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18th Apr 2018, 03:42 AM #1
15amp mig welder plug to 10amp wall socket
Looking at a new Mig Bosswelder and I see it only comes with a 15amp plug, wondering why it would have a 15 amp plug and are adaptors available to convert 15amps to 10amps.
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18th Apr 2018, 08:10 AM #2Philomath in training
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A 15A circuit (which should be behind a 15A socket) should have a higher current rated breaker/ fuse and depending on length of run etc, may have larger cables to prevent the cables overheating. If you were to use the welder in a way that the current draw would always be low then in theory, it could run happily on a 10A circuit, but it has been designed to draw up to 15A, so it must have a circuit to suit.
Adaptors are not available. I'm not sure whether they are 'illegal' as such, but I'm pretty sure that if you put in an insurance claim for a fire and the insurance company found out that you had a 15A device plugged into a 10A socket, they would not pay out.
Your only options are to either get a 15A circuit put in by a sparky or get a welder that only draws 10A.
Michael
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18th Apr 2018, 08:17 AM #3Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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It's a Welder with built in random exercise program.
When you use it on a 10A GPO you will have to walk up and down to your circuit breaker box to reset the breaker.
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18th Apr 2018, 08:28 AM #4Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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I don't believe they are illegal as such but as you say, if something goes pear shaped the onus would be squarely on you to prove that it was being used in a safe manner. When your shed, your house and your neighbours house are smouldering piles of ashes that is going to be somewhat difficult. The safest manner is not to use it this way. The company that supplies the adapter would also have some liability - I'm surprised they'd do that.
If you were going to use one with an adapter it would be wise to make sure nothing else was already running or likely to start running anywhere else on that 10A circuit.
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18th Apr 2018, 09:37 AM #5Diamond Member
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Jaycar flog an adaptor, but it has a 10A breaker incorporated into it, which would likely trip like crazy - more so than a normal 10A GPO circuit, as it typically has a 16A or larger breaker.
If your house wiring is up to scratch, the worst case outcome of plugging a 15A device into a 10A socket using a non-standard adaptor should just be nuisance tripping - same as if you plugged 2 2400W fan heaters into the same circuit. However, as mentioned, the downside of not-so-great wiring is the possibility of melting, smoke or fire.
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18th Apr 2018, 09:19 PM #6
Thanks guys, it looks as if I'll be buying another 10amp welder.
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18th Apr 2018, 11:25 PM #7
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19th Apr 2018, 07:39 AM #8Pink 10EE owner
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When I see that now you can buy four outlet GPO's for permanent installation in a premises, I think running one single 15 amp product off a single circuit is not going to hurt that much.
My shed 10amp circuit has the exact same circuit breaker as the 15 amp circuit. With 6 X 10 amp outlets on one circuit and 1 X 15 amp on the other. So it makes a mockery of the electrical "rules"Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.
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19th Apr 2018, 09:16 AM #9Diamond Member
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Depends how you look at it. While people couch the argument in terms of safety, that really isn't the issue - the breaker on a circuit is sized to protect the cable - so a typical 10A GPO circuit is wired with 2.5mm2 cable, and gets a 16A breaker. A 15A circuit typically uses the same cable, and the same size breaker. That covers the safety side of things.
The real reason behind 15A plugs and all that is avoiding nuisance tripping - a 15A rated device is likely to be using much of the 15A (and more) all the time, whereas many devices on a 10A GPO circuit will be using a fraction of an amp, so it makes sense to have many on the one circuit, whereas putting two 15A-rated devices on one 15A circuit, if they're used at the same time (say a compressor and plasma cutter), is guaranteed to cause nuisance tripping, hence why a 15A circuit usually has a single GPO.
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19th Apr 2018, 10:17 AM #10Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Except for my compressor circuit, the 4 other 15A circuits in my shed have double 15A GPOs.
3 of these have either 2x15A, or 1x15 and 1x10A, machines connected up to them.
Its safe to have both machines turned on and even running, just not running at full load.
This is further controlled by what machines are connected to the GPOs, and monitored by V/I meters.
For example, my Welder/PC and wood Dust extractor (both are 15A machines) are on the same 15A GPO. I just don't operate the welder when the wood dust extractor is running and VV, especially because my welding booth has its own more efficient extractor that runs from a 10A circuit.
Like wise my Table saw (15A) and router (10A) are on a double 15A GPO, and my Wood BS and Linisher (both 15A and both on VFDs) likewise - as I said I can have both machines connected to the same GPO turned on, just not use them at the same time under full load.
It would be daft to have the TS and router running at the same time, but I do that occasionally with the BS and Linisher.
The 4th 15A circuit is a spare that I use occasionally for motor testing, Oh yeah and it occasionally runs a horse blanket washing machine located outside the shed!
The only machines that I see pulling >10A under load are the compressor, welder/PC and TS. Apart from the motor testing circuit, in the 7 years I have had this setup I have yet to trip the 15A breakers because of having 2 machines on the same double 15A GPO. The wood dust extractor draws between ~9A and BS and Linisher usually less than 6A.
I realize not everyone is prepared to go to these lengths but it's one way of staying a bit safer and not constantly plug/unplug machines from 15A GPOs which can lead to other problems.
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21st Apr 2018, 11:42 AM #11Most Valued Member
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if you are thinking about upgrading a 10amp circuit to 15 think about getting a 20amp outlet with appropriate wiring.
that way if you ever upgrade your welder to something decent you'll be ready!.
You can still use 10amp and 15amp plugs on a 20amp circuit.
A 15amp circuit accepts larger flat earth pin. The active and N are same size as 10amp. A 20amp has bigger flat pins all round.
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26th Apr 2018, 02:01 AM #12Most Valued Member
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its defiantly not recommended.
for example at my work when they get a new welder
we cut the 15 amp plug of it and fit a 10 amp.
then tag it for electrical safety. makes me laugh.
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26th Apr 2018, 02:13 AM #13
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26th Apr 2018, 03:27 AM #14China
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I don't what the laws in Vic are in South Australia if you did that you would be risking a$50,000 fine, safe work SA would most likely shut you down until they completed a safety audit
and they would would also levy a fine
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26th Apr 2018, 04:24 AM #15Most Valued Member
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yah warranty . quite often they wouldn't last that long.
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