welder branch circuit

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papa

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Are welders considered cont. use ? I have five to wire the name plate max amps is 41 . I am pulling #8 on 50 amp breakers , and installing 50 amp 480 3/p 4 wire plug and recp. Is this correct?
 
papa said:
Are welders considered cont. use ? I have five to wire the name plate max amps is 41 . I am pulling #8 on 50 amp breakers , and installing 50 amp 480 3/p 4 wire plug and recp. Is this correct?
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If they're going in a machine shop, they could easily be used for more than three hours straight, daily. I would consider them cont. use
 
This is in a shop that builds trucks . I have done a lot of work in this shop and never seen any welder used for three hours none stop. On but not in use.
 
papa said:
This is in a shop that builds trucks . I have done a lot of work in this shop and never seen any welder used for three hours none stop. On but not in use.
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Continous load means "maximum curent expected to continue for three hours or more"

So you may be right,,,,, "on for three hours",,,,,is not the same as "maximum current for three hours"
 
And actually if you think about it:


according to definition, there is no "continuous load" stick welder in this world. I've never seen a welding rod that last for 3 hrs.
 
papa said:
Are welders considered cont. use ? I have five to wire the name plate max amps is 41 . I am pulling #8 on 50 amp breakers , and installing 50 amp 480 3/p 4 wire plug and recp. Is this correct?
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Papa, article 630.12(A)and(B) allow up to 200% of name plate. What is the duty cycle listed on the name plate. 41 amps x duty cycle x 200% = minimum conductor size, 41 amps x 200% = OCPD (next standard higher ok) but not more than 200% times conductor.

Rick
 
Is the answer not found in Article 630? They have their own rules for sizing conductors. Typically the rated duty cycle of the welder is taken into account for sizing the conductors and OCP, right? I didn't see that information in your post.
 
RUWired said:
Papa, article 630.12(A)and(B) allow up to 200% of name plate. What is the duty cycle listed on the name plate. 41 amps x duty cycle x 200% = minimum conductor size, 41 amps x 200% = OCPD (next standard higher ok) but not more than 200% times conductor.

Rick
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Sorry, the 200% is not added to the nameplate ampere for the conductor size.
 
mcclary's electrical said:
And actually if you think about it:


according to definition, there is no "continuous load" stick welder in this world. I've never seen a welding rod that last for 3 hrs.
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Maybe they have a few hundred feet of wire, a fresh tank of gas, and a few hundred feet of joint to MIG. :D
 
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