Re-purposing old Hot Tub 240V connection...

[MercFan]

I'm thinking of getting a welder for home projects and would like to get one for 220V. I have an old hot tub 220V connection going to the back yard that I don't need anymore. Would like to re-purpose it by re-wiring to a 220V plug in the garage. I found a place in the wall (behind the drywall) where it dives into my basement so I could catch it there and wire a plug. Trouble is that section of the wall has my gas pipe that passes right by (8inches away). I'm a little worried that those two are a little to close for comfort... Should I be worried about it?

I'll post pics later today to clarify.

BTW: here is the welder I'm considering:
http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/2462846965.html

[kip Foss]

No, unless you plan on crashing something into both the gas line and the electric cable at the same time. If you just want something to worry about encase the cable in a conduit.

[MercFan]

I finally got me a long awaited welding machine: it's a Lincoln AC/DC 225/150 stick welder. Got it from a retired mechanic - he used to weld his back hoe with it... solid heavy machine - looks brand new.

Now I quickly need to prepare my 220V connection. As mentioned in the original post I'm going to re-purpose the cable that runs under my basement to the outside. It's a thick shielded cable (about 3/4in thick) with three separate wires (red, black and white) in a heavy black plastic casing. My intention is to pull the cable out of the basement in one continuous piece, and keep the whole 20-25feet coiled up with a plug at the end so that I can extend the reach of my welder. I'm a bit concerned about coiling up a line that has 220V in it - it's shielded so it may be ok but I don't want to make a transformer out of it by some strange twist... Maybe I should think about an ON/OFF box that would cut off the power to cable coils until I need to use it...

Thoughts?!

[panZZer]

Originally Posted by MercFan

I finally got me a long awaited welding machine: it's a Lincoln AC/DC 225/150 stick welder. Got it from a retired mechanic - he used to weld his back hoe with it... solid heavy machine - looks brand new.

Now I quickly need to prepare my 220V connection. As mentioned in the original post I'm going to re-purpose the cable that runs under my basement to the outside. It's a thick shielded cable (about 3/4in thick) with three separate wires (red, black and white) in a heavy black plastic casing. My intention is to pull the cable out of the basement in one continuous piece, and keep the whole 20-25feet coiled up with a plug at the end so that I can extend the reach of my welder. I'm a bit concerned about coiling up a line that has 220V in it - it's shielded so it may be ok but I don't want to make a transformer out of it by some strange twist... Maybe I should think about an ON/OFF box that would cut off the power to cable coils until I need to use it...

Thoughts?!

Your first post said 240volt and #3 says 220V? im a dumbass at electrical--isn't any dryer recepticle 220 volt? I run my industrial lenco spotwelder off a dryer plug in and its 230.

[MercFan]

Originally Posted by panZZer

Your first post said 240volt and #3 says 220V? im a dumbass at electrical--isn't any dryer recepticle 220 volt? I run my industrial lenco spotwelder off a dryer plug in and its 230.

Dang it... you're right... I haven't measured it but I think it should all say 220V - same as the household dryer voltage. I've made the changes above.

[10fords]

220/230/240 is all the same. You should have 240 volts if you check it with a meter. Check the size of the wire- it is probably a #6 or #8 if it went to a hot tub. If it is copper (which I'm assuming by the black casing- aluminum is usually in grey casing) than #8 is good for 50 amps and #6 is good for 70 amps. Your welder should have at least 50 amps feeding it. DO NOT coil up the excess wire and use it as an extension cord!! Shorten it to where you can install a 50 amp receptacle on the wall and make yourself an extension cord from 6-3 SO cord. You will be much happier with the flexible SO cord and you wont have to remember to shut off the breaker everytime you use the welder, and 6-3 romex is not rated for use where it is subject to physical damage. Hope that clears things up. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions- Scott

[MercFan]

Originally Posted by 10fords

Your welder should have at least 50 amps feeding it. DO NOT coil up the excess wire and use it as an extension cord!! Shorten it to where you can install a 50 amp receptacle on the wall and make yourself an extension cord from 6-3 SO cord.

Thanks Scott - that clears it up: I'm going to cut the thick black cable and terminate it in a 50A receptacle in the wall. The circuit is on a 50A breaker at the junction box. Not sure what the 6-3 SO cord is but I'm going to ask at the Home Depot and they should be able to point me to it.

Thx for the tips -
James

[10fords]

Originally Posted by MercFan

Thanks Scott - that clears it up: I'm going to cut the thick black cable and terminate it in a 50A receptacle in the wall. The circuit is on a 50A breaker at the junction box. Not sure what the 6-3 SO cord is but I'm going to ask at the Home Depot and they should be able to point me to it.

Thx for the tips -
James

SO cord is a flexible rubber covering with individual stranded wires inside it. Use a 3 prong 50 amp range receptacle for your wall plug and the matching cord caps for your extension cord. If it is 50 feet or less an 8-3 SO cord will be fine, if it is longer use the 6-3. Good luck at the Deep Homo- if you have an electrical supply house near you they will know what you need and it will be cheaper.

[spdrun]

240 volts is still only 120V from ground. You just have two lines with opposite voltages on them that sum to 240V. Not more dangerous than 120V unless you connect yourself between the hot wires. If you're paranoid and don't want to use conduit, pull shielded (BX type) cable. (It's actually a requirement in some places like NYC.)