wire for 50amps

[axehind]

Hello all,

I got my new Stickmate AC/DC yesterday and will probably be trying it out this weekend.
I just recently realized that my 230V outlet in my garage is only 30 Amps (use my HH175 on it) and my stickmate says it needs 47 Amps. I plan on replacing the wire and breaker with one capable of 50 AMPS. Anyone know what size wire I would need? I thought I read 6-3 but I want to make sure.

axehind

[cope]

Should be 6-3, but I ran my 225/250 amp welders on 8-3 for years. In all probability, you won't run the machine over 100-135 amps.

[Bobster]

RE: wire for 50amps

I'm looking at a page from the 2002 NEC, Table 310.16, Allowable Ampacities of Insulated Conductors.

From the copper conductor columns.

Insulation types: RHW, THHW, THW, THWN, XHHW, USE, ZW all 75 degree C type, are rated at 65amp capacity.

Insulation types: TBS, SA, SIS, FEP, FEPB, MI, RHH, RHW-2, THHN, THHW, THW-2, THWN-2, USE-2, XHH, XHHW, XHHW-2, ZW-2, all 90 degree C type, are rated at 75amp capacity

THHN and THHW are very common insulation types.

Type: TW, UF are 60 degree C type, and are rated at 55amps

If I get some time tonight I'll scan the page and upload it to the board.

You'll find the cable will have several of these listing on it, meaning that it conforms to all the labled insulation requirements.

[Sberry]

Bobster has a good grip on it. 75C or better wire, thhn or thwn number 8 will run 50A, 90C number 8 will run 55. If there is any distance 6 is even better. Its actually 6/2 with ground. 6/3 means 3 conductor + ground. You only need 2 conductor + ground. If you pipe the wire you need whatever conductors and only a number 10 ground. If I was doing it and there was room in the panel for another breaker I would leave the 30 and run another 50.

[cope]

Originally posted by Sberry27
Bobster has a good grip on it. 75C or better wire, thhn or thwn number 8 will run 50A, 90C number 8 will run 55. If there is any distance 6 is even better. Its actually 6/2 with ground. 6/3 means 3 conductor + ground. You only need 2 conductor + ground. If you pipe the wire you need whatever conductors and only a number 10 ground. If I was doing it and there was room in the panel for another breaker I would leave the 30 and run another 50.

S, I got some 6/3 when I wired my welder that is 3 insulated conductors and no bare ground wire. I gave my brother-in-law my left over piece or I could give you all the specs on the jacket.

[Sberry]

I am just guessing here but that was probably a cord? It kind of sounded like he was talking about building wire.

[cope]

Originally posted by Sberry27
I am just guessing here but that was probably a cord? It kind of sounded like he was talking about building wire.

No, its Romex.

[axehind]

Originally posted by Sberry27
Bobster has a good grip on it. 75C or better wire, thhn or thwn number 8 will run 50A, 90C number 8 will run 55. If there is any distance 6 is even better. Its actually 6/2 with ground. 6/3 means 3 conductor + ground. You only need 2 conductor + ground. If you pipe the wire you need whatever conductors and only a number 10 ground. If I was doing it and there was room in the panel for another breaker I would leave the 30 and run another 50.

I wouldnt mind running another one. But I'm not really comfortable doing it. I had a electrician do the 30 amp one. I suppose I could just look at the 30 amp one and copy it.

axehind

[Bobster]

RE: wire for 50amps

I tried to upload the NEC table but the file size was too large.

Here's a link to the NEC wire size table and some other good NEC information.

http://www.caycemill.com/Allowable.htm

[Sberry]

Is the garage detatched or attatched? How far is the run from panel to the recept?

[axehind]

It's a attached garage. From the circuit breaker I would say it's about 30-40 feet to where the recept is.

[bigolguy]

yeah i got 65 feet of 6-3 awg extentsion cord and it's going to a 230 volt 50 amp outlet.Let an electrician hook the ends up for ya.I don't use mine much only when I don't have any more outlets left in the shop.You can find that type of cable at home depot that's where i bought mine for like $220 bucks.Don't pay mind to the other posts,I read them.This is what you need if distance concerns you!....Boy but it's heavy and hard on the back!...Good luck!!!!!!!

[echo8287]

Cope

Hey Cope the wire you have is called "6/3 plain" and it has no ground wire. It has a black ,red and a white wire. Axe do like S said and Get you some 6/2 with ground and you can put "up" to a 60 amp breaker on it and you'll be done with it.There is no use fooling around with the wiring and buying anything smaller than a #6 for a welding circuit, because then you've done it once and you can just about plug any welder or plasma cutter in it and not have to worry about it. The price difference is next to nothing when compared to the convience. David

[Sberry]

Big guy, did youu have someone come over and hook up hose 3 wires?

[bigolguy]

i took it to a power company and they hooked the ends to it.