Wiring help needed
 

I'm trying to wire up a 220v outlet for my new welder.

The plug on the welder is a NEMA 6-50, I bought the corresponding outlet @ HD.

The outlet only has 3 connectors, and mentions a "green" wire - the wires in my outlet are black, red, white and a bare copper ground.

What goes to where? The directions on the box were useless - they mention "W, X, Y" but there are no corresponding labels on the outlet!

Believe green goes to the frame of the outlet, as in a ground.

Not for sure, its been years since I wired 220...

Joe

I've validated that the red and black are each 110v hot, but what I can't figure out is where the white (neutral) goes.

I did some googling to no avail, so I hooked it up like it says to hook it up, with the hots on the blades and the ground to the other terminal, with the neutral just laying there unused. The welder will power on, but I haven't tried to use it yet.

Believe that white is neutral, and black and red are both 110v hot. Pls get someone who is more current to confirm and I would not turn it on or play with it until you are sure.

Joe

220 single phase has two 110s and a common. Your 220 house panel has one side of breakers for one leg of 110s and the other side of the panel for the other leg of 110s. The panel 220 breaker bridges both buses.

The panel has a common ground buss. This is where the 220 receptacle common goes. The panel ground buss should also be connected to an "earth" copper rod stuck into the earth. Details can get more elaborate.

you can also install a small industrial surge protector across the two panel 110s for lightning protection. It fastens to the panel and it's not large. It's about $50.


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The white wire is not used for 220. In the receptacle box, fold over the end and wrap it with electrical tape, and tuck it to the back of the box. Similar thing done in the breaker box. If that outlet receptacle location is ever changed from 220 to 110V, the white wire is still available at each end for neutral.

Edit - and the bare copper is ground.

I'm not a pro so I concour. I thought i wired up my 220 lift that way.. gotta look now.

thx

They are correct, Black and red are 110v, Copper is ground and the white is not used. I've wired a few this way as well

That's exactly what I ended up doing, and it looks like everything is working perfectly. I also make a 50' 8-3 extension cord.

Now I'm wondering if I over-did it on the welder. I was experimenting with a piece of 1/4" flat stock with the amperage set on "stun". After fiddling with the wire speed, I finally got a nice bead going, and right about the time when I'm thinking to myself "Yeah, that looks pretty nice!" I blew right through the piece! For the record, VCT doesn't stand up very well to molten metal...

Thanks for the help!