Electrical question

Perplexed · Apr 25, 2019

I have a 240V circuit with a 50 amp breaker and a 6-50 outlet for my welder. If I also have a dust collector set up for 240V but which has a 6-20 plug, would I risk damaging the collector by rewiring it for a 6-50 plug so I can use the same outlet as my welder? The collector has a recommended breaker size of 20 amps and runs at a typical 8 amps; would the 50-amp breaker be too much for that appliance? If so, is there an alternative to running a second 240V circuit with a 20 amp breaker?

lasher · Apr 25, 2019

your 8 amp collector, if it shorted out, would draw the max available prior to tripping the breaker. time difference twixt a 20 amp breaker and a 50 amp breaker tripping is likely measured in nano seconds. just because it's a 50 amp breaker does not mean your collector will draw 50 amps at normal operation,,it will still draw the 8 amps as long as it's functioning correctly.

tRidiot · Apr 25, 2019

The breaker is there to protect in case of overdraw. So having a breaker "too large" will only allow more current to be drawn before it trips - in this case, a potential short or something could go on slightly longer before the breaker cut it off. So there could be a slight fire risk in the event of a short.

Perplexed · Apr 25, 2019

tRidiot said:
The breaker is there to protect in case of overdraw. So having a breaker "too large" will only allow more current to be drawn before it trips - in this case, a potential short or something could go on slightly longer before the breaker cut it off. So there could be a slight fire risk in the event of a short.

That’s my concern, if something like this could happen. The appliance burning out because the breaker didn’t trip in time, and possibly causing issues up or down the line as a result.

lasher · Apr 25, 2019

LOL electro magnetic waves travel at near light speed. except here i guess, 20 Amp EMW are faster than 50 Amp EMW - or more simply the electro magnetic wave? The time difference, assuming breakers with no malfunctions, is not measurable by any devices the average home owner has in their hoard of goodies.

Having repaired DP equipment that has been lightning struck, plugged into 220 instead of 110, the damage has been confined to chips having their tops blown off, internal fuses blown, worst case is charred circuit boards. Having repaired radio equipment - military grade - that shorted from time to time, again the breakers and fuses did their job.

But peace of mind is worth an electrician providing a 20 Amp circuit for your device. Do so and rest easy,,,but 20 Amps will start a fire just as quickly as 50.

Mack45 · Apr 25, 2019

Does the dust collector have any fuses or a breaker on it?
If not, maybe you could mount a small breaker box on the unit and put the correct breaker in it, then you could safely plug it into the 50 amp circuit.

Shadowrider · Apr 25, 2019

Perplexed said:
That’s my concern, if something like this could happen. The appliance burning out because the breaker didn’t trip in time, and possibly causing issues up or down the line as a result.

I'm not an electrician but I do know this. The breaker's sole purpose is to protect the wiring. It's sized to the wire. It knows nothing of what the circuit is feeding or what plug is on the other end and need not be concerned with it.

Catt57 · Apr 25, 2019

The real issue is wire heating up. Short 10 or 12 gauge wire on a 20amp breaker it will trip and likely just scorch a bit where the short is. Short it on a 50amp breaker and that wire will start to glow and melt before that breaker trips so if the appliance is not rated for 50 amps and it does short, the load before that breaker trips is going to cause the wiring in the appliance and in your walls, to possibly melt and burn, causing a fire.

ConstitutionCowboy · Apr 25, 2019

The breaker is there to protect the wiring, not your appliance. Plugging your cellphone charger that might draw half an amp into a 20 amp circuit is no different than plugging in your 8 amp device into a 50 amp circuit.

Most devices that have a motor like your machine generally have a built-in breaker. Look for a "reset" button.

Woody

Perplexed · Apr 25, 2019

Thanks for the advice, folks. I just checked, and there is a 25 amp circuit breaker on the collector.

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