Power Arc 140ST

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How far away are you going to have the welder from the outlet??? If it is close 20-25 feet or so I would just buy that much 10/2 wg SO cable, wire it to the welder and put a 220 plug on it to match the dryer outlet. (sounds like that is what you are using). If it is longer I would put a 220 plug on the welder and make a 10 gauge extension cord.

25 amps on 110 will pop any 110 circuit you put it on. So you probably don't need the 110 plug on it. I would say the 10 ga with a plug will cost about the price of the MVP set up.

I'll do my smaller stuff at 110v and I'm close enough not to need a extension cord. Smaller stuff as in smaller gauge steel and rods with tacking and very short beads of no more than an inch at a time.

My dryer receptacle is at the wrong end (well, for my welding needs anyway!) of the house so the welder is going to be about 50' feet away if I want to use 220v. Not ideal at all but I need to work within my constraints.

[Brian Ski]

My dryer receptacle is at the wrong end (well, for my welding needs anyway!) of the house so the welder is going to be about 50' feet away if I want to use 220v. Not ideal at all but I need to work within my constraints.

Don't we all.... Some of us have to work with our restraints..... BTW like Rod said... How close is your breaker box. If it is on the close side you can just put in an outlet next to that if it would save you a lot of wire.

[Brian Ski]

got a good deal on ebay on my wire got a 250 roll for only 160 bucks , what even more crazy all my wiring for my machine shop machines is 6 gauge around 1500 feet of it going every were this is just one of my panel boxs i have 3 of these in my shop

When I wired my beer barn I got a 500 foot roll of thhn for $100 but shipping cost me almost $40.

BTW I see you are following osha rules on keeping the cover in place and keeping a 3' clearance..... Haha

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Don't we all.... Some of us have to work with our restraints..... BTW like Rod said... How close is your breaker box. If it is on the close side you can just put in an outlet next to that if it would save you a lot of wire.

I've got a breaker box in my house and a breaker box in my garage. The one in the garage has a single 120v breaker in it. Would be nice to have a friend who's an electrician right about now!

[SeanMurphy265]

I'm not sure if it's still there, but there was a thread on WW about making your own welding extension chord. There was ton's of debate about thickness, but using a 10-3 bulldog power chord is a cheaper alternative. Just change the plugs to match what you need.
50'
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4937_200314937
100' not sure if 10 gauge is thick enough for 100'
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4939_200314939
50'
http://www.harborfreight.com/general...ord-93670.html

[Rodsmachineshop]

its nothing to put in a 220 breaker and wire a 220 outlet

[Rodsmachineshop]

get a kick out of this guy lol but he has some great videos

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I'm not sure if it's still there, but there was a thread on WW about making your own welding extension chord. There was ton's of debate about thickness, but using a 10-3 bulldog power chord is a cheaper alternative. Just change the plugs to match what you need.
50'
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4937_200314937
100' not sure if 10 gauge is thick enough for 100'
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4939_200314939
50'
http://www.harborfreight.com/general...ord-93670.html

Was looking at the cord from HF just yesterday. Not sure how the neon bulbs at the ends will like 220v instead of 110v ... note to self, more research. Cord is rated to 300v and is 10 gauge. I also saw one on Amazon with the same gauge, no lights on the ends for slightly cheaper - no charge shipping!

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get a kick out of this guy lol but he has some great videos

Unfortunately(?) garage is somewhat finished, as in, interior walls are in. Also, I'm going to need to take a look at my garage breaker box. When I said there was one 110v breaker, I think I remember that the breaker box only had room for the one breaker so I'm not sure what I would need to change to access both 110v lines to add a 220v breaker in there. Maybe just the front cover? I need to take a look.

I've got run - I'll look at the video a bit later tonight. Thanks!

[Rodsmachineshop]

lol i think the light on the cord are stupid me myself i dont like them i think is just a craze to sell the product but dose let you know if the cord is plugged in pluss works for a night lite if scared of the dark lol

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I had a really quick look at the breaker box in my garage as I was heading out. It is really, really small with what looked like a single cutout for a single 110v breaker. I'll need to look around and see if anyone I know has an electrician friend. Wiring something in there would require opening up a section of wall to put a receptacle in and see what can be done with that small breaker box. Given how much I will be welding in the short term, maybe rigging up a extension would be the best road to take as it will allow me to be somewhat 220v portable. I can't weld in the garage anyway. Sorry, catching myself thinking out loud ....

[Rodsmachineshop]

thing to do just take a pic and i can tell you if you can do a 220 breaker

[SeanMurphy265]

Was looking at the cord from HF just yesterday. Not sure how the neon bulbs at the ends will like 220v instead of 110v ... note to self, more research. Cord is rated to 300v and is 10 gauge. I also saw one on Amazon with the same gauge, no lights on the ends for slightly cheaper - no charge shipping!

I would cut the existing plugs off the cord, and replace them with 220v plugs. That's a cheaper way of getting a 50' welding cord.

[Brian Ski]

thing to do just take a pic and i can tell you if you can do a 220 breaker

Was thinking the same thing... Just take the cover off and take a pic... Hard to say if he has 220 even coming into the box. Or what size wires going to it. Or what is powering the box from the house. (one 20 amp breaker)

The best if he can fight the wife over the dryer outlet is an extension cord... you can always use it in the garage if you get that wired right later.

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Was thinking the same thing... Just take the cover off and take a pic... Hard to say if he has 220 even coming into the box. Or what size wires going to it. Or what is powering the box from the house. (one 20 amp breaker)

The best if he can fight the wife over the dryer outlet is an extension cord... you can always use it in the garage if you get that wired right later.

Sorry, only had time to take an external shot but it shows the existing 110v breaker. I didn't notice the cutout on the left that isn't occupied. I guess to really tell if there is 220v service in the garage is to take the cover off as Brian and Rod suggested. That will need to be another day though as (I embarrassed to say) there is too much "stuff" in front of it for me to access it. Brian is right though, even with 220v in the garage, I'll still need an extension cord as I can't weld in there. Geez guys, thanks for all of the help. It's really helping me get my head straight and my thoughts aligned with a few people pointing me in the right direction. Thanks!

[Brian Ski]

Sorry, only had time to take an external shot but it shows the existing 110v breaker. I didn't notice the cutout on the left that isn't occupied. I guess to really tell if there is 220v service in the garage is to take the cover off as Brian and Rod suggested. That will need to be another day though as (I embarrassed to say) there is too much "stuff" in front of it for me to access it. Brian is right though, even with 220v in the garage, I'll still need an extension cord as I can't weld in there. Geez guys, thanks for all of the help. It's really helping me get my head straight and my thoughts aligned with a few people pointing me in the right direction. Thanks!

I would probably pass on taking the cover off. That is a 110 volt breaker even if you could take it out and get a double pole using both spots... you would still be short a breaker for the garage.

The extension cord from the dryer outlet or a new outlet near the house breaker box (if there is room) sounds like the best choice... I can hear it now... Sorry honey no drying clothes I need to get this welded....

[Rodsmachineshop]

that a 4 box .. looks like only space for 2 breakers but this will do 1 double thin 220v breaker center and 1 thin 110v on each end or if not using 220v will do 4 separate 110v breakers . http://www.azpartsmaster.com/Product...KRTHQP250.aspx here is the breaker i am talking about , they put those in garages for 220 water heaters and dryers . Also that box if done rite should have a 30 amp or higher 220v breaker in main breaker box that powers that box . mite even be gfi breaker on the main box.. I lucked out since have family that are electrical contractors and always get free stuff when wiring my shop .

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that a 4 box .. looks like only space for 2 breakers but this will do 1 double thin 220v breaker center and 1 thin 110v on each end or if not using 220v will do 4 separate 110v breakers . http://www.azpartsmaster.com/Product...KRTHQP250.aspx here is the breaker i am talking about , they put those in garages for 220 water heaters and dryers . Also that box if done rite should have a 30 amp or higher 220v breaker in main breaker box that powers that box . mite even be gfi breaker on the main box.. I lucked out since have family that are electrical contractors and always get free stuff when wiring my shop .

OK, I get it now. Breaker in the main box wired to the breaker box in the garage. Sooooo, I took a look at my main breaker box and there is only a 110v breaker for the garage ..... I suspect that has determined my options for me.

You definitely lucked out on your relatives! Thanks for all of your help.

[Rivets]

OK, I get it now. Breaker in the main box wired to the breaker box in the garage. Sooooo, I took a look at my main breaker box and there is only a 110v breaker for the garage ..... I suspect that has determined my options for me.

You definitely lucked out on your relatives! Thanks for all of your help.

You may/should be able to replace the single breaker in your main panel with a double/double thin breaker.
That will give you 220 volts in your garage.

Also, depending on code in your area, you may be able to run conduit on the wall surface to your outlet, so no need to tear down drywall.

What's the wire size to your garage panel?

rivets

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You may/should be able to replace the single breaker in your main panel with a double/double thin breaker.
That will give you 220 volts in your garage.

Also, depending on code in your area, you may be able to run conduit on the wall surface to your outlet, so no need to tear down drywall.

What's the wire size to your garage panel?

rivets

Ah, and then install a thin 220v breaker along side the existing 120v breaker in the garage. I don't know the gauge of the wire as I'd have to pull the cover off to take a look but unfortunately, the garage breaker at the main box says 15A so that doesn't look promising. It may take me a bit to move everything away from the front of the garage breaker box so that I can get at it. What gauge am I looking for?