ext. cord for welder

[1930artdeco]

Question, I am doing floor pan replacement on my 57 wagon-so just sheet metal. However, the location of where I need to place the welder requires that I may have to use an extension cord. I have a 12 gauge cord will that work if I am not going near the 20 amp mark on the 110 setting, I am around 13 now on the 220V setting. I am doing a zap here and a zap there with only short 1" runs.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Bert_]

What welder do you have. #12 or #10 will work for many welders

 

[dcg9381]

I've got a 50' cord built out of 10/2 SOOW. I put 30A rated connectors on the ends. Post up your particular welder specs and someone will give you specific cord advice.

 

[The Cobbler]

sounds like 12 or 10 will work for you.

 

[1930artdeco]

I have an ESAB Rebel 205/215 and it looks like on the 120 setting 20 amp is the max. I just don't want to pop any breaker constanly or melt any wires.

 

[The Cobbler]

My 120 volt welder blows 15 amp on high. I've even popped 20 amp when doing a lot of steady welding . Yeah, I'm probably overworking it. I have a 10 g cord about 30' long that I used for it

 

[niget2002]

Heh. I picked up a 25' 8/3 extension cord for my welder. It wasn't much more expensive than the smaller gauge.

 

[Bert_]

For a short cord bigger isn't any better. Just gets you a bulkier cord that weighs more.

 

[whateg01]

I have an ESAB Rebel 205/215 and it looks like on the 120 setting 20 amp is the max. I just don't want to pop any breaker constanly or melt any wires.

Fire it up. If it pops the breaker, turn it down a bit.

 

[Jswain]

If you're plugging it into 120v I would use 12awg, pointless to go higher

 

[gearhead1]

Manual for an Esab Rebel 215i states 12 gauge is the minimum wire size. So bigger wire size like 10 gauge is ok, but smaller wire size like 14 gauge is not. It also says cord length of 25’ max for 110V and 50’ max for 220V.

https://ldgsesabwe.blob.core.windows.net/manuals/InstructionManuals/0463%20789%20001%20US.pdf

If I was starting from nothing, I’d make A 10 gauge cord, run it on 220V and not look back. Since you already have a 12 gauge cord, you could use it on 110V, but if you start popping the breaker on 110V, I’d convert it to 220V.

If you are popping the breaker, that wiring in the wall will start to get warm. I’d do something different to avoid continuous breaker popping. Rule of thumb I’ve heard is that a single load on a circuit shouldn’t be more than 80% of the circuit. 80% of 15A circuit is 12 amps. 80% of a 20A circuit is 16 amps. If you steer toward the 80% load on a circuit then you can run continuous and know confidently you are safe.

 

[gearhead1]

80% amperage rule for continuous loads?

I'm trying to understand how an electrical load affects a circuit. Let's say, for example, I have a setup that is on a 120 V, 15 A circuit: 120 V x 15 A = 1,800 W max if we have a continuous load ...

electronics.stackexchange.com

 

[1930artdeco]

Thank you all for the education. Fortunately, I am not doing any long runs (time wise) just the a zap here and there. But if it trips then I will have to re-evaluate the position for everything.

Gearhead-I apparently shot right over that table. Thank you for finding it.

 

[zendriver]

Can't an undersize lengthy conductor, cause a voltage drop, that can damage equipment?

I'd be concerned with as well popping a breaker. Agree with just going heavy from the get-go and be done with it.

All my plugs are right near the breaker box, so welders, cutter and heater, are on "extension cords". Amazon has scads of them nice quality and good priced.

 

[no704]

When I was younger I ran a regular 110 extension cord into my carport hooked up to 220 for my welder. I didn’t think much of it as I was really the only one that worked in there and it worked.
Got a call from my roommate one afternoon. He had just finished smoking both of our shop vacs and couldn’t understand why!

 

[Spencer Was Here]

I use 50-Amp RV Extension Cord from Menards along with a 50 to 30 amp adapter. You could just get a 30-amp cord, but since I have two different machines, one requiring 50-amps, I went with the larger cord.

 

[dcg9381]

I use 50-Amp RV Extension Cord from Menards along with a 50 to 30 amp adapter. Y

50A (6 awg copper) RV extension cords are bulky and expensive. They are 4-wire.
If you use an "RV" 30A adapter that will not work with a 240V welder, as they are hot to neutral (120V) and 3-wire.

 

[jcarapet]

As someone who was getting away with short beads on 3/16 with a 50' + 25' 12 AWG cords, you will likely get away with spot welding sheet metal in floor pans.

By no means am I suggesting getting this, but I did pick this up and do recommend it for those looking for mobility in where they weld/plasma cut https://primeweld.com/products/heavy-duty-welder-extension-cord

 

[whateg01]

As someone who was getting away with short beads on 3/16 with a 50' + 25' 12 AWG cords, you will likely get away with spot welding sheet metal in floor pans.

By no means am I suggesting getting this, but I did pick this up and do recommend it for those looking for mobility in where they weld/plasma cut https://primeweld.com/products/heavy-duty-welder-extension-cord

It's been awhile since I read the op, but I don't think it was a spot welder

 

[1930artdeco]

Thank you all for the replies. I was able to plug the welder straight into a wall socket. But the ext. cord that JCARAPET posted about I may get just for flexibility sake.

 

[dr_clyde]

Just match or exceed the wire size from the breaker to the receptacle. No point in going bigger, just keep your cord to the minimum length needed.

Voltage matters, so if you're running 240v, you can carry more power through a smaller wire vs a lower voltage as the lower voltage needs more amps to get the same power.

Ugly's Electrical Reference has a chart for how much current a given conductor can carry.

 

[Bert_]

I made a couple cords with #10 for a guy who does some millwright work. Said he would only run a 160A miller inverter welder.

Last I saw he had made a couple splitters. Now he plugs in a welder, plasma cutter and a iron worker with a 5hp motor. I've seen 2 being used at the same time. Sometimes on 100' of cord. He's never had an issue.

 

[Wamsutta]

This is the one I got for my machine.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Show pics of the wagon!!!

 

[hobie18]

Friend calls us up to help install window air conditioner
We get it all built in. Boards, oanels, aesled. He goes to plug it in. To an extension cord. I remove air conditioner from window. (No one below.)

 

[Bert_]

Friend calls us up to help install window air conditioner
We get it all built in. Boards, oanels, aesled. He goes to plug it in. To an extension cord. I remove air conditioner from window. (No one below.)

I generally say "no extension cords" too.

But usually the issue usually isn't the cord itself or the size of the wire. It's the loose fitting ends on the cord. That's what gets hot.

I'll say it again a #10 cord is all you need for most welders.

 

[mikedodge]

#10 or 8 is most common size. I made mine out of a cord I picked up at some point by changing the ends to the welder style.
A lot of trailer extension cords are #10 and you can usually find them for pretty good prices but don't forget to add in the cost of the plug and receptacle to add to it.

 

[hobie18]

I generally say "no extension cords" too.

But usually the issue usually isn't the cord itself or the size of the wire. It's the loose fitting ends on the cord. That's what gets hot.

I'll say it again a #10 cord is all you need for most welders.

Exactly!
The connections are where a lot of "smaller" contact happens. Add in all the issues from wire bending near the end, making the connections to the end fittings, and corrosion. That is why gold, not silver, is used in some applications. And on a lot of other ones (stereo) where it is a money maker.
While a over-sized should work, even better than some built-in, I just stay with the rule. Shoot, who knows what is in the wall. Tube and Knob!