TEMPORARY Welder outlet

[ErikinMich]

Okay. So I bought a house. In the garage there is a Male 14-30r outlet, for a genset. Correct receptacle and 30 amp wire running to a 30 amp breaker. However, there is no interlock. I have an interlock and will install. In the mean time, I have a welder, with a 6-50p. I need to some welding, the unit will never draw over 30amps. I know I could wire that 2 hand ground using a 14-30r female to a 6-50r adapter. I would have to make it, I know why no one sells them. Besides the current levels both 220v, why could I not do this for the weekend? Long term is interlock on generator and welder in the barn that is being built in spring

 

[Zeke]

I don't think you have a " Male 14-30r outlet, for a genset." But I do think you can weld off that with the adaptor. I think you could weld at 200 amps with an inverter depending on duty cycle. I get away with it. Haven't needed all 200 amps ever though. That's some pretty heavy home welding.

 

[ErikinMich]

There is a pic of similar of what is installed. I agree I think I will be all right as long as I don’t backfeed the generator, which I have no plan to do

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Okay. So I bought a house. In the garage there is a Male 14-30r outlet, for a genset. Correct receptacle and 30 amp wire running to a 30 amp breaker. However, there is no interlock. I have an interlock and will install. In the mean time, I have a welder, with a 6-50p. I need to some welding, the unit will never draw over 30amps. I know I could wire that 2 hand ground using a 14-30r female to a 6-50r adapter. I would have to make it, I know why no one sells them. Besides the current levels both 220v, why could I not do this for the weekend? Long term is interlock on generator and welder in the barn that is being built in spring

this is called an inlet not an outlet.

if you need it for a welder, you would have to get an adapter. probably not one readily available. would need to make your own

 

[Zeke]

Why would someone install an Inlet and not a transfer switch? Seems irresponsible to me. Not to mention code. Hope the OP doesn't know any POCO employees that come around.

 

[PCustoms]

Not having an interlock on that just makes it a suicide plug.

My dad had his shop wired that way for years, since it was a detached structure there was no way to interlock to the main. Stupid is all it was.

Don't be a cheapskate and spend the money to add the interlock, plus another breaker and a real welder outlet.

 

[ErikinMich]

Why would someone install an Inlet and not a transfer switch? Seems irresponsible to me. Not to mention code. Hope the OP doesn't know any POCO employees that come around.

I completely agree. Did not understand why everything seems to be up to code but no interlock. Only thing I can think of is box was too full and did not want to move breakers???

 

[ErikinMich]

Not having an interlock on that just makes it a suicide plug.

My dad had his shop wired that way for years, since it was a detached structure there was no way to interlock to the main. Stupid is all it was.

Don't be a cheapskate and spend the money to add the interlock, plus another breaker and a real welder outlet.

Already have the interlock, just need to move things around in box. Also not planning on running 6/3 wire for the 50 amps, will use a short run in barn in spring and use that for a welder outlet. Thanks for the input!

 

[Zeke]

I completely agree. Did not understand why everything seems to be up to code but no interlock. Only thing I can think of is box was too full and did not want to move breakers???

My interlock is in its own box beside the main panel. I only feed one sub panel with the interlock. So it is run to the interlock and then to the feed breaker in the main.

 

[mike93lx]

Why would someone install an Inlet and not a transfer switch? Seems irresponsible to me. Not to mention code. Hope the OP doesn't know any POCO employees that come around.

Lazy and dumb.

 

[The Cobbler]

I think it might be all kind of hearsay ... maybe it was installed as an outlet and no mention of the generator when it was installed/inspected. the previous owner took the cheap way out.
... and used it as a selling feature when selling .

 

[sparky 1971]

double post

 

[sparky 1971]

Not having an interlock on that just makes it a suicide plug.

My dad had his shop wired that way for years, since it was a detached structure there was no way to interlock to the main. Stupid is all it was.

Don't be a cheapskate and spend the money to add the interlock, plus another breaker and a real welder outlet.

If it's an inlet, the cord will have a male and female end. The suicide cord has two male ends. They call it a suicide because if the generator is started and plugged in and the other end isn't, hot prongs are there for whoever is plugging it in. I made one up and plugged it into the 14-50R in the garage of my old house a couple of times but I plugged it into the generator after it was plugged into the wall. I do enough stupid stuff without thinking that could get me killed, I don't need to help myself along. I now have an inlet and interlock. I've never used it, but I have it. Been waiting seven years and never had a power outage with the small podunk REC.


Back on the original topic.
I would make a cord myself by getting a 4' chunk of 10/3 cord, L14-30C cord end, 6-50R, deep 4" square box, raised cover for the 6-50, and a 3/4 romex connector. To hell with the fact that you aren't supposed to use the box in that manner, It's temporary.

Edited. I didn't look at the picture above and thought the inlet was a 14-30P. It's an L14-30P.

 

[ErikinMich]

If it's an inlet, the cord will have a male and female end. The suicide cord has two male ends. They call it a suicide because if the generator is started and plugged in and the other end isn't, hot prongs are there for whoever is plugging it in. I made one up and plugged it into the 14-50R in the garage of my old house a couple of times but I plugged it into the generator after it was plugged into the wall. I do enough stupid stuff without thinking that could get me killed, I don't need to help myself along. I now have an inlet and interlock. I've never used it, but I have it. Been waiting seven years and never had a power outage with the small podunk REC.


Back on topic. OP, this is cheap, Chinese garbage but it would do to get you by.

https://www.amazon.com/FGIEU-NEMA-L14-30P-6-50R-Female/dp/B0BBR8YBW9/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I would make one myself by getting a 4' dryer cord, a 6-50R, deep 4" square box, raised cover for the 6-50, and a 3/4 romex connector. To hell with the fact that you aren't supposed to use the box in that manner, It's temporary. It will cost more but at least you will know what you have and not have to wait, even if it's two days, and you won't be contributing to Bezos retirement fund.

Thank you, I thought the same thing the hot prongs on the male side make the “suicide” cord. That is why seems strange previous individuals used the correct inlet. Already picked up the components you mentioned, was exactly what I planned

 

[PCustoms]

If it's an inlet, the cord will have a male and female end. The suicide cord has two male ends. They call it a suicide because if the generator is started and plugged in and the other end isn't, hot prongs are there for whoever is plugging it in. I made one up and plugged it into the 14-50R in the garage of my old house a couple of times but I plugged it into the generator after it was plugged into the wall. I do enough stupid stuff without thinking that could get me killed, I don't need to help myself along. I now have an inlet and interlock. I've never used it, but I have it. Been waiting seven years and never had a power outage with the small podunk REC.

It's been a long day dealing with.... people, so forgive my response.

I know what a suicide cord is, what an inlet is and how dangerous a suicide cord or an inlet without an interlock can be. The OP described and showed an inlet, which would have hot, exposed terminals without an interlock in the panel. Trust me, dads garage was wired this way for years and it was common knowledge to not stick your hand near the generator inlet as it was always live, I ripped it out as soon as they talked about listing the house for sale.

Either way it's ******* stupid and being a cheapskate to save $100.




For the OP, read up on the welder exceptions to the NEC. You don't need 6/3 for an outlet. A welder circuit allows for smaller wire (duty cycle) and only needs 3 wires. I don't remember the specifics and I'm not looking them up this late

 

[PCustoms]

There is a pic of similar of what is installed. I agree I think I will be all right as long as I don’t backfeed the generator, which I have no plan to do

This so the issue, that inlet can be live without an interlock.

 

[sparky 1971]

It's been a long day dealing with.... people, so forgive my response.

I know what a suicide cord is, what an inlet is and how dangerous a suicide cord or an inlet without an interlock can be. The OP described and showed an inlet, which would have hot, exposed terminals without an interlock in the panel. Trust me, dads garage was wired this way for years and it was common knowledge to not stick your hand near the generator inlet as it was always live, I ripped it out as soon as they talked about listing the house for sale.

Either way it's ******* stupid and being a cheapskate to save $100.




For the OP, read up on the welder exceptions to the NEC. You don't need 6/3 for an outlet. A welder circuit allows for smaller wire (duty cycle) and only needs 3 wires. I don't remember the specifics and I'm not looking them up this late

Sorry, I missed that you stated suicide PLUG. My feeble mind automatically bypassed plug and inserted cord.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I think it might be all kind of hearsay ... maybe it was installed as an outlet and no mention of the generator when it was installed/inspected. the previous owner took the cheap way out.
... and used it as a selling feature when selling .

how can an inlet be installed as an outlet? one would literally need an adapter to use it as an outlet.

 

[The Cobbler]

ok, in simple terms since you don't understand
it may have been installed as a circuit with a receptacle . then switched to accommodate a generator with an inlet. was that so difficult?

 

[Noltz]

...using a 14-30r female to a 6-50r adapter. I would have to make it, I know why no one sells them. Besides the current levels both 220v, why could I not do this for the weekend? Long term is interlock on generator and welder in the barn that is being built in spring

You can. L1-L1, L2-L2, omit neutral, ground to ground. 10 gauge. If you find you're not going to go with an interlock-protected inlet you could just swap the inlet to a 14-30r and use a dedicated adapter until the barn is built.