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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / 220 plug
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 17:06
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Need to connect a welder to generator. What goes where? Tried to look it up, enter email, accept cookies, blah blah..
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ICC
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 17:57 - Edited by: ICC
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I am assuming the first image is of the outlet on the generator but can't tell much from the 2nd image. It looks like a std 15 amp 120 VAC 3 prong male cord end. Is the welder designed for both 120 and 240 VAC?
You may need the manual to tell how to wire up a plug safely for the 220/240 VAC. Some have a cheater cord.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 18:09 - Edited by: gcrank1
Reply 


Amp x volts = watts
How much does that (assume) ac transformer welder draw?
Your gen needs to be at the correct input V and have enough capacity to not only run it but start it up/keep it going when the big load comes on striking an arc and carrying it.
I have an old small 120/220v arc welder that has to be switched in the input wiring from one to the other. I have never tried running it on a gen but I do know that a 220v unit is way easier to start an arc and carry.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 18:13
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If you don't want to give up your email sometimes a throway like https://temp-mail.org/en/ can be used.

Cookies... that's easier to opt out of but can be a PITA. However, I do think it is better to have the choice of opting out or only selecting necessary cookies. We never used to have a choice. Or do it the simple way and accept all... before we had the choice we were always accepting all the cookies the webpage wanted to use. Choice is better than no choice, IMO

paulz
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 18:38 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Yeah, confusing. Says 240 right on it. It’s a T170 Chicago electric..
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 18:55
Reply 


https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/61000-61999/61888.pdf
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ICC
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 19:47
Reply 


Does the generator manual indicate what is the NEMA number of the electric receptacle? That would be the easiest way to sort out what might be done to wire up a cord that could safely connect the generator and welder.

NEMA is the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. They have specs for every type of electric pliug and receptacle that could be used in the USA. There are wiring diagrams that indicate what each terminal is used for.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 19:49 - Edited by: ICC
Reply 


This cord adapter would probably work. Probably, not promised. IF the generator has a NEMA L14-30 type connector. It's a little hard to tell from the image but highly likely for that to be the connector type.

https://kickinghorsewelders.com/products/nema-6-50r-to-l14-30p-adapter-cable-for-gene rator-220v

ICC
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 19:52 - Edited by: ICC
Reply 


NEMA chart

https://www.nooutage.com/nema_configurations.htm

OR

https://www.bsaelectronics.com/pages/nema-plug-and-outlet-chart



The P suffix denotes a PLUG, the R suffix denotes a receptacle/outlet/socket

ICC
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 20:15
Reply 


If you can find the appropriate plug and receptacle in a store you could follow this wiring diagram from the kicking horse welder page to wire up a cord yourself.
diagram
diagram


ICC
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 20:48
Reply 


NEMA 6-50R that can be directly fitted to a cord does not seem to be an easy thing to find.

Two things I found

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ELEGRP-50-Amp-250-Volt-NEMA-6-50R-Surface-Mount-Power-Out let-Single-Straight-Blade-Range-and-Dryer-Outlet-Grounding-Black-2202/317611266

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ELEGRP-50-Amp-250-Volt-NEMA-6-50R-Flush-Mount-Power-Outle t-Single-Straight-Blade-Range-and-Dryer-Outlet-Grounding-Black-2102S/317611249

and a different source for a cord adapter.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AC-WORKS-1-5-ft-Welder-Adaper-Generator-L14-30-Plug-4-Pro ng-30-Amp-to-NEMA-6-50R-50-Amp-250-Volt-Adapter-Cord-L1430650-018/301630111

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 20:56
Reply 


The welder just has a ground and two hots. Where they are on the Female plug can be measured with a volt meter. It's a simple connect the dots game after that.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 12 Sep 2024 22:24 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Ok, so the L shaped female receptacle is ground and the two next to it are hots. The 4th is neutral, whatever that does, according to the diagram in Izzy’s post. And on the male plug it’s just the two hots and a ground.

In any case, the orange adapter in the last link looks like the fix.. 50 bucks, ouch.

Thanks guys. One eye on my drag box ram broke off..
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Brettny
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2024 10:55
Reply 


Cut the plug off the welder and put the correct one on.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2024 13:23
Reply 


All our 220v welders, my little buzz box, an old big buzz and the old Lincoln buzz had the common 'dryer plug'. Guess that got upgraded to more lugs?

paulz
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2024 14:09
Reply 


Put this in my cart on Amazon, now that I’m a big Amazon shopper . Looks like the right plugs. But before I check out, I’m going down to the shop and go through my cords and plugs box one more time, small chance there’s something there.

Yeah that’s a strange plug on that welder, guess I’ve never used it. Must have gotten it before I went in the hospital. One good part of all that is all the stuff I have that I forgot about. I do have a gas welder down there, and Mig and Tig at the city house, but I should get this one going. It does have a spool of flux core in there, checked that yesterday.
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ICC
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2024 14:29
Reply 


That adapter cord looks like a good price. It would be hard to find the hardware components for less I think.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2024 14:32
Reply 


Tip:
Be sure to check the plug contacts with your meter! Some of that stuff is wired Wrong.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 14 Sep 2024 16:13 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Got a big box of 220 stuff down there but nothing with that odd plug. If I could bend them diagonal..

Ordering that 20 buck adapter. That way if I smoke something I can blame somebody else besides me for a change.
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 17 Sep 2024 13:46
Reply 


Amazon delivered the 220 adapter in one day as promised, unfortunately I got impatient and had already left for the cabin. Hope it’s still by the door later this week.

Since I was sitting around at the house, I fired up my Miller TIG machine and did the job. First time welding in two years, shakey but got it done. Will try the MIG welder out here next week.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 25 Sep 2024 14:07
Reply 


Shoot. Went down and tried to fire up that MiG, nothing, no power light. I don’t think I’ve ever used this thing, nor the 220 on this generator. I know the 110 works, used it plenty and test ran a saw. So I guess it’s VOM time. As I understand both sides of the L shaped receptacle should read 110 using the L shape as neutral. If that checks out I can check with the adapter plugged in, again both sides 110 with third lug neutral.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 25 Sep 2024 14:50
Reply 


Fwiw, my 110/220 buzz box needed a simple 'choose' wiring inside

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