Extension Cord for welder

[crazyal]

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...

I would just break down and get the 6 gauge. Unless you know for sure in the future you'll never own a large welder (assuming you don't have one now) you may need the bigger gauge wire. It would suck to have to go out and buy a second cord after you got your garage and all the toys, I mean tools, on your wish list.

I will say I ran my Lincoln 255 MIG off of a 30 amp circuit for years until I built my house and garage. The data plate says something over 40 amps max draw. I never had an issue but I never turned the welder up near full power.

 

[timster2]

Years ago when I could not afford the proper cable I got a piece of service entrance cable and attached a plug and socket. If I remember correctly it was aluminum rated for a hundred amps. It was stiff and a pain to unroll and roll up but worked just fine. Not recommended for more than the occasional use but it will work without overloading. Ten gauge will overheat as soon as you start to draw more than thirty amps for any length of time.

 

[Sublifer]

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.

I have an everlast power arc 300. I actually have the harbor freight 90 amp fc welder too but that runs on 120 lol
if I can use 200 of those amps I will be happy until I get myself a real workshop.

 

[Freakingstang]

If anyone in Ohio ever need any 6/4 or 8/4 SO cord, let me know....

 

[Sublifer]

If anyone in Ohio ever need any 6/4 or 8/4 SO cord, let me know....

Do you ship?

 

[patrick_g]

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...

Shop around a bit. I did and bought a used extension cord good for over 60 amps--100 ft long. I changed the connectors to right pattern and wired some of the conductors in parallel as there were more than 3 wires. I cut the cable in to a 33 ft piece and a 66 ft piece. I use whichever reaches or both if needed (rarely is) One drawback is that it is HEAVY but very little voltage loss at full welder power (welder rated to pull 50 amps at 240 volts.) Oh, and the power cord on the welder looks to be 12-3 wire, just not very long.

Pat

 

[Freakingstang]

Do you ship?

I can, but 50' of SO cable its about 45-50 lbs..that wont be cost effective...

 

[Qapla]

If the power is in the garage, where are you planning to have the welder that you need an extension cord for the welder?

If you just want it to move the welder out of the garage to work and are going to move it back in when you are done, why not extend the ground clamp ans stinger leads instead?

NAPA sells the cable and the lead disconnects. ( Welding Cable Connector Set, Brass; 1 - 3/0; Heat & Oil Resistant Covers Part Number: WLD 7771427 .... Cable - Welding Part Number: BEL 736208)

You could even add an additional receptacle in parallel to the stove and leave them both plugged in ... just don't try to use them both at the same time.

 

[Sublifer]

I would just break down and get the 6 gauge. Unless you know for sure in the future you'll never own a large welder (assuming you don't have one now) you may need the bigger gauge wire. It would suck to have to go out and buy a second cord after you got your garage and all the toys, I mean tools, on your wish list.

That's a very good point but I doubt I would use more than 40 amps very often and I imagine 8ga would hold up to occasional use at 50 amps.

If anyone has tried searching for the ampacity of 8 or 6 gauge you'd likely end up as confused as I was. I saw this table before but didn't quite understand it until i read another reference and then found the table again: American wire gauge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Look at the NEC ampacity column and you can see that they all have different ratings based on the insulation that was used on the cable. 8 gauge can support up to 55amps with 90C insulation.

If you check this one out, and any other that lists all the specs, and you;ll find most are rated at 90C: 100 ft. 8-3 SOOW Black 600V Rubber Cord-55808843 at The Home Depot

That said, bigger is better and if it available and not much more expensive then the 6 gauge is preferred.

 

[RobertBrown]

I used 20' of what they refer to as SOOW cord. It's about ten guage, not sure. It's stranded like welding cable, so it very flexible. I have a 200 amp welder.
I'm thinking I'm not using any where near the full current draw or potential.
I installed the 50 amp breaker, I forget what it cost.
I got this wire at an electrical supply. I remember it was about 40% less than the HI center.