Will a 40 amp breaker be enough to run a 220 volt Lincoln stick welder?

Just bought a house and I’m not sure if I need to change the breaker to a 50 amp to run a welder in my garage. Any electricians out there with some advice, would be much appreciated!

 

Depends on the welder current draw. What does the name plate say?

 

Also I am not an electrician, but just to clarify breakers are sized based on the wiring to prevent anything after the breaker from getting hot and starting a fire. In case anyone reading had other ideas of just swapping in a higher amp breaker.

You would need to check the specs for the welder. Input current is probably listed on the welder as noted above.

 

Well, haven’t bought it yet. Want to make sure I can use it first. I was hoping someone might have one of these Lincoln welders.

 

Input current for that seems to be (up to) 50A per the specs on the lincolnelectric website. It also appears to come with a NEMA 6-50P connector, which is rated for 50A.

 

Yes
Very very doubtful you will be going over 150amps output

And you really want an ac/dc one, you will get much better results on dc for most steel
Get a used one, they are so simple they really don’t die

 

Looks like I need to hire an electrician to install a 50 amp breaker.

 

You will need a seperate 50 amp circuit for the welder.
I am a retired electrictian. Don't take short cuts unless you have a good fire insurance policy.

 

I believe it is separate. The wire goes from the box to the garage for the 220 outlet. I will go take a picture.

 

Here’s the pics:

 

While your (hopefully licensed) electrician is installing your 50a circuit, you may also want to get these white add-ons up to code- the box holes need bushings and the wires need to be attached to the boxes just like the yellow wires are.

 

What size wire?

 

Not a clue. Not an electrician. Hiring one to do an inspection and repairs, though.

 

50 amp double pole breaker - ran one as I too needed a 220v outlet in my garage for a welder

Ran 6 gauge wiring.

Congrats on the house btw.

 

There is a fat black wire coming from the 220 outlet in the garage to the breaker box in the basement. Not sure if it is 6 gauge.

 

Photos hard to tell but does not look like even 10 gauge. Yes wait for your guy, get a couple three bids is my advice, even a small jobs, some places will jack it up.

 

And copper wire ain't cheap either.

 

My guess is it is 8 gauge being it is going to a 40 amp breaker. Or at least it should be according to a google search.

 

It should be, I'm just going by comparing sizes in the focused part of the picture. Hard to tell. Looks old though and not much bigger than the 12-2

 

Any certified electrical device or appliance will state what amperage draw the conductors will need to support.