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slodat
04-28-2007, 02:41 AM
I have a Powcon 250 ac/dc tig welder. I have attached the photo of the input power configuration terminal board.

I want to use this in my home, maybe off of my dryer outlet.

The welder appears to be set up for 230v single phase. When I look at the plug for my dryer, it has 4 conductors - L1, L2, Neutral & Ground. My welder has L1, L2 and a Ground on a really nice SO cable with a 3 prong male plug.

Any advice on how I set this up?

Thanks!

Steve
awright
04-28-2007, 02:55 AM
Get a plug compatible with the dryer receptacle and wire it up to the welder with a ground (green or green/yellow insulation) but without a neutral. The welder does not require a neutral because it has no need for 115 volt power. Dryers need a neutral because they use 115 volts for the timer and controls.

Your welder DOES require is a ground conductor. This is for safety in the event that insulation breaks down or a conductor somehow comes into contact with the chassis or case of the welder.

awright
slodat
04-28-2007, 04:20 AM
Perfect! Thank you for the help awright!
MAC702
04-28-2007, 01:57 PM
Works great. I have a PowCon 300SM that I converted inside from 480V 3-phase to 240V single phase and I ran it from a dryer receptacle for many years. I used an adapter cord that was also long enough to get the welder wherever I wanted it throughout the garage/shop instead of just plugging it into the wall by the dryer.

If you go with an adapter, you'll need a NEMA 14-50P male end and a NEMA 6-50R female end (assuming they had a standard welder plug on it.)

If you go with plugging it directly into the wall, just replace the existing plug with the NEMA 14-50P.

Either way, when you install the NEMA 14-50P, don't land any wires on the middle flat prong. Some will allow you to even build the plug without even putting in that prong, making it that much easier to plug in and unplug, too.
slodat
05-01-2007, 05:01 AM
mac702, I picked up a plug at Home Depot that had removable pieces, so I removed the common. Worked good!
awright
05-01-2007, 12:06 PM
Ummm... What's the common?

awright
MAC702
05-02-2007, 05:57 AM
common = neutral = grounded conductor