Adding welder plug to garage

[bryan583]

Hi all I joined a week or so ago and been reading some amazing threads.

So a couple months ago I switched out my electric range for a gas range. Scored points with the wife while not telling her I really just wanted the 40amp breaker for my welder/compressor. I have been using a 60ft extension cord from the dryer (30amp) using a 10/4.

Since then I've picked up 6/4 wire so I can run a dedicated circuit and also use it to backfeed the panel when we loose power. The wire I picked up is the not flexible kind unfortunately. It appers to be underground wire. What would be the best was to add curves so I can route it from the garage to the basement. I need about 4- 90 degree bends. I was thinking i could use a heat gun to soften it up and bend it. At worst case I would have to strip the coating off and run conduit.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Hi all I joined a week or so ago and been reading some amazing threads.

So a couple months ago I switched out my electric range for a gas range. Scored points with the wife while not telling her I really just wanted the 40amp breaker for my welder/compressor. I have been using a 60ft extension cord from the dryer (30amp) using a 10/4.

what is the make and model on the welder?

what is the HP rating on the compressor motor?

Since then I've picked up 6/4 wire so I can run a dedicated circuit

what kind of wire is it? cordage? there isnt any building wire that is spec'd as x/4

have a picture?

is the garage attached or detached?

and also use it to backfeed the panel when we loose power. The wire I picked up is the not flexible kind unfortunately. It appers to be underground wire. What would be the best was to add curves so I can route it from the garage to the basement. I need about 4- 90 degree bends. I was thinking i could use a heat gun to soften it up and bend it. At worst case I would have to strip the coating off and run conduit.

Thanks in advance for any help.

you need to stop right there. there is no code permitted or safe way to use the welder receptacle as a generator feed to the house. first off, you would have to use a suicide cord, and second you wouldnt be able to use an interlock

install an inlet and interlocked breaker for the generator feed and a 240v receptacle for the welder (most likely 50a)....

 

[KenC]

Not a pro, but I think I can definitely say that stripping the coating off of a cable assembly is not code compliant. Heating and bending is not a good choice either as most (all?) outer jackets are thermoplastic. They soften a lot when heated, maybe to the point of failure. Post a pic of the wire you have, with the labeling clearly seen, and someone can help decipher the label and clarify if/how it can be used.

 

[bryan583]

what is the make and model on the welder?

what is the HP rating on the compressor motor?


what kind of wire is it? cordage? there isnt any building wire that is spec'd as x/4

have a picture?

is the garage attached or detached?


you need to stop right there. there is no code permitted or safe way to use the welder receptacle as a generator feed to the house. first off, you would have to use a suicide cord, and second you wouldnt be able to use an interlock

install an inlet and interlocked breaker for the generator feed and a 240v receptacle for the welder (most likely 50a)....

Welders are everlast rated for 50 amps.

Compressor is 5hp.

They wont be used as the same time.

Also i should have mentioned Im wiring a NEMA 14-50R. Then making an extension cord adapter to convert it to a welder plug.

6/4 wire is common for generators and ranges because it rated for 50 amps.

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[mike93lx]

Welders are everlast rated for 50 amps.

Compressor is 5hp.

They wont be used as the same time.

Also i should have mentioned Im wiring a NEMA 14-50R. Then making an extension cord adapter to convert it to a welder plug.

6/4 wire is common for generators and ranges because it rated for 50 amps.

6/4 SOOW SOO SO Black Rubber Cord Outdoor Wire Cable Flexible Wire/Cable

Discover 6/4 SOOW SO portable rubber cord for versatile power applications. Browse our selection of high-performance options at great prices.

wirewireelectricsupply.com

Going to gloss over the major safety issue that Wylie mentioned?

100% abandon the idea of this being useful as both a welder circuit and a generator input. It's dangerous and a code violation

6/4 cord is not common for either application you listed, either.

 

[PCustoms]

6/4 wire is common for generators and ranges because it rated for 50 amps.

6/4 SOOW SOO SO Black Rubber Cord Outdoor Wire Cable Flexible Wire/Cable

Discover 6/4 SOOW SO portable rubber cord for versatile power applications. Browse our selection of high-performance options at great prices.

wirewireelectricsupply.com

Wylie is a very knowledgeable electrician. You aren't. I recommend reading and responding carefully.

That cable isnt for wiring an outlet.

You can't back feed the way you have suggested.

Your compressor, if true 5hp, can't (economically) have a plug.

 

[mark-NJ]

Going to gloss over the major safety issue that Wylie mentioned?

100% abandon the idea of this being useful as both a welder circuit and a generator input. It's dangerous and a code violation

6/4 cord is not common for either application you listed, either.

Not to pile on, but ^^^^^^^ that. All of it.

 

[bryan583]

*Correction the compressor is a 3HP

I have attached pictures of the wire and the generator plugs. I have currently used the twist lock 30 amp but wanted to be able to run off the 50amp. My intention was to create an extension cable (ref :suicide cord??) with the same ends so I could to run generator when needed.

Up till now when i have lost power I turn every breaker off including main, start the generator and plug it in then turn on the baiscs. Just wanted to be able to run more if needed.
We have lost power due to storms/tornado about 3 times in 6yrs.

Garage is attached, built in 1964.

When I bought the house the garage was unfinished. I since have ran new outlets with 12-2 , insulated and drywalled.

 

[mike93lx]

Suicide cords are a terrible idea and could kill someone or get your power line cut.

In an emergency, you do what you have to do, but when you can plan, there is no excuse. Do it right.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Welders are everlast rated for 50 amps.

Compressor is 5hp.

They wont be used as the same time.

Also i should have mentioned Im wiring a NEMA 14-50R. Then making an extension cord adapter to convert it to a welder plug.

6/4 wire is common for generators and ranges because it rated for 50 amps.

6/4 SOOW SOO SO Black Rubber Cord Outdoor Wire Cable Flexible Wire/Cable

Discover 6/4 SOOW SO portable rubber cord for versatile power applications. Browse our selection of high-performance options at great prices.

wirewireelectricsupply.com

in your first post you said you were gonna use this wire for the circuit. you cannot do so. cordage is not permitted to be used for in-wall building wiring....

6/4 is NOT common for ranges because it is NOT building wiring. it is flexible cordage.

you need to buy the right wire for the application, if needing 50a, would be nm-b 6/2.... however, welder circuits can actually use reduced sized wiring...

as far as the generator feed goes, install a separate inlet with interlocked breaker in the panel.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

*Correction the compressor is a 3HP

I have attached pictures of the wire and the generator plugs. I have currently used the twist lock 30 amp but wanted to be able to run off the 50amp. My intention was to create an extension cable (ref :suicide cord??) with the same ends so I could to run generator when needed.

Up till now when i have lost power I turn every breaker off including main, start the generator and plug it in then turn on the baiscs. Just wanted to be able to run more if needed.
We have lost power due to storms/tornado about 3 times in 6yrs.

Garage is attached, built in 1964.

When I bought the house the garage was unfinished. I since have ran new outlets with 12-2 , insulated and drywalled.

this is not code permitted nor is it safe.

you need an inlet so that you arent using a suicide cord.

that ST cord you have would only work to go from the generator to the inlet. then you need proper building wiring...

youre not gonna get help from anyone here if you want to do things the wrong way

 

[alfredeneuman]

400.12 Uses Not Permitted. Unless specifically permitted in 400.10, flexible cables, flexible cord sets, and power supply cords shall not be used for the following:
(1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure
(2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings,
suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors
(3) Where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings
(4) Where attached to building surfaces

 

[Zeke]

It's not that hard to add the circuit and the generator inlet in separate operations. I put my inlet in new box made for the purpose with a built in breaker/transfer. I moved some circuits to a sub to make room for a another breaker and run to another sub which has the welding circuit. I don 't know why so many say, "I'll never use the compressor and the welder at the same time." It's not hard at all to do it right.

Dollars to donuts your compressor runs off a 20 amp receptacle. 5 HP is a fat lie in most cases. It's like stating your all wheel drive vehicle has 400HP when the 'at the wheels' HP is less. And if it came with a cord, it's not 5HP in reality.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It's not that hard to add the circuit and the generator inlet in separate operations. I put my inlet in new box made for the purpose with a built in breaker/transfer. I moved some circuits to a sub to make room for a another breaker and run to another sub which has the welding circuit. I don 't know why so many say, "I'll never use the compressor and the welder at the same time." It's not hard at all to do it right.

Dollars to donuts your compressor runs off a 20 amp receptacle. 5 HP is a fat lie in most cases. It's like stating your all wheel drive vehicle has 400HP when the 'at the wheels' HP is less. And if it came with a cord, it's not 5HP in reality.

Ive seen true 5HP compressors with cords attached. Had no plug though as it was meant to be hardwired

 

[MovingAlong]

Hi all I joined a week or so ago and been reading some amazing threads.

So a couple months ago I switched out my electric range for a gas range. Scored points with the wife while not telling her I really just wanted the 40amp breaker for my welder/compressor. I have been using a 60ft extension cord from the dryer (30amp) using a 10/4.

Since then I've picked up 6/4 wire so I can run a dedicated circuit and also use it to backfeed the panel when we loose power. The wire I picked up is the not flexible kind unfortunately. It appers to be underground wire. What would be the best was to add curves so I can route it from the garage to the basement. I need about 4- 90 degree bends. I was thinking i could use a heat gun to soften it up and bend it. At worst case I would have to strip the coating off and run conduit.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Working with a licensed electrician would be money well spent. The plan above has ideas, what the plan needs is experienced knowledge. A licensed electrician may just save your house, your life and the lives of those you love.

But this is still just internet advice and only worth what you paid...

 

[Zeke]

Ive seen true 5HP compressors with cords attached. Had no plug though as it was meant to be hardwired

YOU know what I meant.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

where did the OP go?

 

[alfredeneuman]

where did the OP go?

He was here at 4:33 this morning.
Could it be he expected different results?

 

[bryan583]

Im still here!

Where to start.......

I understand the better why not to use the plug as a both a welder and generator. I will only be using it for my welder and air compressor. Which I corrected above is a 3HP.

Im not running this wire through a wall. My garage is finished already, I am running this wire along the wall/celings as if I were running conduit. Whats the difference between using what I have and stripping the outer insulation to reveal the THHN wire and running that through conduit?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Im still here!

Where to start.......

I understand the better why not to use the plug as a both a welder and generator. I will only be using it for my welder and air compressor. Which I corrected above is a 3HP.

Im not running this wire through a wall. My garage is finished already, I am running this wire along the wall/celings as if I were running conduit.

no difference in the eyes of the NEC. youre using it as permanent building wiring, regardless if you run it inside or outside the walls... its not an approved use for cordage... furthermore, the stranding is a way higher count than building wiring. good luck terminating that stuff on a breaker or receptacle.

Whats the difference between using what I have and stripping the outer insulation to reveal the THHN wire and running that through conduit?

cordage doesnt have THWN or THHN conductors though. did you notice the strand count in what you have? definitely way more than 19 strands... and usually the individual conductors arent labeled either... so many issues with using what you want to use... just go buy some #6 THWN and be done with it