Lincoln 225 AC/DC circuit requirements

[jimmysisson]

Hi. Anyone know do I need a 40 amp circuit for the Lincoln tombstone (new) or 30 amp? I can't seem to find the requirements on the web. Thanks in advance.
Jim

 

[geneP]

The decal on the front says its a 50 amp machine, and I've always been told that they should be protected by a 50 amp breaker. If you don't weld at higher amp settings a lower amp breaker will work. Why not use the right one? They are not that expensive. Of course you should have wire to the receptacle rated for the size breaker you use.

 

[Farwell]

The cord that comes with the welder has a 50 amp plug on it, at least mine did, the wall receptacle that fits the plug is a 50 amp receptacle. Lots of guys use 30 amp breakers with the 50 amp hook up that comes with the welder and I have not heard of any problems but I would go with the 50 amp set up just to be on the safe side. I use #6 wire. It costs more put I like to error on the safe side. If you have to buy the wire be prepared for sticker shock, the price of copper has gone through the roof. Time to sell all of the scrap copper you have in your scrap pile.
Farwell

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Anyone know do I need a 40 amp circuit for the Lincoln tombstone (new) or 30 amp? I can't seem to find the requirements on the web.)</font>

You didn't look very hard. Search for "Lincoln Welders". Here is their corporate web page for operators manuals. All the info you need should be there. The manual I looked at (IM-237) had the wiring info on pages 7 and 8.

Lincold Welder Operators Manuals

 

[jimmysisson]

Thanks for the info. Actually, I didn't look in the operators manual since I didn't think of wiring the unit as operating. It looks like 50 Amp is correct.
Thanks, Jim

 

[Farwell]

MadReferee,
Thanks for posting the Lincoln Welders site address. I went to it and read it through. There was one thing I am curious about and maybe you can educate me. In the drawing depicting the wiring set up that shows the material being welded, it shows an earth ground attached to the metal being welded. I have never given it a thought and it seems like the third wire would be a good safety factor.
Farwell

 

[hydrogeo]

I have an AC Tombstone on a dedicated 30 amp breaker. The wiring and outlet are sized for 50 amps per the input specs on the welder, but I haven't got around to putting in the correct breaker. The 30 amp breaker pops regularly at 105 amps +. On the plus side I get lots of exercise walking back and forth to the panel.

 

[gizmo]

I have a Miller 225Amp AC/DC machine, and it is supplied by a 240VAC 60Amp circuit. Even with that I have tripped the breaker when welding heavy pieces for extended periods.

 

[valleydweller1]

I have a Lincoln 225 AC Welder. I have a 70 amp breaker at the house for the garage sub-panel which in turn runs the well (30 amp breaker) and the welder (50 amp breaker). I haven't swapped the 120 outlets and lights over to the new panel yet. I have no problems with tripping breakers, but then again I don't go much above the 135 amp setting.

 

[PineRidge]

Here's a loaded question that at one time me and the Inspector507 had a heated discussion about. My reasoning was that you properly size a circuit & breaker for the needed amp draw ie. 30 amp circuit requires #10 wire and a 30 amp breaker.

Not so with a welder, something to do with initial inrush current (higher when you strike the arc) then the amp draw levels out. I would either respectfully ask the Inspector507 directly or consult your electrical code manual for the correct wire & breaker size needed to meet code for your particular unit.

Personally, I would rather run the appropriate matched wire size to cover the breaker than to meet minimum requirements (by running a lighter gauge wire size than the breaker is equipped for) and stand the chance that someone else might try to use the circuit with a load rated for the breaker size instead of the wire size that was run. Understand?

Better to be safe than sorry IMHO, but then I don't write electrical code either. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif