it goes to 3/8." Neat welder, portable, easy to use. I've mostly used it on 75/25 mix using the mig function, but even with all the new stuff, I'd buy my Miller Multimatic 200 again.

They are an excellent welder for my uses, too.

 

[yomax4]

To back up a page or 2. It doesn't matter if you have a $90 POS from Ebay, a $3000 Miller XMT Or a $3000 Hypertherm. If it's an inverter and out of warranty and the main board blows, It's Junk. To say a Miller, Lincoln, Hobart or other is redeemable because they have service centers is bunk. I had a Hypertherm Powermax 45 60 days out of the 3 yr warranty and it blew up. Hypertherm said So sorry it's out of warranty and the new main board is $1365.00. Some main boards cost more than the welder cost. I see All Brands from 3.2-5 years old blown up at the service centers I visit and they all share the same issue. None are made in USA.
They ( All Brands other than OTC, Lorch and Fronius) are imported from China, Italy and Mexico. All you can do is pray that yours wasn't built on Friday. Good Luck

 

[Avenger]

Wanted to update this thread. I took the advise posted here and decided to run a 100amp sub panel into my garage, with a 60amp circuit off of that for my new welder. I did some research into how this is accomplished and soon realized that I'm in over my head. I can run the wires, but hooking things into the panels is beyond my knowledge. I called a residential electrical company to provide a quote. Two weeks later, they finally showed up. Looked at my project and said "Oh! This is really easy!" and then quoted me $4,127 for the project!
At this point, I've already priced the components I need, and the total was just over $700. I denied that quote.

Fortunately, my friend who is a retired electrician was able to help me. I purchased the components and spent the afternoon this last weekend installing the sub panel. Got the circuit ran and all is well. Last night, I finished putting together the welding cart from Everlast and put my new Everlast PowerMTS 251Si on it!

Thank you to everyone who commented and helped me figure this thing out. I cant wait to get to work and get some projects done!

 

[Sberry]

As a general note. The new panel was a great idea and great investment especially at the right cost. Does your welder come with a plug and cord? If its hard wired and comes 10 cord or better then a 60A is fine but if you use a 50A recept it should have a 50 breaker. There are some machines it really wouldnt be an issue but really a 50 outlet should have a 50 breaker due to machine design.

 

[Avenger]

Yeah, the only reason I went 60amp is because of availability. I may downgrade it when I find a 50amp, but everyone was sold out around here. I contacted Everlast, and they said a 60amp will be just fine. The welder itself has a breaker on it too. Not sure the rating, didn't look that close. I think I'll be fine. I hope I'll be fine.

 

[Sberry]

Probably is. If it has a number 12 cord sposed to be on 50. Its not that big a deal, I only mention it cause its a subject with lots of confusion and a lot of opinion that isnt very code compliant.

 

[Sberry]

I saw the chart the other day about how to calc the stuff from what is the electric service guide on these machines but was so busy I forget exactly now. I need to see if I can find it again. Might have been on Miller or Hobart. That machine has a lot of power. So many features I would be lost.

 

[jthibodeau89]

Yeah, the only reason I went 60amp is because of availability. I may downgrade it when I find a 50amp, but everyone was sold out around here. I contacted Everlast, and they said a 60amp will be just fine. The welder itself has a breaker on it too. Not sure the rating, didn't look that close. I think I'll be fine. I hope I'll be fine.

Whar looks like a breaker on the back of the unit is listed as a power switch in the manual. Not sure if it has over current protection. The cord is 10awg.

 

[Sberry]

Thats great, I was curious about these and have looked at a couple machines and saw somewhere one listed a 13 ga wire,,, ha. With a 10 it prolly is listed for a 60. The US brand are notorious for confusing manuals but we are familiar with them but these add another layer to it without a wire guide. They seem to leave it to extrapolation and engineering, given the nature of these and diy it couldnt hurt to have some lay terms. ???? US ones also tend to assume the installer is familiar with nema and nec.

 

[Sberry]

I wonder how much it could hurt to simply upsize the minium by one and clearly state that if using cable it needs to be another one? I think this needs to have 8 wire if cable due to duty and possibly 8 if its a shared pipe. Same for the little 200 class migs and new inverters. Anyone really going to run a single circuit pipe just so they can use 14,,, then add adapters at the devices for termination? I think the 6-50 lists 10 and some may include 12 as I recall but 10 is so much more robust and with machines like buzzers it gives the performance a little boost especially as the wire gets a little longer and the current goes up. Not a noticeable gain for 50A class machines after that though but quite a leap from 12 to 10, not so much gain by going to 8 but code calls for ity on higher duty units like some 250 migs.

 

[Sberry]

I say some because my red 255 calls for 10 and a MM251 calls 8. I would tend to bet if I had to this green is a 10 machine in pipe or 8 cable.

 

[jthibodeau89]

I have a 20ft 8ga cord on my Lincoln 256 MIG

 

[Sberry]

Seeing as how I dont own a stand alone electric range anymore the only thing I even have would overheat a 10 wire is a 300 synchro. Cant think of a single other thing I use requires a bigger wire. Largest motor is 5.

 

[Sberry]

Ready made cords come 8. Its so they can use all the machines that come factory 50 plug.

 

[big bubba]

despite all the decisions on installing the aux box in garage, bet you're pleased you're going that route than with the original gen set idea. you'll thank yourself many times over, looks like lots of good advice here best regards

 

[Sberry]

Absolutely no doubt some wire and a panel is a good investment here. Its one thing when a guy absolutely positively has to use an engine drive but shop fabrication is a pain in the azz. Can use different machines now at different voltage even. Could let a modern inverter idle for the next 10 years for the power of a day run from some welders or gensets.

 

[Sberry]

I harp on this a little due to the fact its worth knowing a bit about some of the specifics and the code requirements to special outlets such as a welder. First, I cant think of any other equipment comes with 6-50 and if the rules are followed in some cases it can be used for other things and if they are followed it prevents their use for others. Motors have special requirements etc.
Something to consider is the difference between require and personal preference and code and some assumptions that thee code people are idiots and dont know what they are doing. Good chances if a guy doesnt fully understand why then its him that doesnt and not a fault with the code. Second, because its code minimum does not mean its not adequate. There is a statement in the book talks about this, doesnt mean its a design works best but its safe to use etc. However,,, upsize and upgradeusually well reserved for special circumstances by the educated rather than the amateur thinks his outlet is the biggest and badsest and needs 2 or 3 sizes bigger,,, in some cases 1 isnt even helpful and in some cases the reccomended size is the right one for reasons most lay types havnt considered all specifics. And,,, there are a few.