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Wiring

dbandgb

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Joined
Feb 17, 2006
Messages
22
Location
SOUTH CAROLINA
If I Buy A 110v Mig Welder What Size Wire Do I Run From The Breaker , & What Size Breaker? Also If I Buy A 220v Welder, Same Question Thanks Gary
 
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markb1

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Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
241
Look at the name plate on the back of unit sometimes near the power cord.
It should list:

1 name of manufacturer
2 frequency
3 number of phases
4 primary voltage
5 I max and I eff or rated primary current
6 max. open- circuit voltage
7 rated secondary current
8 basis of rating, such as duty cycle

The ampacity of supply conductors shall not be smaller than I eff

The over current device (breaker/fuse) shall be rated at not more than 200% of I max
if I max is not given use rated primary current

Above taken from NEC Art. 630

Wire size: type thwn, thhn, thw ,rhw, use, xhhw

Not more than three current carrying conductors in raceway,cable or directly buried in earth. Ground wire is not considered a current carrying cond. Neutral wire is.

#14awg copper 15 amp max
#12 " 20 "
#10 " 30 "
#8 " 50 "
#6 " 65 "
#4 " 85 "
#2 " 115 "
 
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mike944

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Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
337
Location
Vernon, CT
since it sounds like you haven't bought it yet, you should find the max primary current listed in literature online.

Most 110V welders are designed to plug into a standard 20A wall outlet. As Markb1 said, that means 12ga wire.

For a 220 welder, there is no rule. You'll have to find a welder, and read the specs.
 

brownbagg

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
5,208
110 will be a 20 amp breaker without an extension cord, and you will pop it every once in awhile. Most 220 unit are 30 amps. i always use a 50 amp breaker.
 

Charles (in GA)

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Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
12,489
Location
50 mi south of Atlanta
The 120V MIG welders I've seen all have had a standard three prong electric plug like we are all used to using in our house. This is a NEMA 5-15P and the receptacle is a NEMA 5-15R. Both of which are rated to no more than 15 amps. It is permitted by Code to have a 20 amp breaker supplying a NEMA 5-15R design receptacle provided that a 12 gauge wire is used and that there is more than one receptacle on the circuit. You are still faced with the fact that the plug and the receptacle are both rated at 15 amp. If the welder is drawing more than 15 amp, you need to swap out the plug and receptacle for NEMA 5-20 design components to have properly rated plug and receptacle.

http://www.quail.com/nema.cfm

Charles
 
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