Extension Cord for welder

[grsthegreat]

Sorry, yes... On a typical 208-240 single phase welder, you should even have a neutral, just normal two hots and a ground.

Since the thread was welder ext cords...I threw in some personal experiece as there are plenty of 110 buzz boxes and plasma cutters out there and DIY people don't always know the hazzards...

I should have been more clear with what I meant

i was a little confused over the reference to the neutral in a 240 1 phase system also, but understand your concern about the neutral in OTHER situations. People forget that the neutral does conduct electricity.

 

[jmanatee2]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion but lets not suggest the OP violate the NEC.

If you are feeding a circuit with a 50 amp breaker the wire needs to be sized for at least 50 amps and within reasonable limits bigger wire is better (no more than a few gauges bigger.) Otherwise the wire will burn up and set the house on fire before the breaker gets close to tripping.

Pat

Above is an incorrect statement. He is not hard wiring this in a wall. NEC codes about breaker size has to do with the wiring to the outlet. He is making/using an extension cord.

If every extension cord needed to be sized by the breaker there would be no lighter duty extension cords. All lamps would have 14 or 12 awg cords etc...

 

[jmanatee2]

Deleted for double post

 

[patrick_g]

Above is an incorrect statement. He is not hard wiring this in a wall. NEC codes about breaker size has to do with the wiring to the outlet. He is making/using an extension cord.

If every extension cord needed to be sized by the breaker there would be no lighter duty extension cords. All lamps would have 14 or 12 awg cords etc...

Sorry, I thought we got past the Rube Goldberg extension cord through open door thing.

Of course you are right but who'd want a jury rig like that?

Pat

 

[CJONE]

Sorry, yes... On a typical 208-240 single phase welder, you should not even have a neutral, just normally two hots and a ground.

Since the thread was welder ext cords...I threw in some personal experiece as there are plenty of 110 buzz boxes and plasma cutters out there and DIY people don't always know the hazzards...

I should have been more clear with what I meant

:thumbsup:
Most don't know that a 220 unit will happily run with just the 2 hot legs. Safely, well that is another story. CJ

 

[sparc]

I have really started hating those hardware stores lately...

Why? It's a hardware store (or big box store), not an electrical supply house. How much call do you think the average hardware store gets for #6 cable.

I hear a lot of it should work and i guess it will be OK in a number of posts. This does not sound like a recipe for success. Buy the right size cable and be done with it. How many days have you spent now driving around trying to find the cheap way to do this? Probably burning enough gasoline to pay for the difference in the cable sizes.

 

[sparc]

Have you priced a breaker, wire and outlet for your garage? This may be your best option. It is a pain to use wife's oven outlet, door cracked, dirt, noise and bugs get in Been there and done that! I've found it to be cheaper to do it right the first time.

Agree 100%. you (or your wife) will cuss every time you set yo weld using the configuration you suggest (running off the oven outlet in the kitchen).

Get your electrician buddy from work to install an outlet and new breaker in the garage (assuming you have room in the panel for another 2 pole breaker) in exchange for a couple beers.

 

[Sublifer]

I've thought about [adding a new breaker and panel and wiring it in properly] but don't plan on living in this house too much longer. My main breaker panel cannot support additional breakers. It has 6 double pole breakers. It is also on the opposite side of the house from the garage.

Yes, I'd rather do it right but I am not willing to sink $1000 into it and let it go to waste when I move in a year (I hope).

Thanks again for all the responses. I ended up getting a 50' length of 6/4 and put 14-50 ends on it. This way the cable is more than adequate and it is properly wired in case it ever needs to get used for anything else or should I sell it.

Yes, I'm running it from the range outlet. As I said before, I am not willing to sink a lot of money into this house as I'm not planning on being here more than another year.

 

[patrick_g]

Some brands/styles of breakers come in "Half Sizes" and allow two breakers in width of one regular size breaker. If you put some of those in you will make space for another breaker. This is not an expensive option.

Pat

 

[Todd NE WY]

I am glad to see you went with the right size cord. One factor that was never brought up, is in the event of a fire in your house while you were using an undersized cord you may have a major fight with your insurance company. I work with insurance companies every day and they are out to find any excuse not to pay a claim. You don't want to give them any excuse just because someone on the internet said this should work fine.

Just my .02 worth.

Todd