220v power source for welder

[flymach86]

I am considering buying a 220 volt MIG welder for the garage. I have a 220v source for an electric clothes drier. Can I get an adapter of some sort to plug my welder into the drier outlet? Has anyone done this before?
Cheers, Elliot

PS My first post here.

 

[mikeyr]

I am considering buying a 220 volt MIG welder for the garage. I have a 220v source for an electric clothes drier. Can I get an adapter of some sort to plug my welder into the drier outlet? Has anyone done this before?
Cheers, Elliot

PS My first post here.

Welcome !

If your drier outlet can handle the power draw of the welder then yes, you can wire the welder into it. You may have to buy a plug to put on your welder as I doubt you can find a adapter. You need to check the amps of the drier plug and make sure its the same or less for the welder. All my 220V tools have the same plug on them so I can plug anything into anywhere making sure the amps are ok first.

 

[ZRX61]

You may have to buy a plug to put on your welder as I doubt you can find a adapter.

Make one: plug to fit the drier outlet, 1ft or so of cable & a receptacle on the other end to take the welder plug
Alternatively: Put a receptacle for the welder next to, & wired thru, the drier outlet.

 

[REFLEXX]

I'd suggest what ZRX said, but don't just make it 1 foot. Go ahead and make it 10ft and you'll be able to reach more places with your buzz box!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You dryer outlet is probably protected by a 30 amp breaker. If your welder draws more than that, you might have problems. Most likely, if you are welding at less than max on the welder, you will not have problems however. I made an adapter years ago by simply buying a ready made dryer cable at HomeDepot or Lowes and a receptacle for the welder, a 4x4 deep box and a metal face plate to mount the receptacle. Use a romex type cable clamp in a knockout in the box and possibly put some rubber arount the wires to protect them some more where they pass thru the clamp.

If you are really cheap, go by a used appliance place and see if you can get the cable off a scrap dryer.

Charles

 

[TNToy]

Most 220V welders draw less than a dryer. Typically a driver is a 30A or 50A hookup. A 175-180 amp MIG machine draws 19.5A max. I've run mine on a dryer outlet quite often.

Most dryers use a plug you cannot purchase individually and install on a welder's cord. You have to do what the man above said - buy a power cord for a dryer and slap the female plug that matches your welder onto the other end of it, so you end up with a ~3 foot apater cable.

Get used to swapping plugs. I've used my 220V Miller in 4 different shops/garages. I have 5 diffrent plugs for the extension cord attached to the cart. There's a crapload of diffrent 220V plugs/receptacles out there that are all rated for 20A or more.

 

[Ironcrow]

Here's a helpful reference and parts source:
http://www.levitonproducts.com/catalog/dept_id_963.htm?sid=914981F6E09DB0DC84F2C7525A975C2E&pid=1208
Newer driers are often NEMA 14-50 and Miller welders are usually NEMA 6-50. You could buy a male 14-50 plug and swap it onto your welder's cord. Just leave off the spare pin on the 14-50, you won't find a wire in the cord to hook up to it.

My Miller 251 wants to breaker'd at 50A.

 

[1320stang]

I had a Lincoln crackerbox in my old rent house and a 220v direct drive Sears 6hp/60 gal. compressor. The breaker box was in a closet at the other end of the house, but when you walked into the house, you walked right between the washer and dryer. I bought another dryer cord and a box and receptical that matched the existing plug and receptical. I basically made an extension cord with this that mounted on the wall next to the door to the garage. The new plug plugged into the wall outlet and the dryer plugged into this. I had mounted the new box to a 1x4 that ran to the back wall behind the dryer, up under the upper wall cabinet that hung on the wall. wired into the back of the plug and out a knockout on the side of the box was a piece of big romex that ran back under the cabinet, thru the wall into the garage and back to another box mounted on another 1x4 on the other side of the wall. The compressor also hard wired into this outside box and it got a recepticle that matched my Lincoln's plug. When I was in the garage and using the compressor or welder, I'd unplug the dryer, this let my wife know I was using the circuit. When I was done in the garage, I'd turn the compressor off and typically unplug the welder, go in the house and plug the dryer back in. If she had clothes in there that needed drying, she'd leave a sticky note saying so and I'd turn the dryer on as she'd already have it turned to where she wanted. Worked out great!