Nema 6-50 Receptical

[manuelc]

I just bought a lincoln 185 tig welder. It says it requires a 50 amp circuit.
I have a 220 circuit in my shop that had a 3 prong plug (the one with the L shaped prong) I ran a buzz box off of it for years.
So I replaced my old plug recptical with a new 6-50 to match the plug that came with the welder.
Both the main panel and my sub panel have 40 amp breakers.
Will changing them to 50 amp breakers make this a 50 amp service?
I hope that doesn't sound stupid.
Thanks in advance

 

[Stuart in MN]

The wire connecting the panels and the receptacle also has to be sized properly.

 

[Motofixxer]

In simple terms, electrical safety is only as good as the weakest link. Check the size of wire for that circuit. Sometimes it's upsized. If the wire is not rated for the size breaker you want then you can't add a larger breaker. Have to add another circuit sized properly for your needs.

 

[acamato]

You also need to check the wire feeding the main panel not just the wire feeding the subpanel. A 50A circuit should have a minimum wire size of 8 gauge.

http://www.nojolt.com/residential_electrical_wiring_rough_in_guide.shtml

You can view the National Electric Code online (http://www.nfpa.org/onlinepreview/online_preview_document.asp?id=7011SB)

 

[sberry]

Probably will work with the 40A breaker. I am not familiar with all the Linc models, is it a ****** or inverter?

 

[jkeyser14]

Welders aren't considered continuous duty and the NEC allows you run them on breakers that are sized larger than their table rating for wire (by some set percentage, I don't remember what it is off the top of my head). However, I would still change out the wire too in case something else ever gets plugged in there.

 

[Killer95Stang]

That welder only pulls 21 - 23 amps.... so the 40A breaker that's already there should be good enough... that is, as long as the wire feeding that 40A breaker is correct.

 

[manuelc]

Thanks for all the help guys,
I had an electrician take a look at it and he said it was OK. Wire size was
6ga copper coming off a 100 amp service to my sub panel in my little shop.
I was chasing a prob with my welder and needed to rule out the power source.
Thanks again
Manuel

 

[sberry]

Is there an owners manual for this machine?

That welder only pulls 21 - 23 amps.... so the 40A breaker that's already there should be good enough... that is, as long as the wire feeding that 40A breaker is correct.

Evidently Killer has seen it. If it pulls 23 it could be breakerd to 50A provided the wire is 12 or better. I suspect (if the 23 is correct) they allow for a minimum of 14 wire but the breaker would need to be reduced to 30A, also the minimums are usually single circuit in pipe so if using cable such as Romex it needs to be a size up from that. Welders are most often dedicated circuits and may be sized for specific machines, if this is a general type circuit that may be used with other equipment then requirements may be different. If I derate them I usually write on cover, welder only and the wire size used.