120v mig welder peak amp draw?

[Meat Man]

I've got a Lincoln 125 mig welder. Haven't ever had any trouble with it until yesterday. It tripped the breaker twice. I'm troubleshooting several issues and wanted to see if anyone had an idea of a real world amp draw. It's rated for 25 amps peak, I'm pulling 28.

I've got it on a 20A breaker with 12/2 wire. I found one loose connection where the welding lead plugs in. Also going to change out the GFCI outlet to a 30A outlet. It was tripping out. I think the GFCI might be causing amps to increase.

Before I go changing or chasing mystery problems, I want to see what you have for actual amp draws.

[Meat Man]

Tightening the welding lead didn't help. Changing the outlet to a heavy duty 20A one did. I reduced my amp draw to 24. I'm going to try a new breaker and see if that brings it down any more.

I still think I want to switch it to a 30A service with 10 or 8 ga wire, but at least I feel it is livable now.

[PAToyota]

Ummm... You're complaining that a 28amp (now 24amp) draw is popping a 20amp breaker? Did you miss all that > < = stuff back in school? :flipoff2:

[Slowzuki]

My little lincoln 120 v mig has A,B,C and D range. I have a fuse panel. A and B will run on 15 amp fuse. C with 12 gauge wire and 20 amp time delay fuse runs ok, 20 amp reg fuse or breaker it just pops it off.

I can't operate it in the D range. I assume I need a 25 amp circuit wired in, which I suppose means wiring a new plug onto it.

I have never had good luck with GFCI outlets on the welder or air compressor. My air compressor throws the GFCI every 2nd start.

[4x4mike]

Are you running an extension cord? I have a cheap HF mig welder (120v) and I'll trip the breaker with a 50 foot 12 gague cord. I've got one outlet in my garage (house built in 1981) which sucks because I usually have a fan on, radio and lights. I upgraded to a 50 foot 10 gage cord and I don't have any more problems. I was thinking about upgraded the outlet but we'll see. FWIW my welder says it'll pull up to 28 amps.

[nigels_world]

Might be a dumb question but the gun isn't shorting internally is it?

[weps]

I have the same welder. They seem to LOVE current, mine is on a dedicated 30 amp breaker with a 10 gauge 20' cord going straight from the breaker panel to the welder.

Not one problem after I did all of this. I use it pretty much every day.

[dopeassjackson]

what else are you running on the same circuit? that happened to me a couple times before i figured out i couldnt run the AC while welding.:)

[Meat Man]

Nothing else on that circut, when I'm welding I make sure to unplug everything else. I can safely go to 28A on the 12 ga solid wire. I'm just going to put in a 25A breaker and call it good. I'll still be right at the upper limit, but it should hold OK. I'm kicking around re-wiring the house this fall. I'll install 50A 220V and two 30A 110V circuits when I do, that will solve any lingering questions.