Welder Wiring

[Nidan]

Helpful Friends !
Have a Lincoln arc-welder, 50A. Wiring question: I previously had this wired in on a 50A breaker with #8-3 wg. I know I only need two hot leads (ie red and black), but wonder about the neutral/white. Should I just wire-nut that off, or, put it on the neutral bar in panel? (these wires come from the 50A outlet I've wired in). Many thanks !

 

[pattenp]

You can wirenut off the white on both ends.

 

[Zeke]

Why not ground the welder? Kinda scary thinking about no equipment ground.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yes u can just cap the neutral and yes make sure to ground it.

 

[justsam]

What is the Lincoln recommendation in regards to wire gauge on your 50Amp circuit?

I am assuming 8-3 wg is "with Ground" and you will be terminating the ground.

In regards to the neutral, (white) if your outlet is 4 wire, two hots, neutral, and ground, I would just terminate the neutral even though it will not be used. Less chance in the future of someone speculating on why is a wire not terminated.

What outlet type are you using? Must be an electric range type if neutral is there.

 

[Zeke]

OK, I didn't see the "wg" in small letters. Maybe I should feel stupid but I don't.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Keep in mind that theres special code rules for welders and wire size...

 

[600SL]

My Lincoln is a square wave 175. Lincoln recommends #8 wire 75° C wire with a 125 Amp breaker in a NEMA 6-50R receptacle. At 55 ft away I'm using #6 in EMT with 100 Amp. I don't believe 8-3 NM wg would be suitable for this but if your welder is smaller it would be fine.

 

[bmxdad]

My Lincoln is a square wave 175. Lincoln recommends #8 wire 75° C wire with a 125 Amp breaker in a NEMA 6-50R receptacle. At 55 ft away I'm using #6 in EMT with 100 Amp. I don't believe 8-3 NM wg would be suitable for this but if your welder is smaller it would be fine.

125 amps? 100 amp? Am I reading that right??

Shouldn't it be a 30amp breaker?

 

[pattenp]

125 amps? 100 amp? Am I reading that right??

Shouldn't it be a 30amp breaker?

Up to a 125A breaker on #8 is what's called for on that welder. Welder circuits have special allowances.

 

[bmxdad]

Hmm ... reading the manual on my Hobart 187, it says to use a NEMA 6-50 receiptical. However, its shows using a 30amp breaker and a minimum of 14awg wire????

Mine had none, so I was going to use 6-30 plug and receiptical. For wire I was going to run 10awg THHN and a 30amp breaker.

Welding circuits are odd, is it because of the duty cycle?

 

[sberry]

Don't change the plug. The 30A breaker is when the minimum of 14 wire is used. No one thinks using 14 is a great idea, there is no real reason to. The 187 comes with a 12 cord and can be used on common welder circuits to 50A provided the wire is 12 or better. My feeling is these are small machines and need all the help they can get from the input circuit. A tailor made for them is a 10/30 but you could use breaker to 50a safely.

 

[sberry]

Up to a 125A breaker on #8 is what's called for on that welder. Welder circuits have special allowances.

I believe it is 6,,, don't think you can breaker an 8 wire over 100.

 

[bmxdad]

I had to add a cord as it had none. I added a 10/3 cable and can switch the plug to 50amp. But the wiring and breaker .... will #8 and a 50amp breaker be needed, or can I use #10 and a 30amp breaker?

 

[sberry]

You can use 10 and a 30, its the perfect circuit for a 187. Since it doesn't have a plug there is probably no real reason to change it if you have it on a 30.