I have a new to me ESAB MM250 welder. The mfr. says that it pulls 61 amps at 230volts single phase and they recommend a 90 amp breaker. The welder came with a 50a 3 phase plug. The previous users simply didn’t use the 4th prong. I need to remove the 50′ cord from my old welder (hard wired) and put a plug on it so I can use my new welder. The problem that I’m having is finding a correctly sized plug. For a 3 prong (stove or dryer style plug), the highest amperage that I can find is 60a. Guess that’s close enough to the 61 amps the welder pulls, but I’m nervous about using it because of that 90 amp breaker. A 80 amp short could result in a burned out plug. Higher amp plugs are available, but you need to go to a pin and sleeve style plug, and they’re obscenely expensive. Like $200 per connection. Can I ask what you guys are doing for a cord plug?
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Replies
61 amps your welder pulls when you use welding electrode of the maximum diameter
for this welder. This current is reached for rather short periods of time. So hardly your
plug will be destroyed during welding.As about short circuit it lasts fraction of a second,
than the breaker cuts the curcuit.
http://www.house-building-in-russia.com
60 amp should work fine, just like mans835 said. Plus you could mount another box on the wall with the 60 amp breaker/s.
I have a 230a welder that says it pulls 48 amps but it has been running happily on a 30a circuit for 40 years.