Power supply for welder?!?

[Martylee]

I've done a search but not come up with a clear answere!

Basically I have a eland 300 mig .
It has a 16amp plug on it?
In the manual it states I need " Type 4 30amp breaker "
So is it as simple as installed a 30amp breaker and running my cable to a 16amp socket ?
I get the feeling I'm missing something as when I Googled it I was getting a lot of people stating they had 50amp breakers ?
I appreciate this has probably been asked several times before!

 

[Tom Orrow L]

You'll need a 30A supply and a 32A commando plug, providing its single phase.

 

[skotl]

If the breaker is 30A then you need a 32A plug & socket and all of the intervening cabling needs to be rated for 32A.

The breaker should probably be a C-Type

Edit: post crossed with Tom's, but luckily we are saying the same thing
Bear in mind that the breaker / fuse is there to protect the wiring, not the device.

 

[Martylee]

Yeah it's single phase.
So a 30amp supply would be the breaker and the commando plug is where I plug the welder in yeah ?

 

[Martylee]

Wickid ..
thanks for your help guys!

 

[Martylee]

If the breaker is 30A then you need a 32A plug & socket and all of the intervening cabling needs to be rated for 32A.

The breaker should probably be a C-Type

Edit: post crossed with Tom's, but luckily we are saying the same thing
Bear in mind that the breaker / fuse is there to protect the wiring, not the device.

That explains why I need a 30amp breaker .. that's what I couldn't get my head around

 

[skotl]

Yeah it's single phase.
So a 30amp supply would be the breaker and the commando plug is where I plug the welder in yeah ?

Kinda - if you're in any doubt then you should call in a spark.

The feed from the breaker will need to be able to carry 32A so you're probably talking 6mm T+E as a minimum, which would then feed a commando socket. You will then fit a 32A commando plug to the welder.

 

[Martylee]

So the 16amp plug that's already on the welder is no good ?

 

[Martylee]

Yeah a sparky will be doing the work.. I just like to know what I'm having done lol

 

[skotl]

So the 16amp plug that's already on the welder is no good ?

Only for up to 16A

I'm assuming that your welder can supply up to 300A, in which case 32A input supply seems a decent guess.

It's likely that whoever had the welder before only had a 16A supply, so that's the plug he/she fitted.

 

[Martylee]

Only for up to 16A

I'm assuming that your welder can supply up to 300A, in which case 32A input supply seems a decent guess.

It's likely that whoever had the welder before only had a 16A supply, so that's the plug he/she fitted.

Max amps is 315

That's ok then I'll take the 16amp plug of and get a 32amp one.

Thanks for your help that's made it easier

 

[skotl]

Edited for duff maths...

As a rough guide, assume 25V output on the welder at 315A max = 7875W (aka 7.8kw)

Now divide the input supply (230V AC) into the power requirement of 7875, and you come out at 230V AC at 34A to supply 25V DC at 315A.

...roughly...

So that does suggest that you'd be OK at up to around ~160A (possibly more) on your 16A plug & socket.

Be aware, though, that if your plug & socket (and the intervening cabling) is only rated at 16A then you must not increase the size of the breaker beyond 16A (remembering that the breaker is there to protect the wire, not to give you more amps).

 

[Martylee]

I only have a 13amp supply currently so I'd rather upgrade it to a 32amp supply just for the welder

 

[skotl]

I only have a 13amp supply currently so I'd rather upgrade it to a 32amp supply just for the welder

Right - so that's a "new circuit" in electrical speak - definitely get an electrician in for that!