Wiring for a welder

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I just bought 304 XMT (230/460v) with feeder and now I need to install a dedicated wiring system for the machine, in garage. Can someone tell/show me what wiring system should look like? Or share a good wiring instruction on here?The plan is to wire it myself and then have a certified electrician inspect it to make sure everything's safe. I'm taking my time to make sure I understand what I'm working with. For phase 1 and phase 3, from what I understand, typical home use 1 phase, so I'm going with that.60 Hz Single Phase #1Input Voltage: 230Input Amperes At Rated Output: 53Max Recommendation Standard Fuse Rating in Amperes Time-Delay: 60Max Recommendation Standard Fuse Rating in Amperes Normal Operating: 80Min Input Conductor Size in AWK/Kcmil: 8Max Recommended Input Conductor Length In Feet (Meters): 85 (26)Min Grounding Conductor Size in AWG/Kcmil: 860 Hz Single Phase #2Input Voltage: 460Input Amperes At Rated Output: 27Max Recommendation Standard Fuse Rating in Amperes Time-Delay: 30Max Recommendation Standard Fuse Rating in Amperes Normal Operating: 40Min Input Conductor Size in AWK/Kcmil: 10Max Recommended Input Conductor Length In Feet (Meters): 224 (68)Min Grounding Conductor Size in AWG/Kcmil: 10MATERIALSTime-Delay RK5 fuses rated for 30 or 60amp?A roll of 8/2 or 10/2 wire?6-50R receptacleLine disconnect device/boxMetal junction box for the receptacleMetal conduit (flexible or rod?)Other suggestions are welcome. ThanksLast edited by HelloStranger; 12-07-2014 at 10:33 PM.
Reply:Looks like you have a pretty good handle on what you need. But if you are going to have an electrician inspect it for safety, why not just run the conduit, pull the wire and install the receptacle box and let the electrician do the final connections on each end. That way there won't be any question as to whether it is done correctly. The electrician will only have to land the wires on the breaker panel and the receptacle, then you can finish buttoning up everything and try the welder while he is still there to insure everything is functioning as expected.
Reply:Hire an licensed electrical contractor and be done with it! You need a permit anyway.  Just my thoughts and experience.  Bob
Reply:You might be able to get away with 8 ga wire with the derating allowed for a dedicated welder, but I'd just pull 6 ga myself and be done with it. If you want to go with smaller wire, you definitely need to have an electrician check the wire gauge based on what you can derate the wire at.Breaker, I'd just go with a 60 amp  230v breaker that matches your circuit panel. That will take care of everything. I don't know why Miller doesn't simply spec out breakers in the manuals. Most places haven't used fuses in quite a while.Receptacle or disconnect, either one will work. I'd go with a receptacle and plug arrangement myself, but that's because I have multiple machines I might plug into the same outlet at different times. 95% of the time it's my Syncrowave, but I can also plug in my plasma in that outlet if need be. A disconnect would allow only that machine to be used. Not a big deal if it's in a shop environment and the machine never gets moved.Conduit. Depends what you want to work with. PVC is easy to cut and glue up. Steel EMT isn't all that bad to work with. Heavy wall steel conduit, you'll need a threader. I doubt that's an option for you and it's a lot more expensive. Flexible conduit is a 3rd option, either metal or plastic.Size of the conduit will be dictated by the number and gauge of the wires you need to use. My guess is you will want to be 1" conduit, though 3/4" might be acceptable. Again here's where an electrician can tell you right way what you need.Again if you are getting an electrician, make use of his knowledge. Codes can vary from location to location and what I may be able to get away with where I am, may not be the same in your location. I often will end up doing a lot of the grunt work for the electrician I use. We go over where he wants what and what I need to do to make his work easier. He tells me how many outlets I can put on a line, where they need to go etc and I just hang the boxes, drill the holes and pull wire. Then he comes back and does all the tie in work and double checks that everything I did is good..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:The big question is are you going to get a permit? A lot of electricians, even when hired to do the entire job, will only get a permit if you ask them to get one. At least here in corrupt Illinois anyway. If you want the permit, your requirements will be much more strict and based off local code requirements for type of wire, conduit, etc. In my shop, I essentially made an extension cord coming right from the box with an outlet for my welder on it. I'll run the conduit eventually, but this is my temporary solution. I used SOOW or SEOW, can't remember, whichever one is real flexible like power cord wire. I've got the XMT456 (technically labeled as a "Phoenix" but same machine). I know that one is 3-phase only and I have it on a 60amp breaker. I think if I cranked it up to 600 amps it draws close to 80 amps but I don't think I'll ever have it up that high.And you are correct. As far as I know there are no residential building with supplied 3 phase power. You can get a phase converter, but depending on the type you end up losing power and honestly I have no idea how a welder would run off one. I know a lot of people use this for machinery in there garage or when 3-phase service is not available. If you're installing a 6-50 outlet, then it's just two hots and a ground. Each hot line gets attached to a pole of a two-pole breaker, and then the ground is either attached to the ground lug in the panel or straight to the back of the enclosure if that's allowed.John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:Originally Posted by rhuntHire an licensed electrical contractor and be done with it! You need a permit anyway.  Just my thoughts and experience.  Bob
Reply:The slowest projects are the ones a never done it before wants to do "most of the work". Rules are extensive about protection of electrical equipment. I'm happy to hand a homeowner a piece of equipment and have him screw it to the wall. Don't go to Home Depot, buy a bunch of mismatched pieces, start the project with ten code violations, then ask me to come bless it, and take the blame when it goes all Chernobyl. Codes exist for your safety, and others who may not be aware you went do it yourself. I have no memory of looking at a do it yourself installation I left alone. I'm not a believer in "good enough",or "pretty good"
Reply:She doesn't need to worry about 3 phase. An XMT 304 is single phase/3 phase so she can simply ignore the 3rd hot and wire it to 230v power. She'll be limited on the top end power wise, but I doubt she'll ever need that much power in a home shop.Oh I meant to congratulate you earlier on the XMT. I think you'll be really happy with one. You'll have to show us what you ended up with and how you have it all set up..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Your supposed to get a permit to do wiring in your garage?  Oops.In my own shop I just have a 60amp breaker in the box, then only 2 feet of 6-3 wire to a 220v outlet, then from there I just have a 25' "extension cord" to whatever welder or cutter I am using at the time.The way I see it is if you are gonna spend big money on big wire, get one that can be dragged around the shop and put the machine where you are working (or outside). I spent big money on wall wire once and then my welder was stuck in one spot all the time until I spent more money on an extension cord.Just something for thought.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Thanks for the replies, you guys have been helpful!  I'm going to ignore #2 because that is for 460v, which won't find in typical home garage.I'm going to get a permit and ask questions about the codes some of you mentioned.  Especially about the conduit.Materials:60amp Circuit Breaker#8 wire6-50r (receptacle)Last edited by HelloStranger; 12-08-2014 at 08:03 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by HelloStrangerThanks for the replies, you guys have been helpful!  I'm going to ignore #2 because that is for 460v, which won't find in typical home garage.