230 v 30 Amp Power for a welder....

[sabro]

The plug on the lincoln welder is a round three prong 30 amp deal.

The outlet on the generator is a round four prong 20 amp deal.

The dryer outlet is three prongs, but in a V. It is also about 75 feet from where I am welding.

Any ideas of how to get power to the welder without spending my kid's college fund.

[Mikegyver1]

Heavy gauge extention cord. like 8-10 gauge wire works. I've got approx 25' work fine and doesn't get hot.

[Metal Twister]

Ok, I think your welder has a 50 amp plug on it? The dryer is most likely a 30 amp receptical. What kind of welder is it? Stick or Mig? Extension cable will work ok as long as its big enough to handle the load. Even without an extension cord if you max out your machine you will most likely pop your 30 amp breaker. You might want to see if you have enough room in the box for a 50 amp breaker and plug?   

[sabro]

The dryer outlet is a double bus marked 30... The Lincoln is a 225a... meaning that it will go up to 50a max.

I would need to make this really long cord... like 75 or 80 feet... I could get a bigger breaker... and check to see what the wiring in the wall... what gauge...looks like... But how much money am I looking at?

What about my generator... is there any way of getting a 3 prong to 4 prong adapter?

[Metal Twister]

http://weldingweb.com/archive/index.php/t-6877.html  This thread is talking about the same thing as you... If it is a stick welder you can add to the welding cable instead of the input cable and keep the amprage draw about the same? Im not sure what the price differences are? 

[sabro]

If I could plug it into the generator then all I have to do is adapt the plug...

[Glenn D]

I run my Miller Mig unit on a generator all the time.  the Genny is on my trailer, and I wired in a plug inside the trailer for the welder.  It had the 4 prong "round" connector on the genny,  Using a plug from Home Depot that fit the genny,  wired in a 10 ga 25 foot extion cord form Haber fright, into a socket that the wilder would plug into( from HD). total cost was less than $30.00.

I was not sure of what terminals to connect to, so used a Volt Ohm meter to find the 220 V terminals and the ground. running the genny to determin them.   Connected the white and black wires to the 220v and green to the ground.  Connected the other end to the socket the same was and it works great.

I would post some pic's of it in the morning if I knew how to add pics,  which is something I need to learn how to do anyway as      Most posts are,.... 

The 20a Genny will work fine, may not support the full 225 amp settings, but most times that much heat is not needed.  would certainly pull 150 to 175 welding amps.


It sure is nice to have spell checking on here..... 

[sabro]

Glenn- Thanks!

I just had one of those "duh" moments- The generator has a Nema L 1420 Outlet... and the welder has a Nema L6-30P... IT ISNT THE RIGHT PLUG.

The plug is supposed to be a 6-50P...

All I have to do is change the plug...

Now do I use the 30 or 50 amp plug.

[sabro]

I practiced a bit today. I found I could turn it all up to about 200 without popping the breaker. It seems to weld best at about 180 for the thick stuff.

I bought some 6011 rod... because the 8013 would need more amperage.

[Mikegyver1]

I like the 7018 rod = little to no splatter 

[Glenn D]

Good to hear that you have it working.  The plug thing sounds liek it worked out for ya.  I agree thw 7018 rods are always nice to use, however, I like the wire feeder a lot more, and a TIG rig woudo be the best.  Someday, maybe, just maybe..... and a plasma cutter....   

[Mikegyver1]

I've got the hobart 175 mig, but when the welds really need to count I use the Miller DC welder  someday the TIG will find its way into my shop.