Extension Cord for welder

Sublifer · Mar 10, 2012

Okay, looks like it is going to cost an arm and a leg to run a new outlet for the welder. As a workaround until I one day get a real workshop I am thinking of running it off my oven's outlet. It is on a 50amp break and is just inside my garage door. (10 feet maybe). So I figure I want 50' cable to be able to get outside my garage when needed but I am not sure on where or how to get the cable.

Hardware store people are stupid about welders so if you tell them 50 amp they will say 6 gauge. $200 just for a 125' length ($180 for 75' and there is no 50')

RV cords can have the 14-50 plug already but for some stupid reason often have a 20amp twist lock at the receptacle end. Some of these at 50' can be had for $100-$130.

Anybody have a good recommendation?

Bigfoot62 · Mar 10, 2012

Sublifer said:
. . . I am not sure on where or how to get the cable.

Hardware store people are stupid about welders so if you tell them 50 amp they will say 6 gauge. $200 just for a 125' length ($180 for 75' and there is no 50')

Any electrical supply should have the cable, and will cut it to any length you want. They will also have the plug ends.

It does require a 6 gauge, and if you go over 100', you will need a 4.

patrick_g · Mar 10, 2012

Nothing will ruin a good welder's performance faster than using a marginal extension cord unless it is welding blindfolded with your feet after guzzling a 6pak.

Pat

Bigfoot62 · Mar 10, 2012

patrick_g said:
. . . . unless it is welding blindfolded with your feet after guzzling a 6pak.

Pat

Pat, do you speak from experience? Can we see some pics?

:laughing:

patrick_g · Mar 10, 2012

I got the photographer drunk and stole the negs and burned them. Didn't happen. I maintain plausible deniability. I have witnesses that can place me a long way from wherever anyone says this happened.

Travelover · Mar 10, 2012

I've mentioned this before, but I've found nice cable at my friendly neighborhood metal scrappers. Check 'em out. They might even call you if you leave a card and promise a small reward.

jake98 · Mar 10, 2012

There was a thread about cords on the Everlast forum a while back, I think this place looked like the place to go: Skycraft Parts & Surplus, Inc. - Portable Heavy Duty - SO - Page 2

Sublifer · Mar 10, 2012

What about this one: Coleman Cable Extension Cord - 230 Volt , 25' or 50' 8/3

It is 8ga but I've actually heard of people using 10ga even with 250+ amp welders. Something about it not being continuous use...?

pjbci · Mar 10, 2012

Bigfoot62 said:
Any electrical supply should have the cable, and will cut it to any length you want. They will also have the plug ends.

It does require a 6 gauge, and if you go over 100', you will need a 4.

The cord on my welder is a 12/3. I have really long leads so I dont need an extension. But my question is, why would you need 6 ga wire for an extension cord when the welder has a 12 ga pigtail and the outlet is wired up with 10 ga from the breaker? Im not trying to be a smarty pants, I just want to understand it.

Sublifer · Mar 10, 2012

Better price on that 50' cable right here: Millerwelds Miller Welding Equipment, Hobart Welders MIG TIG, Welder Supplies, Compressed Gas Cylinders, Safety

If the cable is suitable then I may get it. I wish I could get it locally...

patrick_g · Mar 10, 2012

pjbci said:
The cord on my welder is a 12/3. I have really long leads so I dont need an extension. But my question is, why would you need 6 ga wire for an extension cord when the welder has a 12 ga pigtail and the outlet is wired up with 10 ga from the breaker? Im not trying to be a smarty pants, I just want to understand it.

Because voltage drop is a function of both wire size and length. the cord on your welder is pretty short (they saved money in gauge and length) A long extension cord of 12 or even 10 gaq is a bad idea.

Pat

pjbci · Mar 10, 2012

That helps, thanks.

crazyal · Mar 10, 2012

I bought cable at Lowes. They sell 6 gauge cable by the foot as well as the plug and receptacle. I don't think it shows up on their website but it's on the 'wall of wire' that rotates. I think it was about $1.60 a foot.

Sublifer · Mar 10, 2012

crazyal said:
I bought cable at Lowes. They sell 6 gauge cable by the foot as well as the plug and receptacle. I don't think it shows up on their website but it's on the 'wall of wire' that rotates. I think it was about $1.60 a foot.

I'm about to head to the hardware store so I'll take a look.

Bigfoot62 · Mar 10, 2012

pjbci said:
The cord on my welder is a 12/3. I have really long leads so I dont need an extension. But my question is, why would you need 6 ga wire for an extension cord when the welder has a 12 ga pigtail and the outlet is wired up with 10 ga from the breaker? Im not trying to be a smarty pants, I just want to understand it.

That's a legit question.

The OP stated that he needed 50 amps. Yours is probably a 30 amp, if it's got a 10 ga supply wire.

Sublifer · Mar 10, 2012

Bigfoot62 said:
That's a legit question.

The OP stated that he needed 50 amps. Yours is probably a 30 amp, if it's got a 10 ga supply wire.

Okay, so 50 amps would be nice but in actuality I will rarely if ever use more than 2/3s the power on this welder.

Do you think 8 gauge would be okay? Seems very rare to find a welding extension, aside from custom made, that is bigger than 8 gauge...

Reg · Mar 10, 2012

So far I haven't seen ANY indication that you will be drawing anywhere near 50 amps, you indicated that the outlet in your garage is on a 50 amp breaker...
Well ...so what ?

If you have a 90 amp wire feed flux core HF "welder" or whatever you have, look up the input current spec and take things from there.

You can probably save a LOT if you just size the cord to the current you will actually DRAW.

Bigfoot62 · Mar 10, 2012

Sublifer said:
Okay, so 50 amps would be nice but in actuality I will rarely if ever use more than 2/3s the power on this welder.

Do you think 8 gauge would be okay? Seems very rare to find a welding extension, aside from custom made, that is bigger than 8 gauge...

8 ga is fine. Just put in a 40 amp breaker. You never want your breaker to have greater capacity than the cable. (fire hazard)

hodge · Mar 10, 2012

The local electrical supply houses wanted over $2 a foot for 8 guage wire, and almost $60 for the male and female plugs. After exploring my options, I wound up buying a 50 foot Yellowjacket 10/3 extension cord (after asking lots of questions and reading lots of posts on some welding forums) for $80, and I found Fourney 50 amp male and female plugs at Ace Hardware, for about $30 total. I have been using it for about 6 months now, and it has worked great with my Hobart 190 amp mig welder.
Northern Tools sells a 50 amp, 25 foot welding extension cord for $99.
Century Wire and Cable Right Angle Welding Extension Cord with Progrip Safety Handle — 25Ft., 50 Amp, Model# D13308025 | Welding Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment

crazyal · Mar 10, 2012

patrick_g said:
Because voltage drop is a function of both wire size and length. the cord on your welder is pretty short (they saved money in gauge and length) A long extension cord of 12 or even 10 gaq is a bad idea.

Pat

It's also duty cycle. If the duty cycle is low it will allow time for the wire to cool down.