powerarc 200 electrical hookup.

[bobwills]

So I was wondering what is the minimum size breaker that the powerarc 200 should be ran on. In the shop there is a big 60 amp breaker that will run anything. But for a project coming up I need to use mig and arc. Well there is another one of the big amp plugs on the other side of the shop but that will run it just fine too but I dont want to have to keep taking things over there to weld. But there is another 220 that runs our big planner. Its a smaller wire and is only on a 30 amp breaker. Will that run my welder and be just fine?

[Haywire]

Depends on how many amps you need from the welder. If you only need 100ish, you'll probably be fine. If you need 150+, you'll be popping breakers.

[bobwills]

OK. so lower amps is fine? It wont hurt the welder any on the lower amp. Cause if it could I wont use it. I will be running bout 125 or something.

[Haywire]

I wouldn't think it'd hurt the welder, you'll just pop breakers if it's too much. A popping breaker tells you to find a bigger circuit. How far is the other side of the shop? 25' 8 ga extension cords run about $60.

Ian

[bobwills]

Ok. I may try it then. Could always put bigger breaker. Just the cord might be too small though. And Its just for a project coming up so Only need it for this really.

[performance]

It does take a 40 amp breaker to run it.
30 should get you around 150 amps.

[bobwills]

I seen that in the specs. So should I just not use it on the 30 amp breaker then.

[Haywire]

if you bump the breaker size, you risk an electrical fire. Be a shame to lose the shop and everything it contains for the cost of a $60 extension cord.

Ian

[I_Love_Plasma]

Max running amps on the power arc 200 is 36amps at 240VAC so if you stay under 200amps for your power setting you should be fine. We run a hh120 on a 20 amp breaker and it max draw is 30. every once in a while the breaker trips, we just let it think about it for a minute then reset and zoom. No big deal.

Hope that reassures you.

ILP

[welderdude]

I have had no issue running my 400GMS off of a 20 amp 240 breaker. I have ran it at 150 amps on a 5/32 7014 just to see if it would trip the breaker, which it didn't. Both the power arc 200 and my 400GMS are inverter machines so I would believe they have a similar efficiency. I really can't see too big of an issue with using a 30 amp breaker. Heck, I've heard of plenty of people using a 30 amp clothes dryer plugs to run their Lincoln 225 or equivalent. If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll see how many actually amps my welder draws when welding for ####s and grins.

BTY, I also have a 50 amp plug, but using that plug requires using a 25 foot cord. The 20 amp plug is much closer and I only use it for light duty welding.

[bobwills]

Im also worried about the smaller wire also running to the plug. I may just ask my uncle who knows all the wiring in our shop if the planner circuit will work.

[everlastsupport]

You can run on less amp like stated until you start popping the breakers by cranking your amps to high..

Remember, the breaker is sized to protect the wiring (wire size) inside the wall. Bigger breaker needs bigger wires IN the wall, otherwise they can heat up and possible fire.

I ran as IMIG-200 on a 28AMP 220VAC (generator) for hours yesterday. All 3/16" and less with no problems, so I never pulled 28 amps.

However, I would recommended using the bigger breaker and have no headaches.

[Haywire]

You can run on less amp like stated until you start popping the breakers by cranking your amps to high..

Remember, the breaker is sized to protect the wiring (wire size) inside the wall. Bigger breaker needs bigger wires IN the wall, otherwise they can heat up and possible fire.

I ran as IMIG-200 on a 28AMP 220VAC (generator) for hours yesterday. All 3/16" and less with no problems, so I never pulled 28 amps.

However, I would recommended using a bigger breaker and installing appropriately sized wiring in the wall and have no headaches.

Clarified that. Don't just put a bigger breaker in the panel.

Ian

[bobwills]

oK I may try it or just use the other plug not real sure. Thankya everyone for all the help!

[bobwills]

Wait got one more question. So in my garage I have 220 with two 50 amp breakers. Now all my 220 plugs might be on one breaker now sure but if it was on separate breakers would I be able to run more than one welder at a time. I think that it only has one wire running into the garage though from the main breaker box in the house. Not one wire for each breaker if I remember correctly.

[Ray]

Wait got one more question. So in my garage I have 220 with two 50 amp breakers. Now all my 220 plugs might be on one breaker now sure but if it was on separate breakers would I be able to run more than one welder at a time. I think that it only has one wire running into the garage though from the main breaker box in the house. Not one wire for each breaker if I remember correctly.

it would be limited to the service to the shop, most are only 100 amp.
usualy there is a "main" breaker close to the meter box. 100 or sometimes 200 Amp.

Ray

[welderdude]

Hears a video I shot to show the input current draw on my 400gms.

This experiment was done on a 20 amp 240 outlet. I also have a 50 amp plug, but the 20 amp plug is closer and doesn't require a 25 foot 8 gauge cord. I usually use the small plug for light duty welding, but wasn't sure what I could safety get away with.

I wanted to do the same test with the 50 amp plug, had no easy way of getting the clamp meter around a single conductor without getting into the breaker box.
The tests were done with a Thermal Arc 400 GMS running on 240 single phase. It was set on stick mode, the dig knob was set on 2 out of 10, and the hot start was at 5 out of 10.
The first test was done with a 3/32 7018 at 90 amps.
The second test was a 1/8 6010 5p at 90 amps.
The third test was an 1/8 7018 at 125 amps.
The forth test was with a 5/32 7014 at 160 amps. I long arced the second half of the 7014 test to see how it affects current draw.