New Welder... Need advice!

admin

I recently bought a Miller Thunderbolt XL AC/DC... I am a plumber by trade but want to get my welding certs. I am part of the plumbers and pipefitters union and the school's process for getting certified takes almost 5 years to get a 6G cert.Personally I believe I can shorten that time frame if I have access to a welding rig at home. My issue is that I don't have a 240v source other than my A/C in my home. My breaker does have room for a new circuit in the event that I have to run a new line. My question is what would be the most cost effective way to get up and running... Should I have to run a new line would a 30 or 50amp be best? I live in a condo so, I don't know if getting a generator would work... Thanks in advance...
Reply:Check your owners manual but I think you will need the 50 amp service. Note; I have used the thundebolts and think they do a great job for light maintenance and hobby work, but watch your duty cycle and do not overload your machine
Reply:Again, a lack of information. What model, the 225 or 300? How much current will it DRAW at 240v? Where do you plan to work and how close to the main panel would that be? If you’re in the trades i would expect that you know some electricians?
Reply:It's the 225, says the rated output is 47.5@240v my panel is upstairs about 50ft. from my garage, which is where I want to work... outside I do have a box for a future circuit. And yes, I can get sparky over to run it if need be.
Reply:Seeing as weldinglifer and transit are both off-line I'll jump in and say you'll obviously want to go with a 50amp outlet for that Thunderbolt in order to be assured of getting full output out of it.  Your electrician can confirm what NEC and local codes require for conductors.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by Noteas... I live in a condo ..
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55Seeing as weldinglifer and transit are both off-line I'll jump in and say you'll obviously want to go with a 50amp outlet for that Thunderbolt in order to be assured of getting full output out of it.  Your electrician can confirm what NEC and local codes require for conductors.
Reply:Sounds as if you're going to have a week of Mondays.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:I'll let you handle local ordinances and the neighbors but #8 wire and a 2 pole  50 amp breaker will fix you up as long as it less than a 100 foot run to the breaker.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:240in a garage means ur running a small buisness?. what if the 240was for a freezer?.heck almost all compressors run of a 240,and it might only be used to fill ur riding mower tires.i went to see about 240 going to a steel building in my back yard,no mention of any buisness, just had to meet codelincoln weld pak 100 hdlincoln ranger 225gxt ac/dcoxy/acetylenepuroxcw202 victor fc100harris model 85harrismodel 16oxweld w24roxweld w17
Reply:and yes, go with a 50amplincoln weld pak 100 hdlincoln ranger 225gxt ac/dcoxy/acetylenepuroxcw202 victor fc100harris model 85harrismodel 16oxweld w24roxweld w17
Reply:Right now I will only be running stringer beads til I can't see straight before moving on to pipe welding and we only use sch. 40 pipe at school. Would it be possible to get an 120v inverter to practice on my coupons. The classes requires a 1/8 gap, 6010 root and hot pass and 7018 cap.Would it be possible to do this with an inverter?
Reply:what local are you in? It should never take that long to get certs. The UA has a 16 week program that they push on to the locals.UA Local 598
Reply:Local 230... I talked to the welding instructor and He says that as plumber I will be required to take welding I and the fitters will go on and take welding II neither of which will give you any certs. If you are a fitter and you decide that you want to go on and become a welder, then you can do this in your 5th year of your apprenticeship... Personally I don't see why anyone should have to wait that long, I would weld at my current pay rate if it meant I could do what I really wanted to do career wise. The school really wants you to be a plumber or a fitter, so they hold back much of the welding courses until you have gotten through most of the trade lessons.
Reply:Originally Posted by ranger225240in a garage means ur running a small buisness?.