what size breaker for my new hh175

[Trevor]

i just got a new welder (hh 175) i just got done hooking up the outlet to the breaker I just wanted to make sure i did this all right before i pluged in my new toy now the breaker my buddy told me to get was 20amp single pull double pole breaker does this sound right its all hooked up just scared to fire it up

[Dan]

Trevor

Sounds like the correct circuit protection. What size of conductor did you use? Are you certain you have the two hot wires and the ground configured properly at the box and the receptacle. If your really worried about the installation have a qualified person check it out.

[Roger]

Re: what size breaker for my new hh175

Originally posted by Trevor
i just got a new welder (hh 175) i just got done hooking up the outlet to the breaker I just wanted to make sure i did this all right before i pluged in my new toy now the breaker my buddy told me to get was 20amp single pull double pole breaker does this sound right its all hooked up just scared to fire it up

A circuit breaker is either single pole or double pole. (pole = input terminals) Ground and neutral is never switched or fused.
For USA single phase 220 need double pole breaker or 2ea. single phase breakers with tie bar between switch levers to make the pair a double pole breaker. That way when the breaker trips it removes all power from the device making it much safer than old fuse system.
220 fuse system would have fuse for each hot wire going to device and linked knife switches to open/close (switch) all elctricity going to device.

[Trevor]

Thanks,,, I thought i had it right i just needed that extra vote of confidence. someone asked what size conductor i used?it was 10-3,,, any other thing i should know before fireing it up?? i've never hooked up a welder before and have barley ever welded i guess i thought i wanted to learn to weld and jumped in head first

[cope]

10-3 should be fine. As for what to do next, practice. practice and get a couple of good books if you can't find a local mentor.

[Trevor]

no mentors around,,, this area but i think i found a whole web page here full of them,,,, thanks alot for your help,, once again any suggestions would be great

[ChadRat]

sounds like you are ready to make some sparks. Get a good welding helmet. Your eyes will love ya for it.

[atucker]

Trevor,

I'm in the same boat as you, I hadn't touched any welding stuff since the Army (30 years ago). Take a look at the Student Package HERE on the Miller website. $25 will get you a bunch of books and other useful things. I got them several weeks ago - still reading .

Allen T.

[Trevor]

i am very happy to tell you all that 23 hours after picking up my brand spanking new hh 175.... i'm a welding fool and the welds dont look to awful bad for my skill level.... which is zero...

[Junk]

hmmmm. Dunno why, but when I took a digital pic of my plug (of my Miller 175) to my elec distributor (cause I was too chickensh#^) to do this totally by myself , they told me to use a 50 amp breaker and told me to use 6/3 since I was setting this up as a 50' whip right off the box so I could run it in the driveway or garage or wherever else I'd need it.

Is this a bad thing or is it just overkill?

[cope]

50 amp is overkill for your 175, but that plug configuration is rated 220 volt/50 amp and 50 amp calls for 8-3. 6-3 is much better; that's why they recommended 50 amp breaker; someone else could come along and "assume" the breaker is 50 amp. Manual should specify recommended breaker. Unless something drastic occurs you should be OK.

[Roger]

Breakers are always sized for the wire gage/ length of run first so it doesn't over heat. Breakers can be smaller than wire gage allows to better protect the device. One continues wire length between breaker and outlet is best. If you have to splice in another wire to reach outlet the splice should be in a box and not buried in insulation.

All electrical outlets and plugs are rated for max load. Even common 110V outlets are rated for 15amps or 20amps. If your wires and breakers have same rating as the outlet then easy to know what load you can plug into that outlet. That is the norm for 220 as they always have dedicated breaker for each outlet in USA. Can always plug lower load into higher higher rated outlet.