Nema 6-50 outlet for a welder with 240V, 20A input.

[Yaatri]

I am sorry for asking a question that might be stupid.

I am confused here. I am looking at a welder whose cord is wired to a 6-50 P plug. and thus needs a Nema 6-50 R outlet.
Shouldn't it be on 50 Amp circuit?

If the input specs are 20 Amps, why use 50Amp circuit or even 6-50P and 6-50R?
Why not use a 6-20 (plug and outlet pair ) or 6-30 (plug and outlet pair)

It seems a waste to use 6guage wire for 50 amps when the input specs for the welder are 20A at 240V.

It's a 170 Amp-DC, 240V, MIG/Flux Cored Welder

Thank you all in advance.

 

[zbang]

Electric welders are just different , has to do with the expected duty cycle (for that one it's 20%, and it comes with a 12g cord and a 6-50P). See article 630 part II for the details.

(Also, in general, go with the manufacturer's install instructions on things like this.)

 

[Yaatri]

Electric welders are just different , has to do with the expected duty cycle (for that one it's 20%, and it comes with a 12g cord and a 6-50P). See article 630 part II for the details.

(Also, in general, go with the manufacturer's install instructions on things like this.)

Thanks very much. zbang I do feel stupid now., though I do know what duty cycle is I just missed that part in the specs. I need to look at the specs carefully.

 

[kwired]

So put in code compliant 20 amp receptacle and 20 amp conductor, then use a cheater adapter to plug your 50 amp cord cap into it, or use a 20 amp replacement cord cap on it.

You could potentially have multiple welders on the 50 amp circuit and if they all drawing lower amps, you never trip the 50 amp breaker as well.

I have a stick welder I can use it on a 30 amp circuit, but weld with too high of heat and/or for too long at at time and it will trip the breaker. It can be handy to use on my portable generator from time to time though which only has 30 amp breaker so must live with the limitations when doing that.

 

[Frank DuVal]

Because the NEMA 6-50 is the standard of the welder industry. Started back in the Lincoln 225 arc welder tombstone days. Welders go from building to building, company to company, so it is good that one can finds a 6-50 receptacle to plug their welder into when in a new setting, rather than carrying a truck full of adapters for every possible situation. Or when buying a replacement welder it plugs into the receptacle you already have, rather than buying another iPhone adapter welder adapter.

 

[kwired]

Because the NEMA 6-50 is the standard of the welder industry. Started back in the Lincoln 225 arc welder tombstone days. Welders go from building to building, company to company, so it is good that one can finds a 6-50 receptacle to plug their welder into when in a new setting, rather than carrying a truck full of adapters for every possible situation. Or when buying a replacement welder it plugs into the receptacle you already have, rather than buying another iPhone adapter welder adapter.

That is for the somewhat all purpose "shop welders".

Production welders can be a different very different ball game and can be many types of voltage/ampere input.

 

[Yaatri]

Thank you all for very useful suggestions. I decided to go with 50 amp wire (6/3) Nema -50P. That way I am good if I get another welder drawing more current. The one I listed above recommends at 30 amp GFCI in ay case. I can have more outlets too.