Welding Advice Please!

[ARC]

Thanks guys. Will definitely be looking into some decent safety equipment. As well as some basic prep tools. The cost of the welder itself is a pretty big investment so getting much more than the bare essentials will likely be difficult.

I am planning to get started with flux core. Get some experience working on the welding cart and table. Then hopefully have enough saved get the gas going for the truck projects.

 

[ARC]

I have this wierd RV plug at my house on a dedicated 30amp breaker. Don't have an RV so I would like to us it to run my welder. Any of you electrical gurus know how I can make this work?

 

[1blink]

You could swap the plug to match the cord, or the cord to match the plug. The big concern I would have is not overdrawing amps on that circuit and potentially burning down the house. What is the max rated amp usage of your welder? If it's a 30 amp welder on a 30 amp circuit, go ahead. If 50 amp, you'll need a 50 amp breaker and thicker gauge wiring for a new outlet

 

[KidVermicious]

What is that for, shore power? Maybe check with an RV or trailer supply for an adapter, but I think a better bet would be to yank that plug and replace it with something more appropriate.

Where is the plug, exactly? You want to be as close to the plug as possible (no extension cords if you can help it), and you want the plug as close to it's fuse and ground as possible. If that plug is in a bad place, you might not want to use it anyway.

 

[ARC]

The plug is on the exterior of my garage where I have a large cement pad and do most of my work. It is right next to main power/breaker box for the whole house.

So if I just swap it out to a regular outdoor 110 receptacle I should be good? I like the idea of having the power source on a dedicated breaker so I don't have to worry about what else is on the circuit potentially causing overload.

 

[1blink]

Your welder is 110? That plug has 4 wires: neutral, ground and two 110v hot wires. You would have to cap one of the 110 wires with a wire nut to insulate it from arching, and use the remaining 3 wires on the appropriate post for your new 110v receptacle

 

[ARC]

I'm not so sure that plug is 220. It's wired in to a single pole breaker. I admit I am a bit of an electrical newb, but I think what I have there is a 30amp 110v circuit.