What size 220V Wiring?

[Nathan Stiltner]

Recently extended my Dad's small shop , so We ended up moving the welding equipment to the new side thus needed to extend the electrical also . Maybe overkill , but I ran 6/3 for the entire run of about 28' from sub panel to welder outlet . But that is the way I do stuff . I do it once , maybe overkill , but I don't have to go back and do it again Later .

Fred

Are you running a Three Phase Welding outlet??
Why 6/3?
Was unsure if you meant you were running the 6/3 to new sub panel or an actual welding outlet??

[WookieWelding]

when i did the 80 foot run i used 6/3
2 hots and a neutral and a ground
pulling that thru conduit was not fun
that was split up into a 20 amp 110 circuit
and 2 30 amp 220 circuits

[Cope]

Are you running a Three Phase Welding outlet??
Why 6/3?
Was unsure if you meant you were running the 6/3 to new sub panel or an actual welding outlet??

6/3 is recommended for a 50 amp service. It is overkill for many of the smaller units running 220, but the difference in cost over the years is negligible.

[Stew D Baker]

6 - 3 sounds like you just used Romex type wire, If thats the case you will be fine, the only trouble you might have is if romex is pulled through conduit, thats a no no, as the romex type of wire needs to breath, Inspectors dont like to see romex inside of conduit. And will make you pull it.

[Fredfrom Orygun]

Yes , Romex , ( Well it was 6/3 insulated wire then sheathed inside another outside protective cover ) . Not through conduit , ugh , but from sub-panel up through stud wall , to welding outlet in new addition . Basically wanted to be able to run whatever at full power if needed . Anything from Brothers miller 212 , my dads arc welder , or my brothers 50 amp plasma . Think the 212 only pulls 34 or 36 amps at maxed out , but plasma is better than 40 I think , and heck neither of Us had any idea what kind of juice that 40 year old arc welder pull's , So bigger was better or Safer we hoped . Got it at a local plumbing and electrical place . Set us up with everything we needed , from the wire to the plug and cover on the other end , which is a regular 50 amp welder plug .

Fred

[Fredfrom Orygun]

Oops did not see question about size wire to sub panel . That wire is pretty close to same size wire that feeds my Dads main breaker box from the meter . Main Breaker box is a replacement of old fuse box that was originally in the house . So when breaker box was added , so was the sub panel and wiring to that panel . Not sure what size breaker is feeding the sub panel as we did not mess with that end , We just took out the short , possibly 8/3 wire feeding a outlet by the sub panel and replaced with the 6/3 up through the wall to our welder outlet . We then changed that original welder outlet over to a 110/120 outlet with some extra 10/3 we had from wiring the lights and outlets in the new addition .

Fred

[Nathan Stiltner]

when i did the 80 foot run i used 6/3
2 hots and a neutral and a ground
pulling that thru conduit was not fun
that was split up into a 20 amp 110 circuit
and 2 30 amp 220 circuits

Thats what I assumed he meant.. Using the 6/3 to feed a sub panel. And the extra wire to carry the neutral also so he could also have 110 to run whatever else on and have a couple of 220volt circuits as well....Just confused me about the extra wire just for a welder outlet.. I have 6/3 running to my 12'x24' shed out back here at home protected by a 50amp breaker to have two 30amp 220 circuits and six 110volt circuits in the shed and that pretty much takes care of everything I need in there for my woodworking tools and light welding just fine..Got a 200amp dedicated service in my 30'x30' shop for doing all the other stuff on the vehicles and bigger projects on the welding end...

[Bobdeham]

He bound because of his license and if your house burnt down because if it was found by code to be undersized he would be held liable for it. The cost is penny's for the larger size wiring. The logic behind it is wire heating under load. 30+ years as a plant Electrician. If any of you have a question just ask I be happy to answer it if I can.

[Orion]

Here is a pic:

[res0r9lm]

Aluminum wire is becoming popular again to run to panel because of copper prices. you need a bigger size and connection need a anti-oxidant on connection like Noalox.

Aluminum Wire amp rate
#8 30 amps
#6 40 amps
#4 55 amps
#2 75 amps
#1 85 amps
1/0 100 amps
2/0 115 amps
3/0 130 amps
4/0 150 amps