HH180 breaker size?

[Jamin]

What would be the proper breaker size for the HH180? I see the manual shows 25 and 30, but I don't know the difference between the 2 it lists. I'm having an electrician install the outlet tomorrow, and I just want to make sure the proper size goes in.

thanks

[hankj]

A HH180 only needs 20 amps, but it wants a DEDICATED circuit, which means it is the only thing plugged into the line. Circuit breakers (which I hope you will be using) and fuses have different properties. Any 2-pole 20A breaker will do, but if you're stuck wtih fuses, use 25A delay type.

Hank

[Sberry]

Hank, I am going to argue with you again,,,, Well, ok, the owners manual needs some work. Its a weak spot on these small machines. The 20 or 25 A rating is the limit when using the minimum wire size which I think is 14. When you go to 12 wire you can actually breaker to a max of 50A, it comes with a 50A plug. Here is a catch, actually 2. even with the 14 wire they call for a 12 ground, the machine has a 12 cord and another issue with them is that a 6-50-R is listed for use with wire sizes from number 10 to number 4. As a practical matter with a 175 machine (as Hank pointed out) needs a dedicated circuit, I think that small machines dont need ay insult from the wiring especially if there is any distance so my personal choice of setup is a 10 wire with a 30A breaker. Even with long runs the wire gives the little machine all the help it can.

[Sberry]

Throw the instruction manual away, tell sparky a 10 wire and a 30 breaker and you are good to go to answer it direct.

[TOMWELDS]

I dont own a 180, but from past threads i would have guessed 30amps.....couldnt hurt.

[Jamin]

Thanks guys!

[James D. Clark]

I run a MM175 off of 20 amp fuses wired with #6 wire. The fuse block goes in the lower left pull out position. If I wanted to change to 50 amp cartidges I could. I've run wide open without a problem.

[MysteryMan]

10 wire and a 30A breaker will do the trick.
------------
looked at that 2nd pic and thought "it's pasta anytime"

the mm175 can run on a 20A 2poll,,,i'm not sure about the miller but i know the lincoln175+ manual calls for a super lag type breaker...

i will look at the miller book later though
i just wired my outlet with a 6G wire and 50A two poll so that if i got a stick welder i could easily switch between the two.

i am looking for a stick welder again so i can practice at home more...but my dad would flip if he saw another welder in the house. and theres a 90% chance he would say: "why the **** did you waste your money on another welder when wou allready have one!!!"

but if i get one im goin for an AC|DC model...****, even DC only would work.

ok i officially dragged this post way off-topic. :-)

[dath]

You've been steered in the correct direction by others already, I just thought I'd add a little info as I just recently got my HH180 and put in an outlet for it. The manual is correct in what it says and I wouldn't just throw it out, everything printed in it is fairly clear for any person with electrical experience. I went with the 30 amp breaker because finding a 25 amp time delay breaker is a pain and not worth the hassle. Going 30 amp requires #10 (or larger) wire. I went with #10 and put the outlet right next to my box in the garage and then made myself a 50' #10 extension cord so I could move around the garage and also work outside. I'm happy with the end result and know it was done by the book :)

-dath

[Jamin]

Sounds exactly like what the electrician just finished doing, Dath. He used the 10 wire, and a 30A breaker, and it took him just a few minutes. He had to combine a couple of breakers -- the dishwasher with the garbage disposal -- in order to make room for the new breaker. I know I could have done it much cheaper if I knew *anything* about electricity, but I know a lot more now after watching him and talking with him. He charged $175.

Appreciate all the good info, everyone. What a cool forum to start learning about this stuff with. :)

[dath]

Good deal, glad to hear it's finished :) Sometimes it's worth the peace of mind to have someone do it for you if you don't know where to start. Myself, I try to do pretty much everything myself, but sometimes it can be a bit frustrating because I normally don't know what I'm doing and have to learn. Fortunately I've done enough electrical work that it's pretty easy for me most of the time.

Do you need an extension cord? You should be able to make one yourself pretty easily. Let me know if you want some help on what to get and how to do it, it really is pretty simple. It'll probably cost you about $75-$100 to make a 50' cord yourself and I'd imagine that it wouldn't take more than an hour or two at most to put it together. I'm slow myself, probably someone who's quick could do it in less than 20 minutes :D

-dath

[Weldman1223]

Sounds exactly like what the electrician just finished doing, Dath. He used the 10 wire, and a 30A breaker, and it took him just a few minutes. He had to combine a couple of breakers -- the dishwasher with the garbage disposal -- in order to make room for the new breaker. I know I could have done it much cheaper if I knew *anything* about electricity, but I know a lot more now after watching him and talking with him. He charged $175.

Appreciate all the good info, everyone. What a cool forum to start learning about this stuff with. :)

now that you got the welder wired lets see some stringers :p

Photos, I need PHOTOS!!! :eek:

[Jamin]

now that you got the welder wired lets see some stringers :p

Photos, I need PHOTOS!!! :eek:

Well, I don't have any flat metal yet to make any beads, so please don't laugh (unless it's really funny)... but here is my 1st attempt at this welding thing (joining 3 pieces of 3/16" round rod):

[Jamin]

Do you need an extension cord? You should be able to make one yourself pretty easily. Let me know if you want some help on what to get and how to do it, it really is pretty simple. It'll probably cost you about $75-$100 to make a 50' cord yourself and I'd imagine that it wouldn't take more than an hour or two at most to put it together. I'm slow myself, probably someone who's quick could do it in less than 20 minutes :D

-dath

Thanks -- I would like the info, in case I ever do want to make one, but I'm set for now. I'm using a single-car garage, and the outlet is in a good spot where I can reach just about anywhere I need.

[dath]

What you need is a length of 10/3 SJTW cord and the male and female ends with the proper plug on them. These should be the NEMA 6-50P and NEMA 60-50R plug and receptacle. I ended up just buying an extension cord for 120v that had #10 wire from Lowes as it was less expensive than buying bulk cable there. The prices will probably vary quite a bit from store to store though, so it may not be the same situation everywere and finding a 10/3 cord for 120v is probably a bit rare. Here is the cord I bought though:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=72365-171-2991&pad=true

I cut both ends off and put the new ones on. You'll need a receptacle that is self-contained for an extension cord (not the kind that goes in a box unless you want to also buy a box).

-dath

P.S. Your welds look okay, but what we'll really want to see are some beads and various kinds of joints :)

[Jamin]

Thanks for the cord info, Dath. Yeah, I know -- I have a friend who's supposed to be getting me a bunch of good scrap metal soon... Not sure exactly when though.

[dath]

No problem. You can usually pick up scrap pieces at a steel yard for cheap ($0.25/lb around where I am, maybe less down South where you are). . . I found a nice piece of 1/8" plate that was about 2.5-3" wide or so and 8' long. I cut that into small 4-5" pieces and practiced welding them together after I ran a bunch of beads and decided that was too boring :D Something that size probably cost a dollar or two at most. I spent more money on the gas and wire that was used than the metal itself:D

-dath

P.S. I'm still learning myself, my welds are pretty terrible, but getting better.

[Weldman1223]

once you get the hang of it your welds will look great
right now they look good but could be better

photo:
did this weld a few weeks ago with my MM175
it was .035 flux core and i still need to clean it off and repaint the whole cart

its starting to rust slowly in the garage :eek: