From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

I was given a 220VAC 50Amp welder.
I have 30Amp 220VAC portable generator.

I want to have the generator run the welder.
Yes. I know. 50Amps is more than 30Amps.

But I'm hoping welding can work at lower than max.
Can it?

Second question, if the first answer is yes, at lower outputs.

The welder male plug seems to be a NEMA 6-50P.
The generator female receptacle is an L14-30R.

My first thought is to find a NEMA 6-50R to L14-30P adapter.
But I can't find them (probably due to the amperage mismatch).

OK. What's next best?

I can find a NEMA 6-50R (which the welder can plug into) to NEMA L6-30P,
which is a 30 Amp Locking Male Plug to 50 Amp Female Receptacle Adapter. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK1KKT2V

Notice that's 50 amps to 30 amps, so that's not always a problem I guess.
But then I need a NEMA L6-30R to NEMA L14-30P. Which also exists. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKMXKX3F/

Somehow they deal with both the number of wires difference
a. Some have a neutral, some don't
b. All have two hots
c. All have one ground

And they deal with the current difference (knowing that the welder will
have to be set to not full duty of course to keep it below 30 amps).

Will it work to connect a 220VAC welder to a 220VAC generator?
Is there a better way?
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

Gelato <gelato@.is.invalid> wrote:

I was given a 220VAC 50Amp welder.
I have 30Amp 220VAC portable generator.

Are you saying the welder is rated at 50 amps input from the supply or
50 amps output to the work?
--
~ Liz Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

On Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:01:03 +0000, Liz Tuddenham wrote:

I was given a 220VAC 50Amp welder.
I have 30Amp 220VAC portable generator.

Are you saying the welder is rated at 50 amps input from the supply or
50 amps output to the work?

I do not know the answer to that question. I assume the plug is capable of
50 amps but also the welder has a huge duty cycle slider I can control.

Obviously I'm not a welder so it's likely I can experiment to keep the duty cycle such that the main panel 30 amp circuit breaker won't blow.
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

Gelato <gelato@.is.invalid> wrote:

On Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:01:03 +0000, Liz Tuddenham wrote:

I was given a 220VAC 50Amp welder.
I have 30Amp 220VAC portable generator.

Are you saying the welder is rated at 50 amps input from the supply or
50 amps output to the work?

I do not know the answer to that question. I assume the plug is capable of
50 amps but also the welder has a huge duty cycle slider I can control.

Obviously I'm not a welder so it's likely I can experiment to keep the duty cycle such that the main panel 30 amp circuit breaker won't blow.

I would have expected a welder described as "XXX Amps" to give XXX Amps
on the output, but 50 amps seems a ridiculously low output for a welder
that could be used on anything bigger than jewellery.

The duty cycle would have to be pulsed at a rate which is faster than
the delay time of the circuit breaker. This might be possible if the
pulsing is electronic but a human welder would find it very difficult to
keep starting and stopping. With a 'stick' welder (coated rods) this
would result in a totally unsatisfactory weld but with MIG or TIG it
might be possible to make something with thin sheet that stays together.
--
~ Liz Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

On Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:40:42 +0000, Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote

I would have expected a welder described as "XXX Amps" to give XXX Amps
on the output, but 50 amps seems a ridiculously low output for a welder
that could be used on anything bigger than jewellery.

It's only 30 amps according to the Amazon listing but I wonder if this
adapter does do almost exactly what the OP asks for it to do?
<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQDR7F77>

Can he plug the welder male (NEMA 6-50P) into the female (NEMA 6-50R)
of the adapter, and then the male (NEMA L14-30P) of the adapter into the
female (NEMA L14-30R) of the generator?

I see two potential issues that I'm not the one to explain.
1. There are 4 wires on one side but only 3 wires on the other side
2. There is a potential for 50 amps on one side but only 30 on the other

The amperage can probably be controlled. But can the wires be controlled?
I have no idea. It seems dangerous to me. What's the other wire doing?

Since one side is four wires and the other side is only 3 wires,
what do you think they did with the fourth wire? Connect it to ground?

I don't know how it's wired internally though but it's UL listed.
I guess that means it's perfectly safe (it's ETL listed also).

[Welder Adapter Cord] NEMA L14-30P male plug to NEMA 6-50R female plug, Supports up to 30 amps, 125/250 volts, 7500 watts max

[Male Plug] 4 Prong 30 Amp 125/250 Volts, NEMA L14-30P male plug for L14-30 generator power receptacle

[Female Receptacle] NEMA 6-50R, 50 Amp, 3 Prong Female Connector with
handle. Suitable for welder , plasma cutters, dryers, electric vehicles and
so on, with a NEMA 6-50 plug to receive power

[Widely Application]This 30 Amp welder adapter cord helps you connect
welder from a portable generator, it is widely use for dryers, recreational vehicles, electric vehicles, dishwashers and so on

[Safety and Durability] 10/4 AWG, Pure copper wiring coated with a Heavy
Duty flame retardant, heat resistant, UV resistant PVC , Suitable for
various harsh environments, ETL-listed
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