Welder power socket

[brainbug007]

I just got my welder and didn't realize that it isn't meant to be used with the standard 13 amp sockets and recommends a 15 amp plug / socket. Has anyone tried running them off the 13 amp sockets with any success or did everyone put a 15 amp socket / plug into their garages? If so does anyone know what it costs roughly to have an electrician install one? I don't really know anything about electrics and wouldn't want to attempt it myself :S

[Talonmotorsport]

You can use 13amp plugs on most welders that are single phase ie 240v my 200amp MIG runs on off one with a 16amp MCB braker. 13amp plugs only burst in to flames when you bridge the fuse terminals with 3mm filler rod and a 30amp MCB, don't ask me how I found this out :rolleyes:

[flyerncle]

Probably only cause problems at full power for a long period,I have a 30 amp draw tig on a 15 amp trip and its no bother.

Fire extinguisher handy ?;)

[gaz05]

My Clarke 150TE has welded all the chassis and only blew a fuse when putting a heavy weld on the diff brackets. Like yours mine says it should be a 16A supply.

[brainbug007]

Mine's like yours gaz, I went for the 151TE by clarke. So it sounds like it'll be ok on a 13 amp so long as I don't use it at full power? Did yours do ok on the thicker 5mm plate?

[Tatey]

My clarke 151en has been fine with all of the welding i have put it through, it was also fine on the 5mm plate at full power, i have only managed to blow one fuse using it.

[gaz05]

Mine's like yours gaz, I went for the 151TE by clarke. So it sounds like it'll be ok on a 13 amp so long as I don't use it at full power? Did yours do ok on the thicker 5mm plate?

It's fine on full power. In fact I've welded most of the chassis on full power. It's only when you use it for a long run like the diff mounts that it'll blow a fuse. It got a good weld on the 5mm by going a bit slower and a little more feed. Chamfering the plate helps a lot.

[monsterob]

Jeez ive gone through 15 fuses at least !!!! And had to upgrade the trip switch in both the garage and the house !! :D Good job i get them cheap !!

[Enoch]

Bloody hell guys:eek: The fuse is not to protect the welder, it's to protect your house wiring. If you pull more current than the wiring is capable of handling it will heat up and potentially break down the insulation. The max permissable current is 13 amps, any more than that and the wiring and socket is being over worked. I don't want to sound over dramatic but I have seen a major house fire as a result of an overloaded socket - it aint pretty. If your welder requires more than 13 amps have a proper circuit put in, it aint worth the risk.
Enoch.

[baz-r]

if your welder is blowing fuses all the time it could be one of the rectifying diodes has gone down easy check with the power OFF and a multi meter
this would cause tripping in low settings
hope that helps

[aerosam]

my garage, being separate from the house, is supplied by armoured cable to it's own consumer unit. The sockets are protected by a 13A MCB which only trips if I forget to switch off my fan heater and halogen heater before welding.

This has happned to me several times...

However I am safe in the knowledge that the MCB will trip before I overload the cable. You should be fine.

[will_08]

As said, granted you can fit the wires into a standard 13A plug it will be fine. As the fuse is there for protection.

If you have availiable space in your diss board it would be better running some heavier cable from a 20Amp MCB to a blue 16Amp socket specially for your welder.

Will