putting in plug for welder

[Scrambler82]

Hey,
Do not attach the welder to your HW Heater wiring, first as stated in earlier post the wiring for a HWH is not up to the task and second you will forget to switch off and on the so-called switch.

Since you have a wood working shop (I think I read that) you can get some of the double up 120 Volt Circuit Breakers (if you have to), use them on four of the existing circuits and put in a dedicated 220V welder plug. Pick circuit that will not be used together, EVER.
Wiring for the Plug, the circuit breaker and the plug itself is dependent on the amperage draw of the welder and if you want the welder to perform as spec’d and to last, not burn up internally, then the proper hookup is a MUST !

My motto is “Do it right the first time”, the only way to make thing workout the way the were meant to and last.

One other thing is if you go your way… keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case, at least you can put the fire out the correct way.

One MORE thing, get the properly sized extension cord to use with the welder, too small on the gauge of wire and the welder could go up in smoke along with the extension or the house wiring, too large on the wire gauge no such thing except the cord will get heavy fast.

 

[deereman75]

One more thing, I have a lincoln AC225, and it draws 50 amps at max output, I have it hooked up to a 30 amp curcit, and just dont turn it up beyond 160 amps or so, so it never draws more then 30 amps, and it has never tripped the breaker. And for the cord, make it as thick as you can, I use 4 gauge. (can bairly hook up to the plug, it is so thick)

 

[Gizmo2]

Doing it right is cheaper than doing it wrong and burning your house down.

Hey,
Do not attach the welder to your HW Heater wiring, first as stated in earlier post the wiring for a HWH is not up to the task and second you will forget to switch off and on the so-called switch.

Since you have a wood working shop (I think I read that) you can get some of the double up 120 Volt Circuit Breakers (if you have to), use them on four of the existing circuits and put in a dedicated 220V welder plug. Pick circuit that will not be used together, EVER.
Wiring for the Plug, the circuit breaker and the plug itself is dependent on the amperage draw of the welder and if you want the welder to perform as spec壇 and to last, not burn up internally, then the proper hookup is a MUST !

My motto is 泥o it right the first time? the only way to make thing workout the way the were meant to and last.

One other thing is if you go your way keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case, at least you can put the fire out the correct way.

One MORE thing, get the properly sized extension cord to use with the welder, too small on the gauge of wire and the welder could go up in smoke along with the extension or the house wiring, too large on the wire gauge no such thing except the cord will get heavy fast.

Sound advice.

 

[MESSMAKER]

My welder pulls 22amps at full power. My hot water heater is on a 30 amp circuit. Why would it not be up to the task? The welder pulls less than the water heater. I am leaning toward just installing a welding plug on the end of the wire going to the water heater and putting a receptacle near my sub panel. For the 4 or five times a year that it is needed, I will unplug the W.H. and plug in the welder. to the receptacle. That as I understand, does follow code. I talked to my plumber and he said that water heater would be fine. He said that it could stay unplugged for a couple hours in non use times and not make a difference. He also said that if I forgot overnight, it would only take an hour or so to catch up. A 30' 10g extension cord and a welder in the driveway is a pretty good reminder, so I am not too worried.

 

[SSdoxie]

My welder pulls 22amps at full power. My hot water heater is on a 30 amp circuit. Why would it not be up to the task? The welder pulls less than the water heater. I am leaning toward just installing a welding plug on the end of the wire going to the water heater and putting a receptacle near my sub panel. For the 4 or five times a year that it is needed, I will unplug the W.H. and plug in the welder. to the receptacle. That as I understand, does follow code. I talked to my plumber and he said that water heater would be fine. He said that it could stay unplugged for a couple hours in non use times and not make a difference. He also said that if I forgot overnight, it would only take an hour or so to catch up. A 30' 10g extension cord and a welder in the driveway is a pretty good reminder, so I am not too worried.

With the amps your welder pulls, there is no problem going the route you plan other maybe a cold shower in the morning if you forget to plug it back in.
If you wanted to add a dedicated welder plug with a "neutral" wire to use the 115v plug on the end of your cord, buy 2 of those double circuit 15 or 20 amp breakers to free up room in your panel. If have used these and work great. Take out 4 breakers, add 2 115v double breakers and still have room for 220v breaker.

 

[JB4310]

If you have a sub panel in the shop what is the capacity? if there is enough for both the welder and the WH then do the second panel off the sub just for the welder.

If you can't have both the wh and welder draw at the same time due to the sub panels capacity then you need an interlock type device or a double pole switch, if you want it to be idiot proof.

Otherwise as long as the sub-panel is wired and fused properly, you should just trip the load breaker that feeds the sub-panel or the subs main breaker, if you forget to turn off the WH and start welding when the WH is in demand.

I'm no electrician and have had some less than kosher welder circuits in the past, wired my first one with what ever I could find when I was just 16, never had a serious problem, but was always aware of the situation. Now I do it by the book so it's idiot proof.

JB.

 

[RPW]

You can go the route of having you water heater on a plug but does you local electrical codes allow it? Mine don't.

 

[hr3]

My welder pulls 22amps at full power. My hot water heater is on a 30 amp circuit. Why would it not be up to the task? The welder pulls less than the water heater. I am leaning toward just installing a welding plug on the end of the wire going to the water heater and putting a receptacle near my sub panel. For the 4 or five times a year that it is needed, I will unplug the W.H. and plug in the welder. to the receptacle. That as I understand, does follow code. I talked to my plumber and he said that water heater would be fine. He said that it could stay unplugged for a couple hours in non use times and not make a difference. He also said that if I forgot overnight, it would only take an hour or so to catch up. A 30' 10g extension cord and a welder in the driveway is a pretty good reminder, so I am not too worried.

This works and dosn't break any 2011 nec codes that I can find..:thumbsup:

 

[crazyal]

I wouldn't use the hot water circuit. I know me and I know sooner or later I would forget to turn the heater on only to wake up to the little lady screaming at the ice cold water and how she's now late for work.

 

[mjncad]

Even if the welder draws 22-amps, which is lower than your water heater's 30-amp circuit capacity; there may be an inrush of current when you strike an arc that exceeds the circuit capacity just long enough to cause a problem.

Are their an electrical and/or welding experts reading this post that can verify my supposition?