#6 wire question.

[setterdog]

Ok , I'm ready to go get my #6 wire and set up my miller renegade 180. Is it just #6 or is it like 6/2 or 6/3? I assume it will have 3 wires within (hot , neutral and ground)? I will be putting it on a 50 amp cooper receptical and a 50 amp breaker at the panel , right?

[bigb]

Originally Posted by setterdog

Ok , I'm ready to go get my #6 wire and set up my miller renegade 180. Is it just #6 or is it like 6/2 or 6/3? I assume it will have 3 wires within (hot , neutral and ground)? I will be putting it on a 50 amp cooper receptical and a 50 amp breaker at the panel , right?

If it's a cable assembly you want like Romex it is called 6/2 with ground. One black #6, one white #6 and one bare #10. (Don't forget to color the white one or tape it black at both ends)

If you are running it in a complete conduit system then you would get #6, individual conductors.

[anickode]

You'll want 6-2 with ground for your install. A 50a 2 pole breaker, and a 50a 240v grounded receptacle (3 prongs, not 4)

If you make an extension cord or put a longer cord on the machine, you'll use 6-3 SO or SJ rubber cord. With cord, the ground is insulated and counted as a conductor, whereas with NM wire (romex) it is not.

[setterdog]

Hey , thanks once again for the advice. Im going to buy about 100ft of #6 with ground. Im installing two recepticals initially . On the 50 amp two pole does it matter with wire (white or black) goes where? Obviously the green or bare is ground and will be set in the ground bar on the panel.

[setterdog]

Is6/2 with ground and 6/3 the same?

[anickode]

It depends on the type of wire you're talking about. The second numeral indicates the number of insulated conductors inside the wire. Because Nonmetallic Cable (romex) does not use an insulated ground, it is not counted. 6/2 romex is 2 load carrying conductors and a ground. 6/3 romex is 3 load carrying conductors and a ground. I don't believe they can legally manufacture nonmetallic wire without a ground anymore, so the "with ground" designation is pretty much a given.

Cord (SJ or SO for example) uses an insulated ground. Therefore, the ground is included in the designation. 6/2 cord would have 2 conductors and no ground. 6/3 would be 2 conductors plus a ground, and 6/4 would be 3 conductors plus a ground.

So 6/2 romex and 6/3 cord are equivalent. 6/3 romex would have 3 conductors plus a ground, where you would need 6/4 cord to get the same 3 plus ground.

[RGalyon]

Hire an electrician...

[setterdog]

Anikode...THANKS! I envy your knowledge. I did hire an electrician to do everything else. Therefore I'm broke and winging it!

[Seafarer12]

I just ran 6/3 for mine. Just tuck the white wire in the back of the box. You will have it if you ever need it.

[setterdog]

To all...Thanks for the help! I ran my 6/2 today , well one 50 amp receptical anyhow
, anyway it went well , welder turned on so hopefully it was correct. Ive got another one to run about 40 ft. gave about $145.00 for a 125ft roll of it at lowes. I think its gonna be enough for what i want to do in my 40x30 shop.