Here goes

[Rambozo]

Well UPS says my 140ST should be here today. Before it gets here I made up a few accessories to get started. Since I've heard here that these machines can be damaged by having the hot and neutral swapped when running on 120VAC, I made a special plug to let me know if the outlet is wired wrong. I hot glued in a small neon bulb that will make the plug glow when the wiring is good. It will alert me to a hot and neutral swap and/or an open ground. Since this will primarily be a portable welder, I'm sure I'll run into all manner of outlets, and I've seen so many wired backwards. This way I will always have a test before I power up the welder.




I also made this adapter to let me plug into 240VAC. Around here I almost never see NEMA 6-50 outlets. All the older buildings have 10-50 or 10-30 and any new construction after 2000 is almost always 14-50 or 14-30 as there was a local code change requiring a separate neutral line on 240 outlets. My shop is also wired with 14-50 One nice thing about this plug is that since I left the neutral blade out, it will fit in 14-30, 14-50, or even a 14-60. That works for most home stove and dryer plugs, too. I'm sure I'll have to make up a few other adapters, but this one will cover a lot, and should fit in the case. This way I can use standard heavy extension cords when running on 120 or 240. So I don't need to drag around a dedicated 240 cord.




Now I just need to find the perfect argon bottle. I have a few options, but I'll wait and see how things look once it's here. Once I test the function and give it a good burn-in, I have a few mods I want to do, too.

[undercut]

Well UPS says my 140ST should be here today. Before it gets here I made up a few accessories to get started. Since I've heard here that these machines can be damaged by having the hot and neutral swapped when running on 120VAC, I made a special plug to let me know if the outlet is wired wrong. I hot glued in a small neon bulb that will make the plug glow when the wiring is good. It will alert me to a hot and neutral swap and/or an open ground. Since this will primarily be a portable welder, I'm sure I'll run into all manner of outlets, and I've seen so many wired backwards. This way I will always have a test before I power up the welder.

I also made this adapter to let me plug into 240VAC. Around here I almost never see NEMA 6-50 outlets. All the older buildings have 10-50 or 10-30 and any new construction after 2000 is almost always 14-50 or 14-30 as there was a local code change requiring a separate neutral line on 240 outlets. My shop is also wired with 14-50 One nice thing about this plug is that since I left the neutral blade out, it will fit in 14-30, 14-50, or even a 14-60. That works for most home stove and dryer plugs, too. I'm sure I'll have to make up a few other adapters, but this one will cover a lot, and should fit in the case. This way I can use standard heavy extension cords when running on 120 or 240. So I don't need to drag around a dedicated 240 cord.

Now I just need to find the perfect argon bottle. I have a few options, but I'll wait and see how things look once it's here. Once I test the function and give it a good burn-in, I have a few mods I want to do, too.

Those are great ideas, Rambozo. I really like your mod of the 240V plug. Really takes the concept of a short pigtail to the extreme! I might "borrow" your idea on the neon bulb. That is pure genius. Cheers.

[ShaneJackson]

I second that. Those are some slick ideas. I guess I have to head to the hardware store once I get a chance and borrow those ideas too. I haven't got a chance to get what you asked for yet but haven't forgotten.... actually I will go check right now....

[ShaneJackson]

I measured 22.42K. The 3 wires are connected to a plug so they can be unplugged easily (no desoldering required). Hope that helps.

[redbeard]

Great ideas Rambozo. I like the 120v plug with the neon bulb in it, like having one of these built right in:

[everlastsupport]

I did the same thing when I received the 160STH. Just no cool neon bulb on mine. And I used the old crows foot 50 amp plug, I have them all over.

It is handy if you go on the road and only have 110vac, otherwise I run 230 off the generator and shop. I need to dig out the 160 tonight and play, have not used it for a couple weeks.

OPPS. I went the other way around on my plugs. I like the no pig tail/whip idea, mine is about 24"

[Brian Ski]

Might want to mark that adapter for welder use only. First time someone plugs that in a 220 outlet and plugs something 110 into that outlet or into your extension cord, something will get smoked. I can see doing some work and someone putting a triple tap on your extension cord and using a drill or saw.

Neat idea... I guess that is why Miller universal cord has a funky plug that you have to use an adapter with.

[performance]

Some of the newer "univesal cords" don't have an adapter like the pin adapter anymore. It simply has the plug on the end.

[Rambozo]

Might want to mark that adapter for welder use only. First time someone plugs that in a 220 outlet and plugs something 110 into that outlet or into your extension cord, something will get smoked. I can see doing some work and someone putting a triple tap on your extension cord and using a drill or saw.

Neat idea... I guess that is why Miller universal cord has a funky plug that you have to use an adapter with.

I thought about using a different plug, but I wanted to stay compact and didn't want to add the complicity. I also like being able to use a standard extension cord. I work by myself and most people know not to touch my stuff. If they insist on learning from the school of hard knocks, who am I to interfere. There are plenty of other things around here to do the teaching, too. My Lincoln pipliner has a factory standard plug that puts out 120VDC. Universal motors only. I bet that would smoke a lot of devices. And for the big bang, I have a temporary cord I use at times that has standard ends, but I plug it into 3 phase, so all lines are hot. (the equipment is grounded through a different circuit all the time)

[DaveO]

Happy Turkey Day to all-

Rambozo, I saw the reference to this tester in your other conversation with Tanh (Who's correct, manual or google) and remembered I'd wanted to ask about it when you originally posted in September. When I looked into this, sites talk about using it with a resistor in series. Does your tester include a resistor?

[Rambozo]

Happy Turkey Day to all-

Rambozo, I saw the reference to this tester in your other conversation with Tanh (Who's correct, manual or google) and remembered I'd wanted to ask about it when you originally posted in September. When I looked into this, sites talk about using it with a resistor in series. Does your tester include a resistor?

Yes it does, it's just hidden under the glue.