Issue With 30 Amp Outlet

Hello guys, I recently just purchased a 185 Micro. I wired in a male 30 amp plug to the welder, and I went to plug it in to the outlet that my dryer uses, and low and behold it uses a different style plug.

The plug my dryer outlet uses:

http://0.tqn.com/d/electrical/1/0/q/...yerCord400.jpg

The plug that I wired on to my welder:

http://www.americanrvcenter.com/part...49405577bd.jpg

I have a 30 amp extension cord that I'm not using (has the same male plug that I wired into my welder), could I get a dryer outlet pigtail and wire it in to my extension cord to make this work?

Any other thoughts?

You could make a short adapter with a male dryer plug and female welder outlet , But the easiest thing to do would be to wire another outlet to that box with the matching female plug on it. Just don't try to use both outlets at the same time.

I'd change the dryer to the different style if you already have two things wither with the different style.

Just so you are aware, the plug you show for your welder is a 30 amp 125 volt plug NOT 240 volt. While it will work fine and you might want to use it because you have a big cord with those ends, be careful that you don't plug an RV into that (it's an RV plug). I would NOT wire an extra outlet with that plug to 240 volt or put that plug on your dryer. If anything make an adapter so it will only get used for your welder.

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Originally Posted by Rambozo

Just so you are aware, the plug you show for your welder is a 30 amp 125 volt plug NOT 240 volt. While it will work fine and you might want to use it because you have a big cord with those ends, be careful that you don't plug an RV into that (it's an RV plug). I would NOT wire an extra outlet with that plug to 240 volt or put that plug on your dryer. If anything make an adapter so it will only get used for your welder.

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This caution against using a plug makes sense because of what someone *else* might do in your absence. Since you are building it and you know what it is meant to do then you'd be fine- but someone else stepping into the picture (nosy neighbor, brother from out of town, whatever) might unknowingly plug it in to the wrong receptacle and toast it.

Are the wires that make up the extension cord beefy enough for the task?

I'm an electrician and agree with the previous comments. Get the correct cord for your 240 volt dryer outlet. Using the incorrect plug on the incorrect voltages is asking for both trouble and safety. In general people assume that the plugs are correct for the rating given. That is why they created NEMA standard plug configurations and numbers. Spend a couple more dollars and get the right one. It could also save your welder in the future if you ever use it in another location or lend it to someone.

I did just notice that your machine is a dual voltage model, so technically that plug is fine for 30 amps at 120 volts. You will always have something funny with a dual voltage model, but keep that at the welder and do not have outlets wired incorrectly. If you will always power it from 240 volt, then put a 240 volt plug on it. If you are going to go back and forth between 120 and 240, you will need some kind of adapter to avoid switching plugs.

This unit is actually a 220 unit only. A NEMA 6-50 is the standard welder plug. There are any number, but the best thing to do is just make up a heavy enough extension. But we need to know how far you are running it? The plugs and receps are available at Home Depot or lowe's for the standard welder plug. What you need for the receptacle you have is a NEMA 10-30 dual voltage plug. I have used this site for a reference more than once....for those oddballs. http://www.stayonline.com/reference-...ght-blade.aspx

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Originally Posted by performance

This unit is actually a 220 unit only.

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Time to update the website as it lists the 185 as dual voltage in the spec chart.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rambozo

Time to update the website as it lists the 185 as dual voltage in the spec chart.

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I bought it used from Mark, this is one of the first 185 micros.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rambozo

Time to update the website as it lists the 185 as dual voltage in the spec chart.

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It's listed in the specs...you just missed it. Under optional equipment. 50.00 extra.

Ah ha, that clarifies things, and explains some odd things in the manual. I guess I just didn't think about that as an optional feature.

10 gauge SOW or similar will work fine with the 185 to at least 120ft length. (assuming it doesn't pull any more current than a 200dx)

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cable-...extension+cord

Get one like this and change out the plugs!

Hi,

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I have a related question. I bought a 140st, and I plan to wire a 6-50 plug on the end, for use with 220, at my house. I already have a cord with 6-50 plug one end and 6-50 receptacle on the other. My question is if I want to take the welder somewhere and plug it into a regular 15amp 110 outlet, can I just make a reducer pigtail with 6-50 receptacle one end and a 15 or 20amp plug on the other end? Just plug my 220 extension cord into the receptacle on the pigtail, and then the 15 or 20amp plug on the other end of the pigtail into the 110 outlet?

Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MotoJ

Hi,

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I have a related question. I bought a 140st, and I plan to wire a 6-50 plug on the end, for use with 220, at my house. I already have a cord with 6-50 plug one end and 6-50 receptacle on the other. My question is if I want to take the welder somewhere and plug it into a regular 15amp 110 outlet, can I just make a reducer pigtail with 6-50 receptacle one end and a 15 or 20amp plug on the other end? Just plug my 220 extension cord into the receptacle on the pigtail, and then the 15 or 20amp plug on the other end of the pigtail into the 110 outlet?

Thanks

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Yes, just be sure that through everything the white wire on the welder ends up in the neutral line. There have been issues where welder damage has occurred if this is miswired. I suspect that the auto switching it triggered by seeing hot on the neutral line so the welder doesn't switch to 120v if the plug is wired backwards. Especially when going to places where the wiring is unknown, it wouldn't hurt to give it a quick test. I wired a test light right into my plug, to be sure. and went the other way on my adapter, but either way will work fine. Be sure to check your extension cord, too, if you plan on using it for 120v. Since both legs are hot, a lot of people can be pretty cavalier about keeping them wired the same on both ends.

Attachment 8103

http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...6645#post36645

Thanks! Great tip on the cord- I'm going to have to open that back up and take a look.
I really dig those adapters you made too.
Now, would I have any problems if I use a 10/3 commercial extension cord with my pigtail? How will I know what side is neutral in a plug I can't open up? Or should I cut the ends off and install my own receptacle and plug so I know they match down the line?

Sorry if that's an ignorant question. I'm not sure how to test for neutral with a meter.

I would think a sealed commercial cord would always be wired properly, but you could always test.
You can test any number of ways. Check both ends for continuity, pin to pin, or plug it in and check for 120V power between neutral and ground (should be none). The easiest is to probably just use a small neon outlet tester before you plug in. If you are unsure of any of the outlets or cords, the best place to check would be right at your welder cord, that's why I built mine right into the plug. Things like two extension cords both with swapped pins will test fine when used together, but bad used one at a time. Such are the issues with being mobile and using things that are not yours. Probably one of the big reasons that most professional welders never use site power and bring their own generators. You never know what you will run into. But if you do a few tests, you should not have any problems. You could even build a tester into your pigtail adapter if you want.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rambozo

Just so you are aware, the plug you show for your welder is a 30 amp 125 volt plug NOT 240 volt.

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Sure? Looks like a Nema 10-30 to me.

Attachment 8672

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Originally Posted by blacksmith

Sure? Looks like a Nema 10-30 to me.

Attachment 8672

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Look again. His dryer plug is a NEMA 10-30, but the plug he put on his welder is a NEMA TT-30

Yeah - I admit confusion.