Okay. Right now my power box is only setup for 110. I want to put in 220 so I don't have to rely on others when I have a big weld job to do. I looked around the box but couldn't figure out how to get inside where the wires go into the meter. I can get the the breakers and the wires going to them (all 110) but cannot find where the 220 line dead ends. How can I take the ring off the meter (yeah, yeah I know it's not legal) so I can pull it apart more and get this done?

If you take the cover off your main breaker box you should see three wires coming into it from the meter. One ground and two 110 legs. The two 110 legs are out of phase so the total voltage across them is 220.

I'm certainly no expert but I've never seen a main breaker box with only 110. It's possible that an add on panel was wired only 110. If that's the case you can pull the other leg from the main panel and swap out the add on panel for a 220 panel.

Can you post a pic of the panel in question?

Curtis, how old is the house? You may not have a 220 feed. Take a pic of the box and post, when should be able to help from there.

Joe

If you have 110 you have 220. just use 2 legs from the black (hot side) and one from the white (neg side) and you have 220.

a 220 breaker will automaticly pull one leg from each phase.

The "slimline" breakers do not automatically pull 220 when installed. They need to be lined up to pull from each leg. Slimline breakers are 1/2 the size of standard breakers.

Standard width breakers pull from both legs automatically.

Originally posted by ItsaCJ6
If you have 110 you have 220. just use 2 legs from the black (hot side) and one from the white (neg side) and you have 220.

a 220 breaker will automaticly pull one leg from each phase.

Have you ever lived in an older house? I did, two circuits for the entire house. That's why I asked the Q :rolleyes:

Yeah it is an OLD house, but the land lady told me this morning that it does have 220. She mentioned something about the two lines together being 220. I never would have thought about that. I'll see if I can get a pic of it later today though.

Originally posted by jdjanda


Have you ever lived in an older house? I did, two circuits for the entire house. That's why I asked the Q :rolleyes:

Probably old paper wrap as well then ;) I wouldnt tap the meter directly. Either put in a new circuit breaker in your box or wire in a sub.

Here are a few pics on how I wired mine
40 amp 220 breaker. Notice how the two breaker legs are tied together.

:cool:

Curtis I'm a Lineman for the local Power company if you have any questions just E-mail me your # and I will help you out. Just to answer a couple of questions if you have an overhead service then look up and see if you have three wires at your weatherhead if you do you have a 240 service if only two comming out of the weatherhead then it is a 120 service if your service comes in underground then is will almost guarantee that it is a 240 service but if you still not sure look at the #'s on the meter it will give you a class rating and a voltage rating like class 200 240volt.
Steve


To answer a couple of the other questions yes you can have a 120 service their are plenty here in Sac the houses are usually built before the 50's when the big electicity boom started and you don't need a white (neutral) wire for 240 even though some counties require it you don't even need the ground but it there for your protection so if something storts to the cas it would hopfully trip the breaker before it got you.

Awesome!! I got it figured out thanks to the pics from OS. Got it working and went out and bought a Miller 175 Plus. With the cart, the welder, the bottle and gas it came in at a cool $1K. Now for some heavy welding :D :D :D

:cool: See ya at Buck friday night:beer:

Originally posted by Old Scout
:cool: See ya at Buck friday night:beer:

Hope so. Not sure I'f I'll crash at Spider or not though. It's gonna be channel 14 right?

Originally posted by pontiota
you don't even need the ground but it there for your protection so if something storts to the cas it would hopfully trip the breaker before it got you.


all of europe is like this. and they use 220/240 for everything

Originally posted by Curtis


Hope so. Not sure I'f I'll crash at Spider or not though. It's gonna be channel 14 right?

Yes 14, I'll be at the box at 10 PM to drag your ass back to Buck

hehe. Yeah, you'll only be dragging me if I am trying to drag Abba and need the help :D :flipoff2: :D :flipoff2: