Help Needed Breaker Keeps Popping

[lone_star_dsl]

This is the welder I am using:

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I use it everyday. I build window well covers and do other decorative welding.

When I first had the 220v plug installed in my garage, I could run all the beads I needed to without issues. Within the past week, the breaker in the panel started tripping often. The breaker felt warm and I thought thats why it tripped.

Now, I have a fan that blows air on the panel and I can only run about five inches of bead before it trips.

The welder is not getting hot at all. In fact, it doesnt even get warm.

I am no electrician at all. Can breakers go bad? If not, where do I need to start looking to get this solved?

My neighbor is a certified commercial electrician and he said he would take a look at it for me. I just wanted to get a head start on him so that I might understand what he is telling me.

Thanks

 

[jestersv]

what size is the breaker it should be a 50a or a 60amp depends on which welder you have.Yes, if you use it alot you can weaken the trip point of the breaker, also you did not say how long you have been using it, if you have a electrican to look at it have him check running load while you are welding that will tell for sure if the breaker is bad or not also, do not use a cheap breaker for a welder, they draw high amps while welding and the cheap ones don't last.

 

[JLDickmon]

x3
change the breaker

 

[Dogman]

Change the breaker. But how far is your plug from the breaker box and what size wire are you running from the breaker box to the plug? If the wire is to small it will over heat and pop the breaker to.

 

[Zookie400]

sounds like the breaker.

 

[kingkevindavid]

Change the breaker. But how far is your plug from the breaker box and what size wire are you running from the breaker box to the plug? If the wire is to small it will over heat and pop the breaker to.

Same problem I had with my air compressor, I tried to run it to far from the outlet and it caused it to trip constantly. I moved it closer and no problem now.

 

[BIG JOE]

X5. Change out the Breaker. They get tired & weak after prolonged use.. especially with something like a Welder.

 

[DaveBen]

Breaker needs to be changed. They do go bad after time.

Dave

 

[lone_star_dsl]

The plug is about 4 feet from the breaker. The wire is BIG! I have felt it and there is no warmth coming off of it.

My panel is a Square D, anyone have any recommendations on a high quality breaker?

I just did the math and that stupid breaker has cost me almost $400 in production in the last week.

Thanks for the head start!

 

[BIG JOE]

but I would check the plug-in socket terminal connections, the cord plug terminal connections (lugs) for REAL GOOD TIGHT connectivity. And being it's all or part of yer livelihood.. you may want to up-grade the Whole electrical set-up to a dedicated, Industrial/Contractor/Commercial Grade (Heavy Duty) electrical circuit.

May cost a couple bucks but in the Long Term.. But I'd betcha, you'd get a real good ROI, in a Real Short Term, from No down time.

Joe