First attempt at wiring up a welder

[Racerxadam]

The shop I work at is wired with this receptacle.



My welder came with this plug on the end.



The welder we use now has this plug.



The shop is wired for 230 and the welder is 230 as well. I'm kinda confused cause I've never seen the plug like on the welder before. Can I just make an extension cord using a receptacle for the plug on the welder and a plug like the one the shop is wired for? And for the specific pin wiring positions use similar positions on the plug and receptacle. I know ground is the pin towards the tip and do the other positions matter?

[Sberry]

The pics are kinda dark but you can make an adapter if you like. On 230 single phase the only one that matters is the ground. The other 2 are interchangable.

[boilerman]

sure you can make an adapter....just be sure to use heavy enough wire......at lest #6 copper......

[Hobart Expert Rock]

RACERXDAM.........CHANGE THE FEMALE PLUG, MAKE AN ADAPTER, OR CHANGE THE PLUG ON THE CORD TO MATCH......... THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE SHOULD HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD NEED TO GET YOU UP AND GOING..................BE SAFE.................ROCK
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[ChadRat]

That looks like a clothes dryer plug. I would check the breaker and make sure you have the right one. I would also switch out the socket like Rock said.

[pontiac]

Both of those are 50A plugs.. Just 2 different styles..

The new Welder has the industrial style 50a plug and the old plug is a oven/range style 50a plug.

a 30 amp plug (like a dryer) will have an L shaped ground lug.

[DaveH]

PLUGS

I found this link that shows a neat picture of a lot of the styles and ratings of different plugs:

http://www.bigceramicstore.com/Information/kiln_power.htm

I'd recommend having an electrician or otherwise qualified person change the receptacle in the shop (as stated). They're about 5 bucks at Lowe's or HD.

[Racerxadam]

thanks for the replys, I made an adapter on Sunday with three one foot sections of 4 gauge wire I had at the shop using the female receptacle and male plug that I got at HD on Friday. I just had to check to make sure I was correct in my thinking. The other guys in the shop would have a fit if I changed the recepatacle on the wall because I would also have to change the plug on the welder and for some reason everyone is afraid to touch it.

The welder seems to be working great although I'm not to sure what to expect because I have never watched anyone tig anything before but hopefully with a book, this board and some practice I can make a few neat projects.

[snake]

I also have the crowfoot style recepticle and just bought the tigmate. In reading the manual it says to make sure the round center pin goes to ground. What do they mean by ground? The neutral wire?..because in my recepticle I have the two power leads, and a white neutral plus the bare ground which connects to the pecepticle case itself.

[Sberry]

If you are wiring to the main entrance panel you hook to the neutral bar,, if it is on a 4 wire subfed panel you hook the ground to the equipment grounding bar. Generally, if here is an equip bar use it.