Harbor Freight 151 welder HELP PLEASE!

admin

I need help....I just purchased a 120amp 220v model 151 welder from Harbor Freight 3 days ago. I have reutrned the last two because the wire feed motor will not work? or at least that is what I'm thinking? Here is what I've done, I get the welder out of the box, wire the dryer plug and plug it in. Turn on the switch and the light comes on. I depress the trigger and nothing happens? dead silent. I feed the wire manually all the way to the tip of the gun. Plug it back in, turn on the power and depress the gun...still nothing happens? I'm getting very frustrated with this machine! Like I said before, this is the 3rd machine in 3 days with the same problem? Now I have to start questioning maybe it's me? I'm I wiring the plug wrong? I have included some pictures for anyone with experience to help me out. I just wanted to add that I've never wire a plug before and I'm no welder by any means. This is my first welder and when I get it to work, it will be my first welding experience ever. I learn fast and I'm sure I can pick it up in a few days with practice but i need to get the dang thing to work first. Please anyone out there, Help me...... Attached Imagestacking life one at a time....
Reply:You get what you pay for...[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Your blade prongs are your live wire. The green wire should connect to teh center prong.
Reply:I think you have the plug wired wrong. go back to harbor freight and get a chepo multimeter stick the pins in the receptical wired to the house you should get 220v AC between two wires and 120v between the others. when you find what wires you get 220v across those are your two hot leads and the other is neutral/gound right now you only getting one leg of power so some lights and things work but not the components that require 220v I believe the center pin on that style range plug is ground/neutral (green)
Reply:Review the wiring instructions that came with that plugand the receptacle.It's important that YOU understand what those connect to.If that's insurmountable, then have a qualified electricianperform and inspect the wiring.Make sure your fire and health insurance is paid up, when that bogussplice job comes undone, etc.Last edited by dave powelson; 04-03-2011 at 07:42 PM.Reason: additionBlackbird
Reply:Originally Posted by Pro-FabYour blade prongs are your live wire. The green wire should connect to teh center prong.
Reply:The reason your light comes on is that you are still 110v through the white wire.
Reply:I don't know what scares me more, that splice job, the fact that you are playing with 220V without knowing which wire goes where, or that you apparently have done this three times...Also, if you had looked in the Harbor Freight section of this board, you would've found a thread where another person had the exact same problem on the same machine with the same symptoms as you.Visit Tensaiteki.com
Reply:thanks everyone who actually try to help me instead bashing! looks like I did have it wire wrong. I swapped the green and black wires and now it works just fine. I made a mistake by not asking here first. I would of saved time and not risking my life playing around with the electrical wiring! This could of gotn' ugly.... anyway, Thanks again!...you know I'll be back with rookie questions soon as I literally just got started.....tacking life one at a time....
Reply:Originally Posted by xtreme_28thanks everyone who actually try to help me instead bashing! looks like I did have it wire wrong. I swapped the green and black wires and now it works just fine. I made a mistake by not asking here first. I would of saved time and not risking my life playing around with the electrical wiring! This could of gotn' ugly.... anyway, Thanks again!...you know I'll be back with rookie questions soon as I literally just got started.....
Reply:I have wired up few of those 151 or 110amp welders,maybe as many as six or seven.All of them have worked out of the box,though some of them had been dropped by UPS so hard the frames were bent.There are a couple of places on ebay that sell returned 151and 110 amp welders,usually about 20 a week.I would be willing to bet that at least 90% have nothing wrong with them,except for power wiring error.
Reply:Don't forget to go back to Harbor Freight and tell them the machines you returned were OK (Nothing wrong with them).  The problem was the loose screw installing the plug.You're dang lucky to be with us today, after running 120v thru the chasis of the machine.When dealing with electricity, you're better off reading the instructions, reading a book, or asking questions, before you just go out and electrocute yourself.Did you even read the instructions that come with the 6/50P plug????Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:at least you can return it. unlike other chinese welderswhen they get your money they keep it
Reply:So I've read and reread all the posts in ths thread,and I'm trying to decide if I have anything constructive to add. I decided I do, I'm not trying to bash, or be on a soapbox here, just trying to make a few observations from a guy with a little experience. I'm sorry if this opens a can of worms, feel free to stop reading if you'd like. Originally Posted by xtreme_28 I just wanted to add that I've never wire a plug before and I'm no welder by any means. This is my first welder and when I get it to work, it will be my first welding experience ever. I learn fast and I'm sure I can pick it up in a few days with practice but i need to get the dang thing to work first. Please anyone out there, Help me......
Reply:I hope there's butt splices underneath that electrical tape, otherwise you're using your second chance already. judging by the way those splices look, i would almost bet he laid the wires side by side and taped them up. not much tape at that. butt connectors and heat shrink would be almost presentable for temporary use.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:well he took some dam fine pictures...and sized them right for posting...
Reply:Originally Posted by TensaitekiI don't know what scares me more, that splice job, the fact that you are playing with 220V without knowing which wire goes where, or that you apparently have done this three times....
Reply:well he took some dam fine pictures...and sized them right for posting...
Reply:I told my troops, I told my employees, I tell my tenants...............The dumb questions are a so much easier to handle than the dumb mistakes.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by jbmprodsI hope there's butt splices underneath that electrical tape, otherwise you're using your second chance already. judging by the way those splices look, i would almost bet he laid the wires side by side and taped them up. not much tape at that. butt connectors and heat shrink would be almost presentable for temporary use.
Reply:OK, I have the same welder but was very careful about how I wired it up (checked here and with an electrician) welder works great but cord is really short. I have been looking at building an extension cord and got 35 feet of 10 gauge wire but here is my problem.  I can find Nema 10-30 plugs but no 10-30 connectors.  I can find receptacles, but not connectors.  There must be a reason for this.  would it be okay to put the 10-30 plug on one end of the extension cord and then a 6-30 receptable on the other end.  Also, I'd put a 6-30 Plug on the welder?  It would be as follows:10-30 Dryer receptacle>>>10-30 Plug>>>Extension cord>>>6-30 Connector>>>6-30 Plug>>>existing welder cord>>>Welder.  OR, should I just replace the cord on the welder with the extension cord?EDIT...ok, think I answered my own question...can't find 6-30 connector either, just receptacle.TIALast edited by old911; 01-30-2012 at 09:26 PM.