what do you power your econotig with?

[lost_cause]

for those of you who have an econotig - what are the specifics of the branch circuit you use to power it (assuming you know what's between the panel and receptacle).

i just picked up an econotig used a few days ago. i hadn't had the chance to even test it out yet, and when i bought it, i never gave any thought to the circuit size needed - it was a 165a welder, so i assumed what i had in the shop was fine, but not necessarily according to miller's specs.

the econotig manual states that the data posted is for 100% duty cycle (which can't happen in practice) and calls for #6 hot leads and a #8 ground with a 60a(?) breaker for the required maximum 52a current draw of the welder. everything in my garage is now behind sheathing, so i can't easily look at everything, but when i wired the garage i ran #6 copper for a 50a breaker, assuming that would cover all i would ever need (it's a home / hobby type plan. i don't ever intend on having any massive machinery in there). i can't see the casing on the nm cable, but i looked at a chart i found on the internet and according to that a 60 degree insulation on #6 wire would carry 55a. 75 and 90 degree insulations can carry 65a and 75a respectively.

i'm not an electrician, but when i ran electricity to my garage i asked a million questions and looked everything up and made sure i was satisfied with everything i was doing. i can't remember for sure, but i was thinking that #6 nm cable came with a #10 ground, and the miller manual tells you to use a #6 with a #8 ground. i decided to test it out as-is. i set the welder to negative dc stick at 90% load & tossed a 6011 rod (all i had on hand) in and flipped the switch. i burned about half a rod just for the sake of a light load test. everything worked fine.

to try to put an end to this long-winded story, what are the rest of you out there with econotigs using for a circuit, meaning the hot leads, ground, and breaker sizes?

[tanglediver]

I've got a branch 220/240 circuit with a double 50 amp fuse block. So far I have not blown a fuse while welding.

[lost_cause]

Originally Posted by tanglediver

I've got a branch 220/240 circuit with a double 50 amp fuse block. So far I have not blown a fuse while welding.

do you by chance know the size of the hot and ground wires on that circuit? the manual calls for #6 hot and #8 ground. when you buy #6 nm cable it generally comes with a #10 ground doesn't it?

[tanglediver]

I realize your concerns. However, the wiring at this panel box is for the most part original to the house which is 60 years old. I am not sure what the wiring is, perhaps it is an aluminum alloy, I don't know.

[John R]

Originally Posted by tanglediver

I realize your concerns. However, the wiring at this panel box is for the most part original to the house which is 60 years old. I am not sure what the wiring is, perhaps it is an aluminum alloy, I don't know.

Most likely if your house is 60 years old, your main service coming from the power pole is only 60 - 100 amps to begin with.