Another Welding Receptacle Question

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xguard

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I am installing a 6-50 receptacle for a welding machine. The welder comes with the 6-50 plug on the cord. I see in 630.13 a disconnecting means is required in the supply circuit if it is not equipped with a disconnect mounted as an integral part of the welder. The welder has an on/off switch, I don't know if this counts as a discconect, it doesn't sound like it. The supply circuit does have a branch circuit breaker in the breaker panel, can this count as the disconnect? It sounds like it to me but from other threads I read it sounds like others are installing a switch right next to the receptacle or using an integral disconnect/receptacle. I don't see the words "within sight" or "immediately adjacent to" or anything similar. What's the deal?

Thanks
 
ActionDave said:
The cord and plug on the welder is the disconnecting means.
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:happyno:

630.13 Disconnecting Means.
A disconnecting means
shall be provided in the supply circuit for each arc welder
that is not equipped with a disconnect mounted as an inte-
gral part of the welder. The disconnecting means identity
shall be marked in accordance with 110.22(A).

The disconnecting means shall be a switch or circuit
breaker, and its rating shall be not less than that necessary
to accommodate overcurrent protection as specified under
630.12.
 

630.13 Disconnecting Means.
A disconnecting means
shall be provided in the supply circuit for each arc welder
that is not equipped with a disconnect mounted as an inte-
gral part of the welder. The disconnecting means identity
shall be marked in accordance with 110.22(A).
Click to expand...

Then I gotta believe the switch on the welder counts.
 
Would the plug on the welder count as an "integral part of the welder"?

I would say yes, it does.
 
gadfly56 said:
Does the "disconnecting means" have to break both the grounded and ungrounded conductors, or is breaking the ungrounded conductors sufficient?
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The connector he is installing is a 6-50, which has no grounded conductors. In my limited experience, I have yet to see a welder that uses more than 120 V that uses a grounded conductor.
 
ActionDave said:
Yes, but I don't think it counts as a switch or a circuit breaker. I made the mistake of calling the cord a disconnect and Jumper slapped me with the actual code section.
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The way I read it, the "switch or circuit breaker" requirement only applies when the disconnect is not integral to the welder.

I think both the formatting of the section, and the wording supports that. Note the slight difference in the wording of "disconnecting means" for a separate disconnect, and a "disconnect" for an integral disconnect. Only the "disconnecting means" has to be a switch or circuit breaker.
 
ActionDave said:
Yes, but I don't think it counts as a switch or a circuit breaker. I made the mistake of calling the cord a disconnect and Jumper slapped me with the actual code section.
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Now lets talk reality. I have never seen any disconnect switch for the receptacle that serves a small cord connected welder.

The code section does not specify that the breaker be "in sight" or have a permenent means of locking it open, so I would wonder if the breaker and cord is actually sufficient. Common install IME.
 
jumper said:
Now lets talk reality. I have never seen any disconnect switch for the receptacle that serves a small cord connected welder.

The code section does not specify that the breaker be "in sight" or have a permenent means of locking it open, so I would wonder if the breaker and cord is actually sufficient. Common install IME.
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ManyArc-welders come with their own overcurrent device; however, if you’re not sure about the welder(s), you’ll need to provide an individual OCPD/disconnecting means at the receptacle. Welders are unique in that current rises to higher than normal values when striking an arc.
630.11 has requirements on minimum ampacity requirements for groups of welders and 630.12 has requirements for the OCPD protecting the conductors and receptacle rated at not more than 200% of the rated ampacity of the welder. I find it mildly absurd that the plug could viewed as aviable disconnecting means. But that's only my opinion.
 
jumper said:
IDK, if the welder is off and I unplug it, it seems to me that it is pretty well disconnected and can be worked on safely. No?
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Philosophically, doesn't meet the intent of the Code and is probably somebody's cost-saving brain storm.
What if you need to 'quick disconnect' under load? Would you still consider it safe?

Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk
 
Dale001289 said:
Philosophically, doesn't meet the intent of the Code and is probably somebody's cost-saving brain storm.
Click to expand...
What intent of the code? The code is clear when it requires an emergency disconnect, the only one I can think of off the top of my head is for public hot tubs.
What if you need to 'quick disconnect' under load? Would you still consider it safe?
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Why and when would that ever happen? And yes, I would be just fine with pulling a 6-50 plug on a welder under load.
 
ActionDave said:
What intent of the code? The code is clear when it requires an emergency disconnect, the only one I can think of off the top of my head is for public hot tubs.

Why and when would that ever happen? And yes, I would be just fine with pulling a 6-50 plug on a welder under load.
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"What intent of the code?"......

Intent of the code = SAFETY.

"Yes, I would be just fine with pulling a 6-50 plug on a welder under load".....

Horrible idea; unless the receptacle is equipped with arc-chutes. (they don't make those)
 
Dale001289 said:
"What intent of the code?"......

Intent of the code = SAFETY.
Click to expand...

The intent of the NEC is to provide safe use of electricity and its scope is limited to that, emergency shut offs, lock out tag out, et al are found in other places. Don't get me wrong, I support workplace safety codes but lets not make the NEC more than what it is, it's big enough already.
 
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