basic wiring question

[jcb]

I only kept it clean yesterday cause it was a holliday and in case company came over.

[AnotherDano]

That's close enough to get the point acoss..
Now, I hope you realize that you need to ger a few hundred pounds of scrap and grind it into dust - and no sweeping.

We'll also want to see some burn marks in that nice wood floor.

And for heaven's sake,, at least dirty-up that pretty blue cover!
Take more pics and then you can sweep.

[jcb]

I've been trying for the past hour or so to send picks. Here are a few to see if it worked. They are of my new shop and my new toy MM180. There are also some of a beat up utility trailer that I will be trying to fix up this winter.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1369.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1366.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1367.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1554.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1553.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1551.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1552.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1550.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/jcboudreau01/100_1549.jpg

[AnotherDano]

Google tinypics or photobucket

[jcb]

I'm trying to upload my picks from the "manage attchements" available on the forum. It's telling me my files are too big. Should be no bigger than 488 and mine are all in the 500 or 600's. Can anyone help me withy this. ?

JC

[triggerman]

Just fine.

SOOW works just fine. Good luck and send pics anyway !

[jcb]

The breaker in the house panel feeding the sub-panel via #6-3 wire should be a 60 amp.



That wire is not "REALLY" suitable for extension cord. Flexing from movement causes cracks leading to voltage drop which creates heat. Enough voltage drop creating enough heat causes fires. ANY voltage drop will adversely affect welder operation and enough drop (long before the fire) will kill the circuits in the welder. Not good. That job calls for SJ, SO, SJTOW, or similar cable because there are more, smaller conductors which lend themselves to flexing. When I am making a short extension cord, I troll through the electrical departments at my local Home Depot and Lowe's looking for miscuts, extras and short pieces left from the roll. They'll almost always sell it for significantly less than regular price.

Good luck and post some pics soon.

I found a roll of 10/3 "SOOW", will this doo ?

[jcb]

thanks Triggerman, I'll do the same when out at the hardware store. Should I be looking for 8/3 or will 10/3 do. I see that the cord on the actual mm180 is a 12/3.

Sice my last post I picked up my new mm180 and tried it out. My first time welding. I used fluxed core wire as I am not set up with gas yet. It went pretty well, but not well enough to send picks yet There was quite a bit of puddles and spatter. Once I brushed the spatter off it didn't look too bad. I see what you all nean now by practice, preactice , practice. It's kind of unatrual handling the mask, trigger and positionning the gun all at once, not to mention using the proper technique.

As mentioned in past posts, I have a wooden floor in my shop. This didn't do too much dammage, but I can see that welding on it for years will dammage it quite a bit and could be dangerous for fires. I'm still looking for a cheap way to cover this floor.

[triggerman]

Howdy

the wire is a 10-3 wire 300 v. While we're on the subject, the breaker in the workshop is a double 30 amp. The breaker at the house is also a 30 amp but someone suggested upgradding this to a double 50 or 60 amp once the welder is installed. The wire between both electrical boxes is an outdoor rated 6-3.

Does this sound OK to you ?

The breaker in the house panel feeding the sub-panel via #6-3 wire should be a 60 amp.

Thanks guys, I installed the plug and it works fine.

I have about 20 ft of exterior grade 10/3 wire. would this be suitable for an extension cord for the mm180 if i conect the right male and female connections to it ?

That wire is not "REALLY" suitable for extension cord. Flexing from movement causes cracks leading to voltage drop which creates heat. Enough voltage drop creating enough heat causes fires. ANY voltage drop will adversely affect welder operation and enough drop (long before the fire) will kill the circuits in the welder. Not good. That job calls for SJ, SO, SJTOW, or similar cable because there are more, smaller conductors which lend themselves to flexing. When I am making a short extension cord, I troll through the electrical departments at my local Home Depot and Lowe's looking for miscuts, extras and short pieces left from the roll. They'll almost always sell it for significantly less than regular price.

Good luck and post some pics soon.

[jcb]

Thanks guys, I installed the plug and it works fine.

I have about 20 ft of exterior grade 10/3 wire. would this be suitable for an extension cord for the mm180 if i conect the right male and female connections to it ?

[84ZMike]

The 30 will be just fine for your MM180......and the wire size is fine as well....

[Wacko Welder]

OK If . . .

OK if you mean the 50 or 60 amp breakers will be protecting the 6/2 and not the 10/3..... A breakers ONLY function is to protect the wire/conductor.

[jcb]

the wire is a 10-3 wire 300 v. While we're on the subject, the breaker in the workshop is a double 30 amp. The breaker at the house is also a 30 amp but someone suggested upgradding this to a double 50 or 60 amp once the welder is installed. The wire between both electrical boxes is an outdoor rated 6-3.

Does this sound OK to you ?

[AnotherDano]

Mike,

Yes, the red and black run from the breaker but the green grnd that both of you speak about isn't green, it's bare copper. It is fastened where all other bare copper wires are fastened inside the electrical box .

The bare copper wire is the ground. They are coated with green insulation in some cables and bare in others.

Can you see any writing or stamped numbers on the outer insulation (look in the breaker box)? It is important that the wire size match the amp rating for the breaker. I'm sure the electrician used the correct wire size as this is not an uncommon job, but it's always good to know. You'll be looking for numbers like 10/3, 8/3. Let us know what you find.

[jcb]

Mike,

Yes, the red and black run from the breaker but the green grnd that both of you speak about isn't green, it's bare copper. It is fastened where all other bare copper wires are fastened inside the electrical box .