i have a welder with a 3 prong 220v plug at the end. i have a generator with 4 prong 220v outlet. can i wire a 4 prong end to my welder and just leave 1 wire slot empty on the 4 prong end? or is there an adapter i can buy? and if so whats the part number? or are there any other sugestions?
2006-06-18 23:13:18 · 2 answers · asked by TOM D 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
The easiest thing to do is probably to buy a 4-prong range cord ("pigtail") and wire it to a 3-prong receptacle to create an adaptor. The fourth wire is an extra safety ground, so it won't be connected to anything inside the new receptacle housing.
(When I say to buy a range cord, I am assuming this is a 50 amp circuit. If not, you might have to check out the appropriate amperage and make sure the generator capacity will handle your welder first).
2006-06-18 23:21:57 · answer #1 · answered by nickdmd 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go to http://www.jhlarson.com/ind_tables/nema/nema_straight.htm (or
http://www.jhlarson.com/ind_tables/nema/nema_lock.htm if your generator has a locking receptacle) and find exactly what you have. Assuming nothing is 3 phase, your plug should be 2 hots and a ground and the outlet 2 hots and neutral and a ground. You can connect hots and grounds and leave the neutral of the outlet unconnected. The other answer is incorrect that the ground is extra, but looking up your plug type will know for sure. I would be surprised if the welder needed a neutral and not a ground. If the ampere rating of the welder plug is greater than the generator outlet, your generator is probably too small.
2006-06-20 16:17:17 · answer #2 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋