I Need an electricians knowledge on a welder

[chrisrozz]

I am rewiring the main power cord/plug on a 60 amp, 220V welder, I am almost positive that it has been rewired before. Right now it has:

3 wires in the sleeve

1- black
1-white
1-green

The green in ground (it on the frame), but the black and white in a normal 110would mean that the black is hot and the white is neutral... but this is 220, so there are 2 wires going into 2 seperate circuit breakers.

Here's my question

No Neutral?

[Aceman]

If you're positive the welder is 240v, then yes, that white wire would be a "hot" conductor, not a neutral.

[chrisrozz]

so there is neutral at all? huh, thanks

[bluesman2a]

this is 220, so there are 2 wires going into 2 seperate circuit breakers.

I don't think this part would not be correct. You should have a 2-pole breaker for a 220 ckt. They normally take up 2 slots and have 2 lugs on a single breaker. Not sure if it's generally acceptable/up to code, but I've never seen a situation like you describe where you have a single ckt running off more than one breaker.

[JakeD]

If you determine that the white is the 2nd hot, which it seems to be, you should put some red tape on it to designate it as such.

[mike944]

If you determine that the white is the 2nd hot, which it seems to be, you should put some red tape on it to designate it as such.

Not only should you do it, it's required by code to mark a white wire used as a hot on both ends, and any intermediate junction points with some color to signify a hot lead.

[buening]

I'd look into replacing those two breakers with a dual pole breaker. All of the 240V in my garage (compressor and heater) have two hot legs and a ground...no neutral. I ran 3 strand wire and just capped off the white wire, in case anyone in the future needed a neutral on whatever it may be used on.

[dipper]

I'd look into replacing those two breakers with a dual pole breaker. All of the 240V in my garage (compressor and heater) have two hot legs and a ground...no neutral.

Having two separate breakers for 220v (H-H-G) is fine as long as:
1) they are above/below each other in the panel box (this assures opposite phase)
2) they have a handle tie installed between so both breakers are either on or off at the same time.

[Palmetto]

I am rewiring the main power cord/plug on a 60 amp, 220V welder, I am almost positive that it has been rewired before. Right now it has:

3 wires in the sleeve

1- black
1-white
1-green

The green in ground (it on the frame), but the black and white in a normal 110would mean that the black is hot and the white is neutral... but this is 220, so there are 2 wires going into 2 seperate circuit breakers.

Here's my question

No Neutral?


On a 220V welding outlet you need 3 wires. 2 hots & 1 ground. The hots connect to the breaker (the 2 pole breaker has 2 lugs. 1 hot wire in each), and the ground connects to the grounding bar in your panel. I just wired mine up last weekend. Easy-Peazy.

Do you need me to take a picture of it for you? It sounds to me like you have it figured out, but if not, I can take a pic.

here is a pic of a 2 pole breaker.
http://www.azpartsmaster.com/images/catalog/cshop/bkrqd230.jpg

here is the plug. The flat blades are the hot, and the round one is the ground.
http://www.brwelder.com/images/EXTENSION%20CORD%20PLUGS.jpg

Disclaimer: I am not an electritian. I just pay attention well, and try an learn as much as possible.

[chrisrozz]

Thanks for all the responses, you guys are awesome.