Welder outlet update

jstpa

Member
Just to let you guys know the outcome. I talked to Hobart , and like you guys were saying , because of the duty cycle you can just use a 15 amp outlet. Thanks for all the responses, jstpa
 
What ? you sure you talked to the right guy. nobody really pays that much attention to duty cycle while welding { I don't anyway] What welder was it again ? They call for a 250 v 15 a outlet ? Wow.
 
Okay now I remember ; it was a spot welder. So that sounds about right--15 amp . I would love to know how good your spot welder works if you could please post about that later . Thanks.
 
Forgive my ignorance, but I don't get it. The term "duty cycle" applies to how long the tool is used before letting it cool down a specified amount of time, right? The tool will operate the same whether the outlet is a 15A, 30A or 50A. Still, it's up to the operator to watch their use in order to comply with the "duty cycle" ratings.
 
Duty cycle is based on a ten minute period and how long in ten minutes you can weld. 30% is three minutes . The closer you come to the duty cycle the more stress on the wiring . hopefully any excess heat will trip the breaker before damage to the welders power supply occurs.
 
It really has nothing to do with duty cycle. I you are welding at 80-125 amps you are probably never drawing more than 25 or 30 amps on the 240v side.
 
What was strange about that deal, the owners manual said to connect to a 30 amp service.

But use a 15 amp receptacle.

Ever try to wrap #10 wire around the screws on a 15 amp receptacle?
 
It is important to remember, breakers protect the wiring, internal overloads must protect the device.
 
Sure, a 15 amp receptacle and 15 amp rated wire will suffice PROVIDED THAT the calculated "Maximum Continuous Current" doesn't exceed 80% of 15 or 12 amps.

When designing a branch distribution circuit, First you compute the Maximum Continuous Current,,,,,,,,,,,Then you use wire having a minimum rated ampacity of 125% of that,,,,,,,,,,,,,(IE 12 amps if 15 amp rated wire),,,,,,,,,,,,Then you size the Overcurrent Protection Device to protect the wire IE if 15 amp rated wire use a 15 amp circuit breaker or fuse.

John T
 
Thanks for the update. Looking at the cord of the spit welder told me it was not 10 gauge wire. If putting it on a new circuit I use 12 on all outlets. Trying to put 10 on that circuit is kinda lilittle plug is overkill. Something tells me that the spotwelder has a thermal breaker on it if it does run to long and get to hot.
 
I like that spelling, it's probably accurate given that power cord. I'm disappointed to hear that Hobart has deteriorated to that point.
 

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