The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest 50 amp input for a lincoln?

Some one gave me their Lincoln welder like this

It’s a 220 and on the front cover it says Input 220V 50amp

Does this mean I need a 50amp circuit just to power it? I need 100 feet of wire and its goanna cost around $800 just for the wire. Or will it run of a standard 20-amp outlet like a clothes dryer?

Chances are, right when you are in the middle of the most beautiful weld you have ever done, that 20 amp breaker will kick off.

That sound like way to much for wire what size are you looking at? 50 amp sould be about number 6 copper around $2.25 per foot where I live (x 100 feet $225.00). And yes you need a 50 amp feed for this.

Off the top of my head I would say you needed 6/3. Since I don't trust my head, I double checked the NEC and you will need #6 with a 50amp circuit. I checked the Lincolns at work this morning and they all require a 50 amp service (I have about 20 of two different generations). $8/ft is way high.

$800 are you nuts?

If you have an electric dryer, chances are it is a 50 amp breaker. Or an electric stove should be high also.

When I am in a rush I make an extension cord from some heavy wire and just plug it into my dryer outlet. The ends are just about $10 each and you could even use cheap romex cable if you do not need flexibility.

You can go to a weling shop and get heavy locomotive wire for a dollor or 2 a foot. And if you are going 100 feet, you will need heavy wire. You will have a significant voltage loss accross that length of wire.

I am guessing the $800 is for somthing like 3 ought copper wire. If you are doing a hrad wire to a breaker, you can use aluminum wire. Its bulky but much cheaper.

I have used standard 30amp wire 10/3 as an extention of at least 50 feet. As long as you do not have it in a wall and you are only welding for a few minutes at a time with breaks, you can get away with that. If you weld for 30 minutes solid, the wire might heat up.

Using heavy wire will give you a more full duty cycle. But if you don't need it, you can do it for under $50.

Just keep saftey in mind as the primary issue when making the choice. Don't run a cord over a clothes pile in the laundry room and start a fire.