220v extension cord question

[laskt9]

i have a 230v hobart handler 190 im borrowing from a friend until i get my thermal arc/220 put in the garage. i know some people use extension cords from their dryer socket but heres my problem... its upstairs.

id have to run the extension cord from the dryer room down an l shape staircase, back around through the kitchen, and out into the garage. im not sure how long it is but i imagine its probably too long

whats the longest 220v extension cord i could run?

 

[larry_g]

Your length limit is determined by the guage of the wire in the cord and the voltage drop you can tolerate.

http://www.southwire.com/support/voltage-drop-calculator.htm

lg
no neat sig line

 

[laskt9]

also my panel is in the basement. would have to go about the same distance. through one room up an l shaped stair case, through the kitchen, out into the garage. maybe a short amount less.

 

[laskt9]

I actually answered my own question. Its got a 230 plug so it wouldn't work anyway

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[KMinAF]

Thats going to be a very expensive extension cord! I used 3 10 and made a 25' cord and have had no problems.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I actually answered my own question. Its got a 230 plug so it wouldn't work anyway

Huh ????

220V, 230V, 240V are all the same when it comes to US split phase appliances/equipment. Different appliances/equipment use different plugs.

This is the correct answer !

Your length limit is determined by the gauge of the wire in the cord and the voltage drop you can tolerate.

http://www.southwire.com/support/voltage-drop-calculator.htm

Just guessing, BUT, if you bought a 10 gauge S(J)OOW 120V extension cord and replaced both ends with the "appropriate" ones, it would work fine.

Double check the breaker. You do NOT want it to be more than 25-30A.

 

[LG63]

How heavy of welding will you be doing? If you will only be welding sheet metal, your actual amps may be half or less of the nameplate rating. I would base the cord on what your actual usage will be since it's temporary. May still be #10 in the end to minimize the voltage drop, but keep in mind #12 is good for 20 amps.

 

[theoldwizard1]

How heavy of welding will you be doing? If you will only be welding sheet metal, your actual amps may be half or less of the nameplate rating. I would base the cord on what your actual usage will be since it's temporary. May still be #10 in the end to minimize the voltage drop, but keep in mind #12 is good for 20 amps.

Yep. I run a 2hp 240V compressor on a 12 gauge cord. I bought a 120V cord (MUCH cheaper than buying "cordage" by the foot), cut the ends off and replaced them with the compatible ones.

 

[sberry]

Double check the breaker. You do NOT want it to be more than 25-30A.

This machine can use a 12 or better cord to 50A. It will probably be fine with 75 or even 100 ft of 12 depending on how sturdy the service is, when I tailor a home circuit for these its a 10/30 though it can be breakered to 50.

Personally if it was my home would find a piece of 10/2 G and run or extend a circuit to a more friendly location????

 

[theoldwizard1]

This machine can use a 12 or better cord to 50A. It will probably be fine with 75 or even 100 ft of 12 depending on how sturdy the service is, ...

Well, if the duty cycle on the welder is low enough (likely).

Personally if it was my home would find a piece of 10/2 G and run or extend a circuit to a more friendly location????

BEST SOLUTION !

I have a 240V outlet in a weatherproof box with a weatherproof outlet cover on the outside of my house. That was a long as the wire from the electric stove would go when I removed it !

 

[laskt9]

Lol yea I figured out the 220 230 thing right after I posted :facepalm:

I'm going to be welding brackets on my truck frame and rewelding my steering tie rods for my full hydraulic ram. I can imagine making more than a 2 min weld.

my father in law knows someone who will help me put a 220 outlet in the garage so I should actually be ok. But until them I'm going to lay some string out and see how far it actually is.

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[Galaxieman]

"my father in law knows someone who will help me put a 220 outlet in the garage "

Yeah...thats the RIGHT thing to do. Take the time to do it right and forget about a short term extension cord fix....

 

[KPSquared]

Off topic and hopefully stupid question...this truck you're welding on, not street legal I presume? Also going to assume your welding skills are above average?

Only reason I'm asking...welding on street truck steering a big no no and crappy welds on a trail rig mean somebody in the group is going to have to drag your busted *** off the trail.

If neither of these scenarios ring true, then post up a pic of your truck while you're waiting for power. Full hydro always perks my ears up...

 

[laskt9]

Its far from street legal. Its an 85 4runner. 3 link front with air shocks. It'd lean too much to drive and if I lost a power steering line id die.

I never go wheeling alone. That's the biggest mistake anyone can make.

Its held up by a jack stand on 2 rims and there are tons of parts under it buttt ill take some pics. Just keep in mind its been sitting for 2 years

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[laskt9]

These are my previous welds when it was in a shop with a millermatic.

I need to redo the mount for the ram. Left it at a friends who thought he'd help. Now I need to buy some dom tubing and find someone to rebend me a mount.

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[Kevin54]

I'd skip on buying a cord. You may be better off renting a generator and going that route for your 220. A cord that length would be a little on the costly side.

 

[sberry]

A cord or cable would pay for itself in one rental and you would still have it.

 

[laskt9]

I never even thought about a generator... I may bring my work truck home and use that if I find a day I haaaveee to weld.

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[Griff93]

Most cheaper generators don't seem to work so hot on a welder.

I regularly run my Miller 175 on a 50ft of 10/3 cord. I have been doing this for years so I can get out into my driveway with my welder.

 

[sberry]

A 10/3 50 ft cord is a good investment for a guy that doesnt have one. The class of welder we are talking about runs very well from them, can also feed a buzzer with same cord. Doesnt take much gas and inconvenience to earn back the cost of a cord, its one of the reasons a guy buys an electric welder in the first place,,,, be able to use line power.

 

[sharkytm]

Extension cords are the way to go even if you get an outlet in the garage...
I've got a 50' one that I bought from eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/390392625426?item=390392625426&ViewItem=
I couldn't buy the ends and the cable for that price. Sure, its plastic insulation instead of SJOOW Cable, but the cable alone would cost me over $200. It lets me put my MM210 anywhere in the garage, and even gets me out into the driveway by about 20 feet.

I can't believe that people are telling you to undersize the extension cord conductors and just " base the cord on what your actual usage will be since it's temporary."... that's a recipe for fire. The cord must be capable of handling the rated amp draw of the welder. The welder is rated for 20.5 amps, so you'd need a minimum 30 amp breaker and 12 gauge wire for lengths up to 25 feet (it's rated to 25A to that length). If you need more than 25 feet, you'll have to go to 10 gauge wire.

 

[SVE Performance]

The manual for your welder will tell you size and length limitations of extension cords for your welder .

 

[theoldwizard1]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/390392625426?item=390392625426&ViewItem=
I couldn't buy the ends and the cable for that price. Sure, its plastic insulation instead of SJOOW Cable, ...

What it is ? SJTO ?

T = Thermoplastic is not as flexible as "rubber" insulation, especially when cold.

 

[sharkytm]

What it is ? SJTO ?

T = Thermoplastic is not as flexible as "rubber" insulation, especially when cold.

Yup, SJTO. Its stiff as a board when cold, but its not like I need it to bend much.

 

[MBeaty]

I can't believe that people are telling you to undersize the extension cord conductors and just " base the cord on what your actual usage will be since it's temporary."... that's a recipe for fire. The cord must be capable of handling the rated amp draw of the welder. The welder is rated for 20.5 amps, so you'd need a minimum 30 amp breaker and 12 gauge wire for lengths up to 25 feet (it's rated to 25A to that length). If you need more than 25 feet, you'll have to go to 10 gauge wire.

+1

The NEC makes no exclusion for how the welder is used when a cable is specified to feed it. Most newer welders have an Ieff value on the name plate, which is the value to use when sizing cables. This takes into account the maximum current as well as the duty cycle of the welder.

A cable for that welder is not so expensive that doing the right thing should be an easy decision.

Just be lucky the welder only requires 20.5 amps. I purchased a Syncrowave 250 and its power draw at full load is right at 90 amps! I have a 50 ft cord of 4/3 wire on it. It is hard wired to the disconnect, so I wanted to be able to move it all around the garage. The prices on plugs when you get to that high of voltage is obscene.

When making a cord, I would not cheap out and buy some good flexible service cord. You will have it forever and it is nice to have cord that is easy to manage.

When I bought mine, I ordered it online from sky craft surplus. For the size I needed it was the best value I could find.

http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/heavyduty-so.aspx

 

[sharkytm]

+1

The NEC makes no exclusion for how the welder is used when a cable is specified to feed it. Most newer welders have an Ieff value on the name plate, which is the value to use when sizing cables. This takes into account the maximum current as well as the duty cycle of the welder.

A cable for that welder is not so expensive that doing the right thing should be an easy decision.

Just be lucky the welder only requires 20.5 amps. I purchased a Syncrowave 250 and its power draw at full load is right at 90 amps! I have a 50 ft cord of 4/3 wire on it. It is hard wired to the disconnect, so I wanted to be able to move it all around the garage. The prices on plugs when you get to that high of voltage is obscene.

When making a cord, I would not cheap out and buy some good flexible service cord. You will have it forever and it is nice to have cord that is easy to manage.

When I bought mine, I ordered it online from sky craft surplus. For the size I needed it was the best value I could find.

http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/heavyduty-so.aspx

I think you meant to say Amps instead of volts, but I agree.

That's an amazing price on SO cable. I couldn't find anything close to that when I was looking. 8-3 is 1.75 a foot, with a 60 ft minimum. I could have built my extension cord out of real SO cable for about the same price had I known to look at Skycraft. I use them for other things, but never thought to look at cable there.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Yup, SJTO. Its stiff as a board when cold, but its not like I need it to bend much.

I kind of wonder about the long tern durability of any cord without the the "W" rating.

W = Outdoor-includes sunlight resistant jacket and wet location rated conductors

Although I admit I have 2 100' 12/3 SJTO cords. Couldn't pass on the price !

 

[chevy.stroker]

Extension cords are the way to go even if you get an outlet in the garage...
I've got a 50' one that I bought from eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/390392625426?item=390392625426&ViewItem=
...

Thanks for the link! Northern Tools has a 25' cord for $85 I was eyeballing, but yours is a better option.

 

[dwp99]

i have a 230v hobart handler 190 im borrowing from a friend until i get my thermal arc/220 put in the garage. i know some people use extension cords from their dryer socket but heres my problem... its upstairs.

id have to run the extension cord from the dryer room down an l shape staircase, back around through the kitchen, and out into the garage. im not sure how long it is but i imagine its probably too long

whats the longest 220v extension cord i could run?

Through the kitchen? Pull the stove out and plug in there.

I just went through the same scenario as you with an extension cord for my Millermatic 200. I ended up buying a 25ft RV power cord used off of eBay for $58.00 then installing the ends that I needed. The RV cord is 6-3 with a ground.

 

[laskt9]

I have a gas oven. Do they have 220?

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[danielzig]

I have a gas oven. Do they have 220?

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Not usually.

 

[purplezr2]

I have two of these

Link

 

[jrlp]

I bought a few 10gauge cords when they are on sale at the box stores. I use a 50' as my 220v cord all the time, literally. It is the main cord for my bobcat and I run my plasma, mig, and tig off it. I haven't run into any heat issues, even running 100%. Hell, even having someone run the plasma while I'm migging at 200a the cord hasn't been over 130-140 degrees. That's not much considering ambient is ~110.

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[dwp99]

I have a gas oven. Do they have 220?

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Oh well it was worth a try.

 

[sberry]

That 8 cord is about as good as it gets, if I was starting over its what I would do. I use 10's cause I got them and am not running the machines near rated output. That 8 will melt a 250 mig into a puddle before it overheats, good for any machine that comes with a factory 50A plug.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Would running it out of an upstairs window help to reduce the length? It would also be a lot less of a trip hazard than having a fat cord running down the stairs.

 

[laskt9]

Would running it out of an upstairs window help to reduce the length? It would also be a lot less of a trip hazard than having a fat cord running down the stairs.

That's genius! Or through the attic! The attic of the house connects to the garage and they both have ceiling doors! Why did I not think of this! Thank you.

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