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Welder power source

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Tim B

01-14-2002 10:58:35

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I am considering a getting a stick welder but am concerned about having enough juice in my domestic electrical service. My service is 100 amp. From what I can tell, the type of welder I would want (e.g., output 150 amp DC, 20% duty cycle) requires about 47 to 50 amp input (230 V.) It seems to me that I'll have to make sure the rest of the house is not using any signficant electricity, or I'll be tripping the main breaker. Anyone have any similar experience.

Also, I've read a little about the high tech DC inverter welders which seem much more effient and flexible (stick, tig and, maybe mig all rolled into one). Although much more expensive, it seems like it may be worth it in the long run. Any one have any experience with them?

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RobertTX

01-15-2002 05:59:51

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Re: welder power source in reply to Tim B, 01-14-2002 10:58:35

If you add up all the breakers in your current box, you will probably come up with over 100. This works because you never load all of them at once. It is likely you can add a 50 for your welder with no problem. If there is a concern about tripping the main, just don't use the oven and dryer while you are welding.

IMPORTANT: If you do not have the experience to do this, get a REAL electrician to do this or look over whoever does it. Don't rewire your house based on what people like me tell you on the internet! It will be money well spent.

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hay

01-15-2002 04:46:37

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Re: welder power source in reply to Tim B, 01-14-2002 10:58:35

i'm kinda in the same situaion you are in. i want a 225 amp lincoln, but don't have the wiring for a dedicated 50 amp circuit. i bought a small clarke 100 amp 110 volt stick welder and it works great. it works on a 20 amp circuit and requires NO special wiring. so far i have been able to do everything i needed to do with it.

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mike

01-14-2002 22:19:17

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Re: welder power source in reply to Tim B, 01-14-2002 10:58:35

dont know about stick for sure but have a miller35 and millermatic 185 both wire feeds and dc 175 max amps both pull 26 amps max at 230 volts I dont see a reason a stick would pull more but dont know. mike

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Glenn(WV)

01-14-2002 19:20:50

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Re: welder power source in reply to Tim B, 01-14-2002 10:58:35

I would either 1) install a 200-amp electrical service entrance for your house and then plumb in a dedicated circuit for the welder, or 2) consider installing a new, completely separate service entrance for the welder(and your shop, if it is separate from your house). A friend of mine is going to do just that for his woodworking shop. From the standpoint of safety, you can't have too big a service entrance, within reason. Both options will cost money, but is it worth risking your house going up like a Roman candle? You can't be too careful with electricity. Besides, installing a new service entrance will make your house easier to sell down the road, should you decide to sell it. Just my thoughts . . .

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dab

01-14-2002 15:04:33

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Re: welder power source in reply to Tim B, 01-14-2002 10:58:35

A lot will depend on what else is pulling off of your 100 amp service. I've got a 200 amp panel an the house with a 50 amp circuit off of it run to the barn for all my outside electric. At the barn I've go a 200 amp panel but a 50 amp main controlls it. I run an air compressor, welder, band saw, drill press, the works off of it and never tripped the 50 amp main.

Personally, I would aviod the "little, high tech welders". The only ones I have used were 110v and 100 amp with a 20-30% duty cycle. Welding most anything on the farm takes 90 to 100 amps output and with that low duty cycle they shut off every 3 minutes for 7.

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skipjack

01-14-2002 18:40:53

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Re: Re: welder power source in reply to dab, 01-14-2002 15:04:33

I've got the same set-up as dab and have never tripped the 50a main. I use a 225 Miller and a 225 Forney (both ac only) with 6011 being my rod of choice. They will both run 7018 on the high voltage side (not high amp side) without much trouble.

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glen

01-14-2002 12:25:27

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Re: welder power source in reply to Tim B, 01-14-2002 10:58:35

hey Tim
I don't see you having any problem running that welder don't forget the current draw is proportional to the current you are using while welding and most welding uses far less than 150 amps unless your doing something really big and are using heavy rods. hope this helps. Glen

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Big Jake

01-15-2002 06:56:00

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Re: Re: welder power source in reply to glen, 01-14-2002 12:25:27

Glen is correct. The welder only draws the full
50 amps if you have it cranked up all the way which would be very very rare Most of time I doubt you would pull even 25 amps

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Mark Kw

01-15-2002 10:25:00

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Re: Re: Re: welder power source in reply to Big Jake, 01-15-2002 06:56:00

Around here, you can't even install a 100 amp service or sell your building with an existing one. Minimum for all new services is 200 amp and old 60 and 100 amp services to any building must be replaced with a 200 amp service before it can be sold.

I would strongly suggest the upgrade to a new 200 amp service simply because the existing one is likely aged and could leave you with more problems than just hooking up a welder. The service may be sufficient to handle the load but if it's old, you're better off eliminating a hazard before it causes a serious problem such as burning your house down. Don't skimp on a new service either, use quality equipment such as Square D brand QO series breakers and panel. Do it right and do it once.

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