What to do with 120v gassless mig

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Hi,New to welding, and picked up a cheap 120v gasless mig. Now im renting at the moment and my landlord told me that the garage was wired for 240 as the previous owner used it for a lot of welding and such. My problem is the outlets are all standard looking outlets. And the plug on my welder is a 120v shaped type. Since the outlets are already able to handle what ill be doing am i able to just get an adaptor plug that will allow me to plug into the regular looking socket or do i need to do something else?Thanks
Reply:Huh? You lost me.Assuming that the previous guy didn't do something stupid, if your machine will plug in to an outlet it will work. 220v outlets have a different plug configuration than 120v ones for exactly that reason. You can't plug the wrong one in. If you can not plug in to the outlet it may be a 220v one and you would need to change the breaker and outlet to correctly make it 120v. Adapters that go 220v to 120v are just not a good idea. When in doubt check the voltage at the outlet with a meter. You should get 110/120v between the 2 vertical prongs. If you got 220/240v, either the machine won't fit that plug, or some one F'd up and did something stupid..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:What?  I'm thinking a few different things.  Pics are worth a thousand words.  I suggest you take some and post them.My name's not Jim....
Reply:You should read the data plate of the welder, that will tell you what voltage it CAN be safely connected to - regardless of what plug is currently installed.You can't put a 120V 20A plug into a 120V 15A socket, the problem might be that simple.
Reply:Sure, plug that 120v mig into the 220v outlet and have a smoke-fest!  MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Did I read this right he wants to know how to plug a 120v mig welder into a 220v outlet?    You might be able to get an adapter that will allow 120v welder to operate on a 220v outlet by only using one of the 120v prongs on that outlet.We he says 120v plug on that welder he needs to point out if the welder is a 15 or 20 amp model. You might be able to get the 20 amp welder to operate on a 15 amp outlet but realize it may trip the circuit breaker if you max out the power dial on that welder.If he would provide a picture of both the plug on the end of the welder's power cord and a picture of the wall outlet someone may be able to help him.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Yea, I'm totally confused too.At one point the garage is wired for 240 than he twice adds that all the outlets look normal.  240 outlets don't look anything like "normal" 120V outlets and in most cases the 240V outlets are much larger if not huge and have only one outlet per device.Even the 120V 20A outlets are only one outlet per device but they look an awful lot like "normal" 120V outlets.(I.I) = 15A and smaller 120V; (I.I)(-I.I) = 20A, 120V outlet,(I.I-) = 20A, 240V outlet.Last edited by John_G; 11-30-2009 at 05:58 PM.
Reply:Philc,   I think I understand,   When he said the garage was wired for 220, he meant that it had one 220 outlet. (Maybe 2 or 3). But all the normal duplex outlets are 120 volt, normal voltage for lights, drills, grinders, all those neat things. . Go ahead and plug into any normal outlet no problem. This is usual in garages.     You have a good landlord that lets folks weld. Most are worried about fires.      The 220 outlet will look like a stove or dryer outlet. it will take 3 large prongs about and inch and a half apart. one straight and 2 slanted. or 3 large prongs one round 2 straight. Don't worry about  it until you need to.past work toys; lathes,mills, drills, saws,  robots, lasers ironworker, shears, brake, press, grinders, tensile tester,  torches, tigs, migs, sticks, platten table, positioner,  plasmas , gleeble and spot. Retired June 30, 2009.
Reply:The phrase, “wired for 220” could mean that the garage has 220 running to it, split at the panel as 110 and 110 circuits and 220 circuits. The wall outlets should be very different.Last edited by transit; 11-30-2009 at 06:25 PM.
Reply:Play it safe, test the voltage. My father in law was notorious for scrounging parts and trying to adapt things. My first ever welder I got from him, befor I knew anything about wiring. It was a 110v unit that he had put a 220v plug on because it's all he had. So he put a 220v plug in his garage on a 110v circuit. He gave it to me, I took it home and plugged into the dryer outlet..... It wasn't pretty.