Wiring for welder

[soloz2]

I'm hoping someone can help me sort out what I need and more importantly what would be the best solution to run a 240v plug for a welder I'm planning to purchase, a Lincoln Electric Power Mig 210MP. It's a 200 amp 110v/240v multiprocess welder. The owners manual shows it draws 27a max at 230v and it looks like the overall specs show 20 or 21a.
The manual calls for a 40amp breaker and 12awg wire. This seems off to me. If it's truly a 27a max why can't I use a 30amp breaker with 10 or 12awg wire? But I digress, 40amp is fine, but what wire gauge should I use? It'll probably be about a 30-40' run and based on general electrical priciples I should run 8awg with a 40amp breaker. If it should be 8awg why does the manual call for a 12awg minimum?
I have thought of future proofing and I'm not sure here. I'd like to get a 230v compressor, but that would probably be run on it's own dedicated line so this would really only be for the welding equipment. Right now this would be my only welder, but I might decide to get a torch at some point or if I decide I like TIG opt for a unit that can also do AC TIG, but this would be down the road and I'd probably only need one plugged in at a time.

 

[brewchief]

You can run smaller wire on a larger breaker for a welder circuit because of the welders duty cycle, you'll never be able to weld long enough to put enough heat into the wire to cause a problem.

That welder will most likely have a 50 amp plug, nothing wrong with running a circuit designed for 50 amps for it if you want to future proof it.

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[soloz2]

You can run smaller wire on a larger breaker for a welder circuit because of the welders duty cycle, you'll never be able to weld long enough to put enough heat into the wire to cause a problem.

That welder will most likely have a 50 amp plug, nothing wrong with running a circuit designed for 50 amps for it if you want to future proof it.

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Yes, it has a 6-50 plug I believe.
That was what I was thinking. I'll see what wire costs and probably go with an 8awg 40amp or a 6awg 50 amp circuit. That's the correct numbers right?

 

[Bert_]

#10 on a 50A will run 90% of welders a guy would get. #8 on a 50A will run almost anything. No welder that comes with a 50A plug needs #6

The welder has a duty cycle. 25% at full output. that means it can only pull 27 amps for 2 1/2 minutes. Then it has to rest for 7 1/2. The welder doesn't overheat and neither does the wire.

 

[ericm]

Do you have to label the welder outlets so someone doesn't try to plug an electric car charger into one and draw 50a for hours?

Can you have multiple outlets on one welder circuit, and just not turn two welders on at the same time?

 

[Bert_]

Do you have to label the welder outlets so someone doesn't try to plug an electric car charger into one and draw 50a for hours?

Can you have multiple outlets on one welder circuit, and just not turn two welders on at the same time?

Show me a car charger that comes with a 6-50p.

If you daisy chain multiple outlets require full size wiring. #8thhn or #6 Romex.

 

[u2slow]

This 'future-proofing' can really end up costing you. That's why so many of us do surface conduit. IMO, run the minimum circuit and start using your machine. Buy some welding accessories with the money saved. Re-assess when you get your compressor.

Between strategy and some luck, all my 240V equipment can use a 20A circuit... very easy to run #12 and some 6-20R's. Made an adapter cord for the welder.

 

[brewchief]

Show me a car charger that comes with a 6-50p.



If you daisy chain multiple outlets require full size wiring. #8thhn or #6 Romex.

2 out of the first 4 that came up on Amazon look to come with a 6-50p, 1 is 120v only and last one uses an 14-50p.



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[Bert_]

2 out of the first 4 that came up on Amazon look to come with a 6-50p, 1 is 120v only and last one uses an 14-50p.



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The only one I saw that was worth looking at was a siemens charger. The rest was no name ****. The Chinese junk could have any sort of unsafe wiring.

But yes it claims to have a 6-50. If that's the case and car chargers are coming with 6-50s, then the welder outlet should be labeled for welder use only.

 

[sberry]

I can't recall ever seeing anything come factory 6-50 not a welder
I like 10 for these cause it makes for more robust connections than smaller wire and a 10 cable would support a buzzer if it had to.

 

[sparky 1971]

I can't recall ever seeing anything come factory 6-50 not a welder
I like 10 for these cause it makes for more robust connections than smaller wire and a 10 cable would support a buzzer if it had to.

I installed two 6-50R's in each of two convenience stores for pizza ovens. I don't know if these were the cheapest the owner could find or if they were spec'd by Godfathers Pizza, but they had factory 6-50 cords. It's pretty unlikely one would end up in a garage though.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have thought of future proofing and I'm not sure here.

Best future proofing when wiring is to use conduit at least one size larger and leave a pull cord in it !

 

[nadogail]

My Hobart Stickmate came with a 12 gauge power cord and a high amperage plug. I swapped out the plug for 6-50 flat blade because the welder shares the same outlet as my table saw.

I realize that the circuit is over built, but this is an attempt at future proofing.

 

[dcg9381]

I wire to 14-50R. 6 or 10 ga (with appropriate breaker) depending on how much power I need at the outlet. I do this partly because I own RVs, but pretty much any tool that pulls over 20A of 240V, I add this type of plug to.

 

[soloz2]

Ordered wire and a plug. Thanks for your help everyone. Unfortunately, when I added the wire to my cart last night and when I got to actually check out today the price went up

 

[Noltz]

They saw you were going to order it and bumped the price hoping you wouldn't notice.