Welder/Plasma supply wireing, need homework graded

[workinonit]

All I have left to say is that any inspector in the counties I work in would laugh at me if I landed #12 on a 50 amp breaker. And no matter what the code book says the inspector has the final word. You don't argue with them or they will leave you standing there. Besides that, how difficult is it to size the breaker and conductors properly? This is actually a silly argument.

 

[Sberry]

No it isn't. It simply proves my point that it's not well understood. I am not arguing with an inspector. I am saying it's code compliant
We get code quoted here regular should be called code hearsay.

 

[LouNY]

One major factor is that in our farm and home shops the welders are plugged into receptacles in most cases.
That removes them from the article 630 and puts it back into general wiring.
To be using the down sizing mentioned they have to be hard wired into a dedicated circuit.

 

[the old grind]

... I'm glad I always considered the NEC the minimum and I will still be using at least #6 copper wire on my 50 amp receptacles.

For the NEMA 10-50 50a outlet/breaker I put in the barn I used 8Ga ... ~4' of the 8' I'd bought for that. If going 10' or more I'd have used 6 ga.

btw, I have dedicated NEMA 5-20 circuits/plugs for 220v portable air compressors and a 12ga 75' cord for them.

 

[Sberry]

The machines are carefully designed to be code compliant. Different class of machine have features built in to stay within them. Cord sizes and plugs carefully selected by book learned engineers. I will agree a couple of the minimums will benefit performance a bit but using a wire 2 or 3 sizes bigger makes a guy feel better but doesn't help much. It's not a bad thing but it's not accurate to insist it's needed.

 

[Sberry]

Can I ask what the difference in 4 ft or 10 ft would make for a common welding circuit?

 

[Sberry]

One major factor is that in our farm and home shops the welders are plugged into receptacles in most cases.
That removes them from the article 630 and puts it back into general wiring.
To be using the down sizing mentioned they have to be hard wired into a dedicated circuit.

Where does it say that? It's only general if there is more than 1 outlet
Look at the outlet, listed from wire size of 12 and 10 to number 2.

 

[LouNY]

Read article 630 no were does it mention receptacles it is for dedicated welding equipment only, hard wired to disconnects.

 

[Sberry]

We got a guy to worry to the point he gonna oversize an oversize wire ant then endorse the installation of an outlet that has been obsolete for decades. Wouldn't pass inspection anywhere by anyone competent if you wanna go down that road.
Like I mention when I started on this thread lots of understanding about the nature of these circuits is skin deep.

 

[Sberry]

How many masters we have on here? I doubt I could pass the test especially without more study than I willing to do. I would have trouble with some of the calculations.