welding outlet question

[tsumommie]

I am not a welder or anything like that and I do not know the technical jargon but I thought you guys might be able to help. I recently moved into a new rental home. In the laundry room which was a converted garage there is an outlet that I have been told is a 220 welding outlet. I have a newer dryer I need to be able to plug in. Is it possible to change out the outlet to fit my dryer plug? ( dryer plug is a newer 4 prong 30 amp) Or is it possible to hook my dryer up with a welding type cord that will fit the existing outlet? thanks for any input you can give me!

[Broccoli1]

Not really.

The Welder plug is a 240v 3-wire set up and your Dryer is a 120v/240v 4-wire so you would need to run another wire to the location and install a 4-wire Dryer receptacle.

It may be possible to convert the Dryer to 3-wire 120v/240v set up and install a 3-wire 120v/240v receptacle but I imagine it is a Code violation and the Landlord probably doesn't want that.


It may also be possible that there are already 4-wires in the wall and they only used 3 for the Welder as it may have been a Dryer receptacle to begin with.

[tsumommie]

Ok but if replacing the recepticle can I still use the original wires within the walls or do I need to run all new electric for this job?

[Broccoli1]

Depends on the wiring. Can't say until you know that info.

Open the Panel and look at the CB for the Welder receptacle.

What Size is it? 30amp 40amp 50amp?

Now it gets even trickier as by Code the Welding circuit is allowed to use smaller gauge wire due to Duty Cycle so technically ya can't go by the CB most home owners don't use the minimum wiring allowed by code BUT it is possible.

Turn off the CB for the Welder and then pull out the Receptacle and check the wiring.

Don't go messing with the inside of the panel unless you know what yer doing and know how to turn off the main breaker for the main panel.

[tsumommie]

Actually plan on getting a qualified tech to do the job but wanted to be sure that it could be accomplished before I get someone out here who charges a 40 buck service charge just to come to the house... Dont want to waste money....I know lotsa ways to waste 40 bucks thats alot more fun!

[MoonRise]

Rental home?

You (the renter) can not do electrical work in the home.

The property owner can hire an electrician to do electrical work, but the renter is not 'allowed' to do work/modifications to the electrical system.

In -most- US locales, a single-family property can be worked on by the owner-occupant (not owner/occupant as in "or", but the "-" indicates the owner AND occupant are one and the same) as far as electrical work. The work must still be done to the proper codes/specs/workmanship/etc as if a 'pro' had done it. A major exception to the owner-occupant doing electrical work in their own house is the Chicago area where -only- a licensed electrician is allowed to do any electrical work.

And in a rental unit, you probably do not have the 'standing' to hire an electrician (or service tech or plumber or whatever) to do repairs or upgrades or modifications because it is -not- your property. You probably have to contact the owner/landlord and then -they- have to hire the appropriate 'pro' to do the work.

YMMV.

Call or contact the owner/landlord and just tell them that you have no way to plug in your dryer in the laundry area and that the laundry area wiring needs to be corrected appropriately.

[KHK]

Some of the new dryers are equiped with built in GFI. This is probably the reasion for the 4 wire. You need to find out the amps needed by your welder, usally on the rear of the machine Then find out the circut breaker amps for the dryer, breaker in service panel. If the dryer's breaker is larger than the welder's amps, the wireing should be OK(provided it was installed correctly)

[Broccoli1]

KHK- he does not have a Welder

The geerage has a receptacle that was for a welder.

[KHK]

Sorry, I misread the statement. Thanks for the correction.

If the 4 wire dryer plug is for a GFI he will have to add an aditional wire back to the service box, and size the breaker for the dryer. If the existing beraker is larger than the dryer amps, just the extra wire will be needed.
THESE CHANGES MUST BE DONE BY A QUALIFIED ELECTRICAN

[Craig in Denver]

Take the cover off of the outlet box. You should be able to see if it's 3 wire or 4 wire.

[sparkyman65]

Just follow what Moonrise said.