Mark @ Everlast
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Wiring code in the NEC for welders is NOT the same as other equipment. No neutral is required, nor used in general.
welder question
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Texasmark
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Ha! My Miller 200A AC/DC stick has a ground wire as does the service to my welder plug and I'ma gonna use it. Obviously if everything goes according to plan, or if all the external parts are isolated from the power lines maybe not. But considering the welding wires that you hook to work, one is the return, or ground, we are talking about 200A capacity and something could short out in the welder and make the whole shebang hot! So you can keep yours and I'll take my Miller.
Thanks,
Mark
Ken45101
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Caution, you are talking about two different wires!
Mark said that a NEUTRAL is not required. Texasmark said that his miller has a GROUND WIRE. Those are two different wires. :thumbsup:
Yes, the ground wire is there to prevent the case from getting hot (electrically). It should trip the breaker if there is a malfunction. A neutral (middle of the 220 or the 110 circuit) is not required for a 220 welder.
I recently bought some wire at an electrical shop. I said I wanted 10-2 with ground. He asked me what for. When I said a welder, he said "that's right then."
"10-2 with ground" is not the same as 10-3 wire. With 10-3, the neutral is full gauge wire and fully insulated.
Ken
Mark @ Everlast
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Ken,
You're right. There is a difference between a ground wire and a neutral, professionally speaking. As far as the "ground" clamp on the welder itself, it is technically referred to as "work". The 200 amps aren't being pulled from the wall itself, but being transformed...Usually, a 200 amp will pull right around 50-60 amps if it is a transformer welder.
On some units, there are separate grounding "bolts" that allow the use of a bonded ground that goes to a separate grounded rod on the exterior to drain any emf or static away from the case and the unit itself. Miller and others have complicated, grounding protocols that can be followed if some sort of interference or problem occurs with the welder that seems "mysterious" in nature.
You're right. There is a difference between a ground wire and a neutral, professionally speaking. As far as the "ground" clamp on the welder itself, it is technically referred to as "work". The 200 amps aren't being pulled from the wall itself, but being transformed...Usually, a 200 amp will pull right around 50-60 amps if it is a transformer welder.
On some units, there are separate grounding "bolts" that allow the use of a bonded ground that goes to a separate grounded rod on the exterior to drain any emf or static away from the case and the unit itself. Miller and others have complicated, grounding protocols that can be followed if some sort of interference or problem occurs with the welder that seems "mysterious" in nature.
i read through this and was going to post yesterday but i didn't want to dispute or question your facts. it's still bugging me though... you've only got 120v coming to the garage but it has a 10-2 wire?
i've never known anyone to have extra 10-2 wire laying around in enough length to run out to a garage with the intent of 120v only. the usual quick and dirty is done with 12-2 since it's so much more common and cheaper. i can't think of anything (other than the max setting on some 120v welders) that would warrant more than 20a on a 120v circuit, so it made me wonder whether it really was only a 120v service on 10-2 going to the garage or whether it was an older 120v/240v service (pre-dating the 4th wire requirement).
i'll assume you are fairly certain about the 120v only, so i won't elaborate, but if you aren't 100% certain that it is 120v only, just say so and there are people here who can help sort it out.
i've never known anyone to have extra 10-2 wire laying around in enough length to run out to a garage with the intent of 120v only. the usual quick and dirty is done with 12-2 since it's so much more common and cheaper. i can't think of anything (other than the max setting on some 120v welders) that would warrant more than 20a on a 120v circuit, so it made me wonder whether it really was only a 120v service on 10-2 going to the garage or whether it was an older 120v/240v service (pre-dating the 4th wire requirement).
i'll assume you are fairly certain about the 120v only, so i won't elaborate, but if you aren't 100% certain that it is 120v only, just say so and there are people here who can help sort it out.
well the last owner wired my garage and i have limited knowledge with electrical so i'm not really sure what i have other that the feed wire says 10-2 and the garage only has regular 110 outlets.
However i do have a small sub panel and an outlet to plug in my generator to back feed my house for power outages.
I know that's 220 but i figured i couldn't use that for a welder i assumed the 10-2 would be too light a wire to use for welding?
That would be awesome if i could just plug into that generator receptacle to weld.
However i do have a small sub panel and an outlet to plug in my generator to back feed my house for power outages.
I know that's 220 but i figured i couldn't use that for a welder i assumed the 10-2 would be too light a wire to use for welding?
That would be awesome if i could just plug into that generator receptacle to weld.
My freebie mobile home was set up with 110v only source using 6awg THN and they just jumped the breaker so both legs were the same leg :thumbsup:
people can do all sorts of weird crap. :laughing: My freebie mobile home had #6 THN running to the breaker, but only delivering 120v. to get all the breakers to power, the put in a jumper across the poles at the main.
10gauge it the right thing to do for a long 20 amp run. It is code for a 30 amp circuit. A 30 amp circuit would be fine for many welders, but I'm not sure how the voltage drop would be. It would be worth trying, but remember, you are going to loose all your lights like that since you will no longer have 120v power at the garage if you just turn that line into a 240v line.
people can do all sorts of weird crap. :laughing: My freebie mobile home had #6 THN running to the breaker, but only delivering 120v. to get all the breakers to power, the put in a jumper across the poles at the main.
10gauge it the right thing to do for a long 20 amp run. It is code for a 30 amp circuit. A 30 amp circuit would be fine for many welders, but I'm not sure how the voltage drop would be. It would be worth trying, but remember, you are going to loose all your lights like that since you will no longer have 120v power at the garage if you just turn that line into a 240v line.
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