I'm trying to wire a 3 prong plug. I'm using some very old wire that is connected to a very old welder. The wires are all white. I know which one is the ground. Can I switch the two hots. I don't know which hot it red and black from the welder.
On the 240v 3 prong does it matter which hot I use?
- Thread starter wazzabie
- Start date
sberry
Banned
The other 2 don't matter, hook ground to ground. That aint quite a welder plug but they were often used and may have been legal way back in the day.
with 240 there's 2 hots (and no neutral) . so if you know what ground is, the other 2 are hots. it doesn't matter which hot terminal they connect to.
the outlets you pictured are fro 120/240 appliances, that's why they show a neutral
the outlets you pictured are fro 120/240 appliances, that's why they show a neutral
update: It was just the wires around the plug that had turned white. I cut it back about 4 inches from the plug and the wires are red, green and white. There is alot of fiber strands. I wonder if these old cables have asbestos in them.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Neither of those are correct for a welder.
The 10-50 receptacle on the left is the obsolete pre-1996 outlet for a stove.
The 14-50 receptacle on the right is the new outlet for a range.
For a welder, you need a 6-50.
The 10-50 receptacle on the left is the obsolete pre-1996 outlet for a stove.
The 14-50 receptacle on the right is the new outlet for a range.
For a welder, you need a 6-50.
I don't see an issue with a welder having a 14-50P on it. the appliance not using the neutral isn't an issue.
The plug on it now is a 10-50. I'm changing it out to a 6-50. By the way the welder says 60amps but I think I'll be ok with 50amps. My breaker is only 50amps.
I'm more concerned about the fiber strands inside the cable. I made a mess and the stands are all over the place. i wonder if these stands have asbestos.
I'm more concerned about the fiber strands inside the cable. I made a mess and the stands are all over the place. i wonder if these stands have asbestos.
sberry
Banned
What model welder? I don't think esbestos in the cable.
bubinga
Well-known member
You should be OK, even if it is asbestos, just wear the mask, It's not like your working around it day in and day out, for years,
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
What do the fibers look like?
old cord that was subject to heat did contain asbestos. even the element insulator plates in old toasters and hair dryers had asbestos in them
Brown thin strands. Almost like a fiber rope. I'm thinking this does not contain asbestos now. I'm just being cautious.
c39er
Well-known member
Maybe you should contact an asbestos abatement firm to guide you through your asbestos cord issue.
You might need a permit to dispose of it.
You might need a permit to dispose of it.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Sounds like paper filler to me NOT asbestos.
Cordage typically has a paper filler wrapped around the conductors.
Dingleburry
Well-known member
You can test if its asbestos, crumble the edge of the cable so fibers are showing, or get some of the fibers, get a lighter and try to burn them. If they dont burn, its prob abestos. If it burns its not.
Clik
Well-known member
I read not long ago that asbestos isn't as bad as it's made out to be. According to what I read, there are three types and only one has been known to be a problem. That was somewhat comforting because my old schools linoleum floors were made of asbestos, the school's ceiling tiles were asbestos, a house I lived in was insulated with asbestos, the apartment I grew up in from an infant to a teenager was next to the boiler room full of asbestos covered pipes, my grandparents house was covered in asbestos shingles, I changed many auto brake shoes that were made of asbestos nd there was always plenty of asbestos dust in the drums. I worked doing plumbing and many pipes were covered with asbestos. I used to haul gravel out of a quarry where they were required to wet the gravel down because the gravel dust contained asbestos. I'm 65 and still breathing. I wouldn't sweat a little wire insulation.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Almost every asbestos installation you described would not cause health issues because the asbestos has to be DISTURBED for it to get into someone’s lungs.
Asbestos wrapped on pipes, in tiles and insulation etc, would not harm someone unless they distrubed it. Asbestos does not off gas...
Asbestos wrapped on pipes, in tiles and insulation etc, would not harm someone unless they distrubed it. Asbestos does not off gas...
If you find material that contains asbestos the best thing to do is get a high speed grinding tool and cut it up producing as much dust as possible. You want to get that dust into your lungs as efficiently as possible.
Seriously asbestos is fine if you don't make dust...
Seriously asbestos is fine if you don't make dust...
asbestos is not as bad as claimed to be, unless you get cancer from it... then you're done.
I tend to agree that it's all the thing now, but it is nasty stuff and mishandled, it can cause issues .
I tend to agree that it's all the thing now, but it is nasty stuff and mishandled, it can cause issues .