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circuit breakers?

Hey guys,

Got a question about circuit breakers, I have a HarbourFreight stick welder, that is marked 120/240v draws 41 Amps, Does this mean it draws 41 Amps at 120 or 20.5 Amps at 240V? I'm talking about through each leg, if hooked up as 220V.

I have it wired the welder hooked up for 220V operating, and have a dbl pole 40 Amp breakers in my panel, it's been working fine for the past year. Is the dbl pole 40 breaker the correct size for this application? Does this mean that each leg of the break is capable of drawing 40 amps each?

Should I reduce the size of this break to a dbl pole 25 Amp breaker? By the way, I installed this dbl pole 40 Amp breaker myself last year.

Thanks. Jeff

Reply to
SomeBody
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050626 0945 - SomeBody posted:

If it is rated 41 Amps at 120 volts, it would be half that at 240 volts, and it only loads this high when you are welding the heavy stuff at full current. When you have the welder set at lower settings, it doesn't draw that much. Of course, you could check this out yourself with a clamp on ammeter around one of the circuit leads to the welder. Have someone check the meter while you are welding and write down the different readings at different settings.

Reply to
indago

The circuit breaker in your service panel is *NOT* intended to protect the welder. That breaker is indtended to protect the wiring from the panel to the outlet.

That said, and assuming your circuit is wired properly, the

40 amp breaker is the right size for your welder.

Ed

Reply to
ehsjr

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