Electrical Question

[Bsawyer1]

Hello everyone,

I recently got an amazing deal on a welder combo from my work and currently it is setup for 3 pole which I don't have at my house, neither will i be adding to it the house.

I have a xmt350 cc/cv with the 22a wire feeder, as well as a Tig and cooler. Right now the xmt is setup for 30a250v 4 prong lock plug.

Now I'm looking to run this unit off of a generator. I'm not made of money and this is really only for home projects/vehicle welding from time to time. But I want it to be useable if I need to bring it to a buddies house. Think it would be fine running it off of a 7500-9000w generator.

On a note on that will switching the plug to a 240v do anything or will it just not allow the higher draw the machine can do.

I'm new to all this so any help is highly appreciated. Also learning how to weld on my brothers smaller machine so I'll be asking alot more questions in the future. Ty to anyone who answers.

[aametalmaster]

Welcome, i can't answer...Bob

[Bushytails]

The xmt350 will run fine on either single phase or three phase. Instructions for how to connect a single phase plug are in the owner's manual, which you can get under "support" from the top menu on miller's site. It should run off a generator of that size, but you won't be able to use its full power output.

[MAC702]

...will switching the plug to a 240v do anything or will it just not allow the higher draw the machine can do...

As opposed to what? You say it's already on a 240V configuration, right? The "250" on the plug itself is to show that it's rated for "up to 250V" meaning it's intended for 208V and 240V installations. I'm thinking this is probably just a confusion in the terms.

"Draws" are current/amperage, limited by power (wattage) available, and conductor size.

As mentioned, you mostly just need to convert the machine from three-phase to single-phase. I'll take Bushytails' word for it that it can be done. It's common on modern machines.

[Bushytails]

The machine itself doesn't actually need any conversion. The only thing you need to do is swap on the correct plug onto the power cord, wired correctly.

[Portable Welder]

I'm a little hesitant as to the generator being big enough to run the welder, you certainly wont be able to max it out, watch out when purchasing generators, you need to know what it puts out CONTINUOUS, most generator companies will give start up amps for the surge required when a motor starts up, but you need to know continuous power not surge watts.

[ryanjones2150]

Assuming it’s connected correctly inside the machine. My first ever machine, years ago, wasn’t. I went to change the plug, simple right? Little did I know that GREEN was hot....for some reason, so when I swapped the plug all I got was the tiniest of sparks.

[Bsawyer1]

The xmt350 will run fine on either single phase or three phase. Instructions for how to connect a single phase plug are in the owner's manual, which you can get under "support" from the top menu on miller's site. It should run off a generator of that size, but you won't be able to use its full power output.

Is there a step by step guide cause im no electrician and that diagram in the manual for single phase is as helpful as dry spaghetti. i suck with electrical i prolly wont do it myself but i just wana figure out what i need to buy to swtich it

[Bushytails]

Connect the green wire in the power cord to ground on your plug, which will often have green paint or a green screw, or be labeled G. Connect the black wire to one of the hots on your plug. Connect the white wire to the other hot on your plug. Doesn't matter which goes to which. Both of those should have brass screws or be marked with black paint, or be labeled X and Y. If your plug has a neutral prong, usually marked with white paint and a silver screw, or an N, do not connect anything to it. Tape up the red, orange, or blue wire in the power cord and do not connect it to anything.

The only thing you need to buy is a plug that fits whatever 240V, 30A or larger outlet your garage and/or generator has.