[68chicagocoupe]

Hey guys, I bought a Lincoln Mig setup (110v). The instructions say to ground this unit with a grounding pole....does anyone really do this? I know you have to clamp what you are welding....but I have never seen anyone drive a post in the ground. I am anxious to start welding, don't want to rush into a unsafe situation. I am plugging the unit into a grounded 20 amp outlet via extension cord. Will I be ok? Please let me know your thoughts....thanks in advance for your help.

[crankshaftkid]

Does it have a 3 prong plug? I would think that's what they are talking about....your outlets are gounded. My shop is a seperate building with it's own power service that's grounded with a copper clad rod driven into the ground. Other than that, my machines are not grounded anyother way. I may be wrong but maybe someone else will confirm this.

[powerrodsmike]

If your outlets are grounded like crankshaftkid says, you are good to go. Look around your house, usually by where the electric service comes in. You will find the copper coated rod pounded in the ground with a wire that runs into your breaker box's grounding lug. Some of the older houses have the grounding done through the water pipes, I don't remember why the welder companies don't like that kind of grounding.

later, mikey

[krazz]

Originally Posted by powerrodsmike

If your outlets are grounded like crankshaftkid says, you are good to go. Look around your house, usually by where the electric service comes in. You will find the copper coated rod pounded in the ground with a wire that runs into your breaker box's grounding lug. Some of the older houses have the grounding done through the water pipes, I don't remember why the welder companies don't like that kind of grounding.

later, mikey

Most code states that your service ground must be attached to a ground rod and all possible house grounds, including hard water lines and hard gas lines. This eliminates a difference of potential.