Iron man 230 power supply

[caleb90]

Wiring up new shop, can i run the iron man 230 on a 40amp breaker and 8/2 wire? My old shop i had it wired in with a 60amp and 6/2 wire which i think was over kill. The reason i ask is because of cost of materials. Things have doubeld and trippled in price .thanks

[yooper]

Your manual shows it rated at 32.5 amps , you'll be fone with a 40 amp breaker and number 8 wire .

[MAC702]

Your manual shows it rated at 32.5 amps ...

That's at the rated output of 175A. It will certainly draw significantly more at 230A output. That said, for welding machines with relatively low duty cycles like this, you could easily put this machine on a dedicated circuit with a 50A breaker and on #10 copper wire. Anything bigger is just gravy.

[caleb90]

Why would i possibly use 30amp wire on a 50 amp circuit.

[yooper]

It's allowable under the NEC { national electrical code } because the current draw from a welder is " erratic " , when your welding the current is up and down because the arc is not a steady load . If you put a amprobe on a welder the current would be all over , up and down ., thus there is an exception for welders . , only welders are allowed on this circuit , example , you cannot plug a electric heater , motor , etc on this circuit because the wires would be too small . .
The use of 30 amp wire is to save money vs larger wire .

[Sberry]

Mac, I think these are a 10 in pipe and 8 cable machine,,, use a 50A breaker. If its solid wire and gas it will run on a 10 easy. There are differences in it and a 240 as I recall. The 240 is a quite a bit heavier and no matter what the 230 is intended for a 50A breaker on 240.

[Dale M.]

Just go with what the Manual for the 230 recommends and not worry about it, the cost of install is a one time thing, if you scrimp today and have to redo it tomorrow it just increases the cost of project...

[caleb90]

Just go with what the Manual for the 230 recommends and not worry about it, the cost of install is a one time thing, if you scrimp today and have to redo it tomorrow it just increases the cost of project...

Well i see it calls for 50amp breaker with 10g wire.. i will most likly use 8/2 wire as my compresser will be running on a 40amp breaker. So i can buy just one roll of wire and be done

[Sberry]

I looked for giggles, they allow the 230 on breaker to 60 at 208. Machine will tolerate 32V drop. I believe there is a 60A outlet? I think its twisty though.
Point of it is,,,, this machine will run on a 60 but the circuit that uses a 50 recept not legal with that breaker. Its not really due to the out;let as much as it is an ambush circuit for other machines. If the outlet says 50 thats the max.

[Sberry]

Well i see it calls for 50amp breaker with 10g wire.. i will most likly use 8/2 wire as my compresser will be running on a 40amp breaker. So i can buy just one roll of wire and be done

That is good, I do that. 10 is for single circuit in pipe it should be 8 cable really anyway and 8 makes such a secure robust connection .

[Sberry]

Do I read it right and it says,,, allows recept OR conductors to use larger breaker???

[MAC702]

Why would i possibly use 30amp wire on a 50 amp circuit.

#10 copper is not always "30-amp wire." Sometimes it's 60. What you're doing with it and how it's installed make a difference. This is why you consult an electrician and not just buy whatever the salesman at Home Depot sells.

[Sberry]

So,,, IU been reading some code wrong,,, not dangerous but was while doing other stuff trying to come up with all the allowances we see built in to the machine and some circuits supplying them. My book is 2002 if that says anything so while it feels like I read it yesterday that isnt the case. Wasnt till I look at that again guide posted above and went duh,,, art 210 B allows this, says it "can" be plugged in to larger circuit provided its dedicated and single outlet.
As I recall I had been thru that section and had asked a question or 2 and was informed there was however no such deal for tools and I knew I had read something about the welding machine simply forgot what and where. So,,, there are 2 allowances, another one besides 630 and as I recall the word OR used in there, that isnt the same as "and" is it" ??????????????
I wondered why the fat wire on a couple of the machines, fatter than the incoming and like the 210 that comes molded end, uses the stickmate, the number 8 for some of the feeders isd due to being able to use it on circuit larger than a 60.

[Sberry]

I was curious when this all started with DVI or MVP, and wondered how they had stayed compliant with all the sizing. The welding industry amazes me, the code is the same, the rod is the same for decades and they continually keep coming up with new stuff just when you think the end is near.
The 230 are 240 different units, looks like the 240 is more robust. I c that while the output of some of the 250 class is a bit more, some rated 8 wire and some 10 and As we discuss they will run on a 10 the machine can be turned up enough takes another class of breaker, could be plugged in to old breakers and fuses, come number 8 to allow connection to higher amp circuits. Doesnt say it has to be but their duty cycle is a bit higher and "may" use fuse bigger than 60.
My 255 Linc, allows 10 wire, comes 8 cord.

[Sberry]

I see the imports do things slightly different than Hobart that uses 2 ends for the cord on MVP. They build the extra protection in to the cord cap at 240 and then a simple 120 to 240 adapter and the system circuit breaker provides fault protection at 120V
Hobarts 120V is also just an adapter to fit the cord, the 240v is special.
Its why they warn about cutting it off and simply adding a plug, it will work and could be safe if the thing wasnt plugged in above 30A. The code allows dedicated circuits but not dedicated cord ends, machine would simply look standard with a replacement end that wasnt correct,,, ambush wiring jobs.