6-30 receptacle to welder

[PoorOwner]

the 6-30 seems like the receptacle to use for 30 amp 220v garage appliances, like compressor or garage heater, because the other styles have a neutral involved and meant for a dryer.

Anyway, welders I have seen to come with 6-50 plug even though they calls for a 30 amp breaker. So to use such a welder is it advisable to get a 6-30 plug and a 6-50 welder receptacle, 6 gauge wire to make an adapter? (only plugged in when in use, and assuming a dedicated 50 amp circuit is not available, nor is needed for what the welder calls for).

The 6-30 and 6-50 difference is about 1 prong being horizontal and most of the plugs can be configured for either by adjusting the prong orientation.

 

[sberry]

The welder is designed to be plugged in to 50a circuits provided the wire is 12 or better. The manuals are really written for electric professionals. If the minimum wire which is 14 then the maximum breaker is 30

 

[sberry]

An adapter for these could use 12 wire on circuits to 50.. If it is used on 30 it could be 14 but for the fact that the recept isnt listed for use with that small conductors. The only machines that need better than a 12 in pipe or 10 cable are 250 amp wire feeds which may have a high duty cycle.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

the 6-30 seems like the receptacle to use for 30 amp 220v garage appliances, like compressor or garage heater, because the other styles have a neutral involved and meant for a dryer.

Anyway, welders I have seen to come with 6-50 plug even though they calls for a 30 amp breaker. So to use such a welder is it advisable to get a 6-30 plug and a 6-50 welder receptacle, 6 gauge wire to make an adapter? (only plugged in when in use, and assuming a dedicated 50 amp circuit is not available, nor is needed for what the welder calls for).

The 6-30 and 6-50 difference is about 1 prong being horizontal and most of the plugs can be configured for either by adjusting the prong orientation.

For motor driven equipment, the choice of outlet and plug really depends on the motor horsepower rating. If over 3 hp the equipment will need to be hardwired as standard NEMA plugs and outlets are not rated for more than about 3 hp.

Circuits for Welders have different wiring circumstances than general use circuits.

With that being said, what model welder do u have or will be getting?

 

[PoorOwner]

For motor driven equipment, the choice of outlet and plug really depends on the motor horsepower rating. If over 3 hp the equipment will need to be hardwired as standard NEMA plugs and outlets are not rated for more than about 3 hp.

Circuits for Welders have different wiring circumstances than general use circuits.

With that being said, what model welder do u have or will be getting?

hp is 5 as the product title says for the compressor, but running amp is 22 amp. The motor is not continuously running but I guess when sand blasting it does.

I would really like to use a plug setup if possible and not breaking code

The welder I want is AHP alphatig 200x

 

[Daedalus]

Went though this recently. Had 6-50 outlets, which are fine for the Miller 211. Then bought the Lotos plasma cutter, which has a L6-30 plug.

Adapters are common in the electric vehicle world. I tried buying one from an online source, but they were out of stock.
http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&products_id=18

So I just bought a 2' cable from lowes and the plugs from Amazon to make my own.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VL6X22/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0095GKC8U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[houdni]

heres the receptacle im using for my welder.. powers a synchrowave 250

 

[wyliesdiesels]

hp is 5 as the product title says for the compressor, but running amp is 22 amp. The motor is not continuously running but I guess when sand blasting it does.

I would really like to use a plug setup if possible and not breaking code

The welder I want is AHP alphatig 200x

Standard NEMA plugs are rated to about 3HP. So unless u find a plug and outlet that is rated for 5 or more HP, then it needs to be hardwired.

And circuits for motors are wired based on HP.

Wire is sized @ 125% of NEC table FLC.

Dor 5HP u need #10 THHN or #8/2 NM-b aka romex.

 

[bry@n]

So I have a miller 211 and I am wired for 20 amp plugs.

What wire should I use for the miller 211? I have #12 now for the 20amp plugs.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The welder is designed to be plugged in to 50a circuits provided the wire is 12 or better. The manuals are really written for electric professionals. If the minimum wire which is 14 then the maximum breaker is 30

The reason why "smaller" welder (like a Miller 211) is wired for a 6-50 is because most welding shops already have a 6-50 outlet installed for bigger welders !

What ever you do, make sure the breaker is sized to PROTECT THE WIRE to the outlet. You would think that a 30A breaker is oversized for 14 gauge wire, but this is where welder "duty cycle" comes in.

IMHO, if you install a 6-50 (L6-50) outlet and the wire and breaker are sized lover than 50A, you should label the outlet for maximum "sustained" current. Not required, but I think it is just a good idea.

 

[PoorOwner]

IMHO, if you install a 6-50 (L6-50) outlet and the wire and breaker are sized lover than 50A, you should label the outlet for maximum "sustained" current. Not required, but I think it is just a good idea.

Is it to code to do this? 6-50 receptacle with 30 amp wire and breaker.

It's like putting a 20amp receptacle on a 15 amp breaker circuit which I think most will say it's wrong to do (but won't likely harm anything beside tripping breakers)