I know it is not exactly 4x4 tech but I have to add a breaker to my box and run 220 for my new compressor and an old lincoln welder. Does anyone know of any good sites or writeups that show wiring diagraims and approximate specs?
Thanks

diagrams:confused: :confused: :confused: It's two hots and a ground, no diagram needed for three wires!

Originally posted by Old Scout
diagrams:confused: :confused: :confused: It's two hots and a ground, no diagram needed for three wires!

Sorry, I really need to know about what strength breaker I should use.. Or what the differences between breakers are. I just have never played with 220 before and want to make sure that I do not burn the new house down :D


Wires are Just as you said three wires, piece of cake..


I'll get the specs on the welder.
It is a old Lincoln stick. Big and beefy...

It is really straight forward. Just go grab a 50 amp 220v breaker and snap it in. All done. Took me all of 10 minutes and I had never done it before. If you want a really clean install, then fish the wires through the wall (BTW, I believe the correct wire size is #10) and run then into your box. I was lazy and didn't care, so I just have some conduit coming out of the box. Its right behind my workbench, so I had it easy. Good luck :D

Get some 6-3 wire, that's 3 wires 2 hot and 1 ground size 6. Get at least a 60 amp breaker, 70 is best but they get $$. Make sure to get the right plug too. You can get everything you need at Home Depot for around $50.

Jason... a couple of things to work out before you head down to get supplies...
First off 99% of all home owner welders use a NEMA 6-50 plug.
Secondly the correct size wiring to use for 50 amps is #8... unless you are running for long distances then go up to the next larger size.. (#6) long distances being anything longer than 100 feet.
also find out the brand of panel you have ... Square D, Federal pioneer, Siemens/GE, etc... so you know what to buy

As far as wiring into the panel... Black and Red will be the hot wires ,White is always neutral and Green is Ground (or the bare wire is ground..)
your main panel should have a main breaker to shut off the whole house, just shut off the mains , snap in the new breaker into your panel.. wire it in and then turn the mains back on. (with the new breaker off for now... now go and re-set all digital clocks
then you can try the power to the new welder outlet.....:D

Another thing to consider is to wire in a 70 amp service (with #4 wire) to a sub panel then you can run a 50 amp breaker for the welder and a couple of 15 amp 220 breakers for things like the compressor and whatever else might come along... more initial investment but less to do later,,

Thanks Chris,

The panel was supposed to be a 200A panel from the get go. Theoretically I have enough room to run a spa, electric oven and electric stove. None of which I have.

I will probably wire in a 15-20 amp breaker for the compressor and a 60-70 amp breaker for the welder. Unless 50 amp is really all I need.


Thanks guys..



One of these day Chris I will have to make it up there to wheel with you...




:beer:

What size welder are you using? I believe a 250 amp welder requires a 50 amp breaker. My Millermatic 210 requires a 30 amp breaker. I would not go too high on the breaker unless you need it. You want the breaker to trip when there is a problem.

10 gauge wire for 30 amps at 220v
8 gauge wire for 50 amps at 220v

Also, I made an extension 24 ft. extension cord in case I need to weld in the driveway. I went with a 6 gauge wire which is overkill. I guess I should have used an 8 gauge because the 6 gauge is a b!tch to work with...

Charles

I agree. Don't go overboard with your CB. There is no reason at all to install a 70 amp breaker when you only need 30 amps. Same with a 50 amp breaker. Your CB is to protect the wires so they don't overheat and cause a fire. You want the CB to trip when there is an overlaod. Why spend the extra money unless you plan on installing a sub panel? Then you should get a braker with a branch circuit rating = more $$$. I would hate to see a fire and then have the insurance company deny you any compensation for not setting up your circuit correctly.

FWIW.....
I run my Millermatic 185 off a 30 amp breaker with 10 awg wire.

You should really re-consider about using a 70 amp breaker! Thats insane, 50 amp should be the highest you go, if somthing goes wrong then your house will be on fire before that breaker trips. I use 50 amp (more than enough) for by Lincoln 220, and 30 amp for my 110 wire feed. Everything else is 15amps.

Jeff

I have a 220 arc, made a cord using SO 10/3 and a 30 amp connector. I just plug it into the dryer outlet.

I run a 40 amp breaker on my 220 line that I installed. (had a 50 but since i did the installing figured 40 would be safer :rolleyes: )

I would assume it would only trip if I was into some real thick high amp welding...not something I do often.

I think my Hobart draws 58 amps max.
Might want to check the specs on whatever you are using.

MJ

I would setup the cirucit so the breaker will trip just above the published max draw of the welder. I JUST finished this SAME thing, and it was simple. I feel like a retard because I paid an electrician to do the fuse panel(circuit breaker)

Your welder will have a certain max draw. Get a breaker above that, and run wire so the breaker rating is able to be handled by the wire.(IE 30 amp breaker-10 ga wire.) Get on the web and check the wiring code for your localle. I stapled 10ga 4 conducter wire up under the house, and installed the plugs. Home Depot will have what you need. Red/Black are the two hots,and white is the neutral. Green/bare is the ground. The 50 Amp plug has provisions for only three of the wires. Red/black on the flat blades of the connector and the whitewill go to the d shaped plug. ground the bare/green to the outlet box. The Depot will have the right wall sockets and the right boxes and covers.

The breaker box is easy, just put the white and bare/green wires on the common gournd bar in the box, and put the black wire on one to the two terminalsof the two pole breaker(220V) Put red on the other terminal and the click the breaker into the slot. Pretty easy, thye just pivot out, and once they do it interuppts power to the circuit.

It is better to err on the side of bigger wire and smaller breaker. I had a published max draw of 22 amps and got a 30 amp breaker, which is fine with 10 ga wire. MOST cord designed for extension purposes(also at Home Depot) is rated for one ga higher than it's published size(or so I am told0 so 10 ga would be fine for an extension...

Ok a few pointers

Wire: you can never go wrong with larger wire (it only costs more) Smaller wire however can and does melt catch on fire and burn down domocile if under sized. use #6 2/1 (thats two hots and one ground)

Breakers: The amp rating for the breaks should never excead 10 percent of the maximum current (or Amp) draw. so if you welder says it requires (and it will in the paper work) a 50 amp breaker then you better use one. a 70 amp breaker means that the breaker needs to pull 70 amps before it trips.

wiring is very simple there are 2 lugs on the breaker so you connect two hot wires to the breaker and the ground goes on the bus bar.

If you are concerend that a 50 is two much try using a 30. since what will happen is that it will trip out sooner if you find it trips out then go to the 50. if not then you are far more safer to use the 30 amp breaker.

Breakers don't trip at the rated current. They trip on overload percentages, but it all depends on the delay charastics of the specific breaker. There are so many delay curves that you will have to know what they are for your specific breaker - if you are designing power systems. There should be a "percentage overload vs. trip time in seconds" listed for your CB. Running at 100% should not trip the breaker. But, running at 125%, you may trip the breaker or you may not. As your percentage of overload increases, your trip times will be faster. Basically, the larger the overload, the faster it will trip.

I am adding mine to the box right now.
From the box to the pulg i used 8/3 (15 feet)
Then i made a 40 foot extension cord from 6/3
I am using a 50 amp braker as well, I just need to finsih it off

It is a good idea to make sure that the installation meets your local code requirements, so that you won't have a problem with your insurance company in the event that something happens. Ask about the requirements for the total load permitted in your box and the conduit type requirements (if any). It is not a bad idea to have them come out and sign off on the installation even if this costs a few bucks.

The size of wire required will depend on the length of the run. Some of the larger breakers (greater than 50 amp) are not available in some of the breaker styles, like the mini quad pole breakers.