extension cord for welder?

Fattest damn extension cord you can find! You will wind up making it yourself, and I'd probably not use anything smaller than 8ga - but I'm a hige believer in overkill.

If it is a permanent or often movement, I'd get the outlet moved for safety's sake.

5-90
 
I went to home depot and IIRC I got 8 gauge wire (get same gauge as it's already there or thicker). It was a setup of 3 shielded wires in a bigger sheath. THen I opened up my welder and replaced what was originally there (make sure to get the right length cause guess what.. now I regret I didn't get even longer one LOL).

Anyways, if you have never played with electricity, be carefull and think twice as you do it. In general it's a simple procedure as all you're doing is swapping one wire for another, but if you reverse the wrong ones..... you can short things out.
 
Mine for my Tig welder and plasma cutter is 6 guage. It is a PITA. Move the outlet if at all possible. You can't just wind it up like a normal extension cord, and It is always in my way.
 
5-90 said:
yourself, and I'd probably not use anything smaller than 8ga - but I'm a hige believer in overkill.
5-90
Click to expand...
Overkill for sure, especially with voltages and amps like that.
I've seen some huge cable like that before on my dad's ships for temporary work, dunno where they get it though. Maybe a industrial supply or industrial/commercial marine type store.

I agree that adding a second outlet or moving the existing one would be your safest bet though.

And yes that stuff is a PITA to move, it's sorta flexy, but heavy as heck. I had to load 200' of 230v cableing into my Jeep, that was a royal pain. Next time I'm parking the gen set closer to the stage.


Chris
 
Well I am a plumber and not an electrician. but I feel comfortable with my electrical skills. Was going to build it, and was thinking that 6 gauge would work, but maybe 8 gauge would be better.

It is a PITA. ? someone explain PITA for me?

thanks again

Daryl
 
You need to look at the total distance from the panel.Voltage drop is a welders enemy.#6 is the prefered wire,if you get a cord your looking for type "SO"

IBEW LU 640/IAEI Electrical Inspector
 
PITA=Pain In The ARSE!
 
RCP Phx said:
You need to look at the total distance from the panel.Voltage drop is a welders enemy.#6 is the prefered wire,if you get a cord your looking for type "SO"

IBEW LU 640/IAEI Electrical Inspector
Click to expand...


Doesn't the voltage drop kick in until you start going crazy with the distance?? It's been so long since my physics class that dealt with that but I remember calculating something about maximum distance where the voltage drop is negligeable :D
 
Voltage drop increases as the Load(amps) increase.Also the "inrush" current goes sky high on start-up(arc) especially with high welding currents!

Also a #6 building wire will have significantly more resistance than a #6 SO cord!

Before you buy anything!!What type of welder are you talking about?Whats the "Duty Cycle"?What is the "Nameplate Full Load Current"at a given voltage?What Voltage is your house?
 
Last edited:
I've had a 50ft chunk of 6ga for years that I wire into a 50amp breaker as needed. I'm looking to go with a 100ft chunk to do some welding in my brother-in-laws basement. This will also be 6ga, but hopefully more flexible.

6ga is a PITA, but it's the right wire for the job.
 
I've been using a 30' 8ga extension that I made. Going on 3 years and I haven't noticed any difference in performance between the cord and being plugged into the wall. Oh yeah, it mainly gets used with my 175amp mig, but I have used it to burn the hell outta some steel with 200 amp stick turned up all the way, the cord never got hot.

Sean
 
I went with a 45 ft of 8 gauge, KanOx (local welding shop) and most of you said it would work, and it seems to. And now that I've used up the 1 lbs roll of wire that came with the welder. What size of wire do you guys use? I have the hook ups for gas, but that'll have to wait for more money. So I'm talking about fluxcore wire. It was .035 wire I was using. but never having welded without a stick, I'm not sure what I want.

Thanks

Daryl
 
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