220v socket size???

[JD1]

My grandson bought a big 220v heat treat oven. I looked at the plug and it looked just like a 110v 20a plug. An electrician ran a 220 line to it and used a compatable socket with that 110 looking plug. Is that right? I thought 220 plugs and sockets look like what you have on your dryer.

[Louie1961]

It's probably a nema 6/50. Common on welders and such. Dryer plugs are only good for 30 amps

[rexcormack]

Here is a handy chart of a "few" of the plugs and receptacles.

https://www.stayonline.com/product-r...ence-chart.asp

[MinnesotaDave]

My grandson bought a big 220v heat treat oven. I looked at the plug and it looked just like a 110v 20a plug. An electrician ran a 220 line to it and used a compatable socket with that 110 looking plug. Is that right? I thought 220 plugs and sockets look like what you have on your dryer.

It was probably a Nema 6-15 or 6-20

They are small like a 120v plug.

[danielplace]

It looks like 120 but blades are as shown which are different and 240 dedicated. The 2 flats is one and the one sideways one type is opposite side rotated from 120 style configuration.

Most like that are only 20 amps though. When you step up to 30 amp then they become that larger size your thinking about on dryer at 30 amp or range at 50 amp.

The smaller 30 amps you used to see but not so much anymore. They use to use on water heaters back in the day. Sideways or angled but not big like a 30 amp dryer.

[walker]

It os all a matter of the amps required. The second number in the plug model number is amps, so a NEMA. 6-20 is a 20 amp circuit.

[Louie1961]

Just for giggles and grins I looked up a couple of heat treat ovens. The plugs are all over the place, even within the same manufacturer, depending on current draw. One manufacturer is using NEMA 6-15, 6-20, 6-30, and 6-50 all on the same product line, depending on oven size. That's crazy. You would think for cost savings they would just settle on one or two.

[danielplace]

Just for giggles and grins I looked up a couple of heat treat ovens. The plugs are all over the place, even within the same manufacturer, depending on current draw. One manufacturer is using NEMA 6-15, 6-20, 6-30, and 6-50 all on the same product line, depending on oven size. That's crazy. You would think for cost savings they would just settle on one or two.

The 15 and 20 amps though yes I believe you are right about those. No difference as both would probably be wire in 12 wire outlet is same cost. Using just a 20 on those units so I see what you mean on those two sizes.

20, 30, and 50 seems enough for sure.

Talking in a welders world though they do manage to put a 50 amp on most everything regardless of size. Most use less some use more and it gets a 50 amp. Go figure.

They are smart to put plug only what it needs. Then the receptacle, wire size and overcurrent device can be better matched to the oven otherwise the end user would end up footing bill for larger feed they don't need. Inspector don't care on cord and plug connected equipment just that the wire and breaker usually would need to provide for full ampacity of receptacle used.


I would think you would expect them to be matched. If 15 amp unit had a 50 amp plug the end user is going to have to supply a 50 also and the wiring and breaker would be way oversized and give the unit itself no protection at all. Then if they had 50 amp plug on it the tail would be huge and likely have to have a integral over current device to protect the units smaller wiring.

[danielplace]

For welders I think the Tombstone style 200/225 amp transformer stick welders that were so prevalent years ago set the pace at 50 amps.

With the typical welder outlet style we still know and use today is still same configuration 50 amp they put on the transformers for years.

[JD1]

Well, without looking at his specs I would guess then that it has a 20 amp draw. Maybe I'll look when I'm over there again.

[danielplace]

Something you know is going to be drawing right up near 20 amp continuous load might be worth pulling #10's unless run is short.

[smithdoor]

Sounds like a 240 volt 20 amp it looks close to a 120 volt 20 amp.

Dave

My grandson bought a big 220v heat treat oven. I looked at the plug and it looked just like a 110v 20a plug. An electrician ran a 220 line to it and used a compatable socket with that 110 looking plug. Is that right? I thought 220 plugs and sockets look like what you have on your dryer.