Welder Performance & Wiring Welding Receptacles

[Weekend Mig]

My welder is a 115 V, with 4 heat settings - the highest setting is 105 AMPS (I think). The manufacturer recommends using a 115 V power supply with a minimum 30amp breaker. Currently I am using a standard household/garage service with a 15 amp breaker with 14/2 household wire. When welding on the highest (105amp) setting, I have to be careful not to run too long, or the 15amp breaker will overheat and pop.

So here's my question...

When I build my garage/shop next summer, I will be installing a couple of designated welding receptacles, still 115 V of course, but using 30amp circuit breakers with heavier (likely 10/2) wire. Will this heavier circuit add performance to the welder? In other words, will the higher heat setting perform better or be hotter than now?

I believe the answer to this is "no", other than that the 30 amp circuit breaker will handle more current draw, and not overload. But will the heavier, 10 gauge wire deliver more power to the welder?

Any thoughts?

[Sandy]

When I build my garage/shop next summer, I will be installing a couple of designated welding receptacles, still 115 V of course, but using 30amp circuit breakers with heavier (likely 10/2) wire. Will this heavier circuit add performance to the welder? In other words, will the higher heat setting perform better or be hotter than now?

The answer is very likley yes. Voltage drop under load is one culprit. It will stabilize your results considerably. No you won't get additional output beyond the machines capability, but it will be rock solid at any given setting.

[Weekend Mig]

Thanks Sandy,

After posting this yesterday, I spoke briefly to an electrical engineer in my office (I work for an Engineering consulting firm) about this, and he said very much the same thing. The voltage drop over the "lighter" circuit and wiring could effect the welder's performance, if only slightly.

I guess I was hoping someone would tell me that once on a heavier circuit, I'd be able to weld 1/2" steel with full penetration in a single pass....:laugh: (j/k of course).

Thanks again for the input. I am very much looking forward to having my new garage/shop with sufficient and permanent power for all my tools.:)

[awright]

Weekend Mig, I think it would be a big mistake to wire up a new garage and only provide it with 115V outlets, ("... still 115 V of course, ..."). If you are remotely like most welders, you will soon lust after more power or a new machine that can't run on 115V or will find a bargain that you just can't pass up that requires 230V or will want a plasma cutter. Then you have a rewire job with all your stuff in the way and the walls sealed up.

The incremental cost of bringing in a lot more power than you now think you would ever need and running 230V to a couple of strategically placed outlets is so small compared to the basic new wiring job or compared to rewiring later on that I think you should do it now.

An electrician friend and I brought new service into my 1920's house that originally had 230V 30 amp service. At the time I had a buzz-box welder, but I said, "What the hell, lets make it 200 amp service." Now I have 90 amp 230 V to my welding setup and can run my 300 amp military surplus stick/TIG welder and my 50 amp plasma cutter with ease and no worries. Probably cost me a couple of hundred extra for larger wire, conduit, and service panel, but well worth it.

Have fun.

awright