Wire and breaker size needed for a new outlet for the 200DX

[Joe from NY]

Greetings all, i am tired of unplugging the dryer extension cord everytime we need to use the dryer in the basement. can anyone advise what breaker size and what wire size i need for a run about 20 feet from the panel box to a dedicated receptacle i will be mounting for my 200DX? that will be the only load on that branch.
thanks
joe

[geezer]

Never go on the cheap if you have an attached garage or workshop, you could get by with less but go 50 amp and no 8 wire for that short run. That makes it a real welding plug..if you are gonna do it you may as well do it right, no 8 is basically a stove or dryer wire size , no point in having anything smaller for a welder. Check out this site: http://www.gorhamschaffler.com/wire_...alculator.html

[sportbike]

According to that calculator, you could use 14 gauge wire for it. I wouldn't use 14 gauge wire, but 10 gauge is plenty. The welder pulls less than 30 amps, as you have demonstrated by using it on your current dryer outlet, which is probably a 30 amp circuit.

Just wire in another 30 amp circuit and you will be fine.

if you have any intent of miving to a larger welder in the future, then go bigger. if you are just a hobbyist, you'll be fine with 30A

[Joe from NY]

i am going with 12 gauge wire and a 20 amp breaker. the run of wire is short, and from the location of my welder about 6 feet line of sight to the breaker box, i can see the wire up the wall and along the beams the whole short run. if the breaker trips with the 20, i will move it over to the 30 breaker.

if the wire started to smoke, i would see it. And anyway, i always stay active in the basement workshop screwing around for at least 1/2 hour after finishing welding just in case there are any smoldering nuggets nestled somewhere that could ignite later.

[geezer]

Building to minimum standard is just that MINIMUM STANDARD, the reason I recomend # 8 is because # 8 will carry a 50 amp load safely for 95 feet, that is 20 feet from the panel to the wall plug and another 75 feet when you weld on the driveway or out side, Welding extension cords are available most every where and they are #8 sold in 25 and 50 foot lengths with standard welding plugs on each end. Also what happens if he buys a different welder or a plasma cutter, does he rewire again?? You need 50 amps to service a 60 amp plasma cutter.
Best to build it once and build it right, no point in saving a few bucks on wire and then always wondering if it is safe to use.

[67cudafb]

Joe as others have said you can get by 10 awg and 30 amp breaker but if you step up to larger unit it may be to small. Do it once and do it right I would go with 8 awg or 6 awg and 60 amp breaker and sub panel where you can drop a welder plug maybe plugs for plasma, grinders small compresser. Just try to plan ahead.

[sportbike]

Building to minimum standard is just that MINIMUM STANDARD

The US NEC is far from a "minimun". Eurpoean standards and others usually allow for much smaller conductors for the same conditions.

Even in the NEC, it derates the current requirements for duty cycle limited machines (such as most welders).


I'm not saying he shoudln't use 8 ga wire adn go with a 40A circuit, I'm just saying that the 10 awg and 30 A will suit his machine just fine.




12 ga and 20 A is not sufficient for it whrn it is known that it pulls ~ 27A (at 240V). If it is actually 220V or so, it will be higher current draw.

[Paul Moir]

Under the NEC, don't you have to derate the line at 80%? That is to say, since you know the welder will draw 27A (90% of 30A) you have to go to the next largest conductor / protection size? So really you have to go 40A / #8.
(As far as I know, the NEC does not allow for you to use "calculated" wire sizes outside of their tables. Maybe possible with an Engineer's stamp.)

[Paul Moir]

Ah, yes. Now that I've read some more I see there's a couple of reasons the 80% rule would not apply here.

EDIT: Re your edit: I think the rule also does not apply in hard wired or single outlet applications under the NEC. (I'm not an expert on this subject by a long stretch.)

[Steve]

I agree that going a little bit thicker on the gauge of wire is the better way to go.

I installed #6 wire on all my welding circuits and it has served me well.

Wire is like a hose. The thicker the hose, more water can be pushed through it. I installed a 50 amp breaker on all those circuits. The breaker keeps the wire from catching fire inside the wall. If needed, I want the most amperage that the circuit can muster. You never know what else you may want to hook up to the circuit so I over build.

[Jake98]

Well since you already have a way of running it at full load you could do the 20a. circuit for practice on thin stuff.

[steveprichar]

I would run #8 with a 40 amp breaker.

[Joe from NY]

Joe, your 200DX can draw up to 27A when operating towards its maximum rating, so you may want to consider a 10 AWG, 30A branch.

That is what I did. The stiff wire was a bit harder to snake around, but i finally got it hooked up. Thanks