I just bought a welder (Lincoln 225 AC) for a hundred bucks at a used tool shop here in town. Here's the problem. I live with my girlfriend in her apartment so I can't add a dedicated plug or re-wire or anything like that. The breaker panel is about the same distance from the door as the dryer outlet, but the dryer outlet only has a 10 amp breaker on it. Shoud I put a bigger breaker in for the dryer outlet (I think the welder needs about a 50 amp breaker) or should I run a cord with an outlet box on one end and the other end strait to the breaker box (only when I am welding of course)?

Thanks
JYS

There looks like there are two different models
http://content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs/products/literature/e260.pdf

One takes a 50 amp input and the other 60. There is no way a dryer has a 10 amp breaker, unless it's a gas dryer! :flipoff2:

I think you may get yourself in hot water with the landloard doing your own wiring and welding at an apartment :eek: :eek:

:eek: Not a good idea unless you plan on moving soon

we just stick in 50 amp breakers.. when whoever comes around pull it out if you're worried.. if not plead ignorance.. =]

50 amp breaker....if I was your landlord I wouldnt be pleased though. :D

MJ

You really need to think about this. 10 amp breaker on the dryer seems strange. Is it a 2 pole breaker? I usually see 15, 20, 30, 45, 50, etc breakers. And in the case of a 220 welder they are 2 pole breakers (2 single pole breakers tied mechanically together).

If you are going to do this, I'd tie it directly into the box and bypass the dryer breaker/outlet and add a new 2 pole breaker for the welder. If that dryer is really on 10A breaker it is probably wired with #12 (or possibly#14) wire romex in the wall. that wire is going to get warm/hot if you bump it up to 40 or so amps. If it ever catches on fire in the wall it may smoulder for hours before becoming fully engaged. Then you are going to own a burned down apartment complex :eek: and that isn't in your best interests. I'd also bet the the apartment management/owners would really frown on messing with their breaker boxes. One last thought, I assume you are comfortable messing around in breaker boxes, particularly if you can't shut off the incoming feed. Electricity can be very unforgiving.

Every breaker in my box in a 10 amp breaker (including the AC and stove). I thought it was pretty weird also. I think I will cut the main power and pull the dryer outlet to see what gauge the wires are

JYS