Extension cord for welder?

[wantacoe]

I am in the process of doing some wiring in my 40x50 building. I was going to run 4 circuits for my welder so I would always have easy access to a plug in. Considering the price for wire, conduit and fittings I am thinking of running only one circuit and using one of these 50 foot cords. Most of my welding is sheet metal work with a mig but I do sometimes do heavier arc welding. Do you think this cable is heavy enough? thanks.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/3642453244...WW5pa1PdUi6QqfUiU3mabeDw==|tkp:Bk9SR6byx-ndYg

 

[Firebrick43]

I find the brand and the way the description written makes it dubious that what what you will receive will match the claims.

 

[dogdog]

@50AMP rating I would think the cable needs to be 8 Gauge or larger.... the description says 10 Gauge in some sentence , and 8/6 claims on other.. Not too sure if that is a lost in translation problem. or. questionable marketing.

Either case you should be looking for a extension cord that is 8AWG or larger like 6AWG ( if they exist) for that amp load. you won't be able to find out unless you cut the cable and confirm. otherwise . . ..

There are some 8AWG on amazon. not sure if the plugs if the right fit when you search for 50AMP extension cord.

 

[Dig Doug]

You could also make your own…. I made mine

not sure if Pawn shops deal with cords or if they just to the recycle yard for scrap….

 

[BillK]

I made one out of SO cable for mine years ago. 6/3 SO cable is $8 a foot at Home Depot. 50 ft and the correct ends will still be cheaper than the premade one.

 

[cannuck]

I really don't trust Chinese cable to be anything even close to what it might claim to be - or able to last a decent length of time in heavy use.

For 50 Amp service, you do need 8 ga. minimum, but IMHO 6 or 4 is far preferred. You can buy the SOOW (600V) or SJOOW (300V) cable that is domestic manufacture (will be clearly printed on the cable) and safe brand name from any industrial wire or electrical wholesaler (that will also have plug and socket) and make exactly what you want. I have a lot of access to trailing cable from industrial work so my 50A welder cord is actually 4 gauge, 3 conductor, 600V and has been used and abused for almost 40 years. I will not have to replace in my lifetime (NOT something you can say about imported insulation - especially in our really cold winters).

Buying decent stuff hurts the pocket book when new, but when you compare that with the need to replace a few times over the years it becomes quite a bargain. That being said: don't sell short the value of one plug at each likely welding location. Tripping over extensions can be a right PITA and invites cord damage.

 

[u2slow]

Read your welder's user manual for circuit size guidelines.

My millermatic 211 is content on a 20A breaker and 20' #12 cord.

 

[Bert_]

#10 is a perfect size for a majority of welders. A few big welders need #8, anything bigger than that is just unnecessarily heavy and expensive.

 

[cannuck]

Read your welder's user manual for circuit size guidelines.

My millermatic 211 is content on a 20A breaker and 20' #12 cord.

I have done a LOT of welding with my 211 on 20A 10ga 120V, but you will find you are severely limited to power out, Still sufficient for light sheet metal, though. Go to 240 V and the same wire and pair of 20A breakers will let you run it flat out to full duty cycle.

The reason for big cord is that all of us don't use shiny new micro sized inverter welders. My largest transformer (CC/AC/DC Miller 250) will not run on a 50A breaker.

 

[sparky 1971]

Do you think this cable is heavy enough? thanks.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/3642453244...WW5pa1PdUi6QqfUiU3mabeDw==|tkp:Bk9SR6byx-ndYg

Yes

 

[red94chev]

It wasn't cheap but I have a 25' from Cyberweld. 8 awg wire. I think I would make my own before buying some chinese junk off Amazon.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Most of my welding is sheet metal work with a mig but I do sometimes do heavier arc welding. Do you think this cable is heavy enough? thanks.

What is the power rating for your welder ?

I would not buy that one because the outer jacket material is PVC. It will be stiff, especially in the cold and won't hold up well to oil. Not sure about moisture.

You want a cord whose jacket is rate SJOOW.

 

[theoldwizard1]

For 50 Amp service, you do need 8 ga. minimum, but IMHO 6 or 4 is far preferred. You can buy the SOOW (600V) or SJOOW (300V) cable ...

Very few welders actually pull 50A !

Read your welder's user manual for circuit size guidelines.

My millermatic 211 is content on a 20A breaker and 20' #12 cord.

If OP wants 50', I would go #10.

 

[SusKatCas]

Looks like same cord and cheaper...

VEVOR 50 ft. Heavy-Duty Outdoor Welder Extension Cord with 3 Prong 50 Amp Power Extension for Welding Machines ETL Approved 50FT50ADHJYCX0001V0 - The Home Depot

50 AMP Generator Cord. STW, 100% Copper and 10AWG/3C. These VEVOR high quality power cords are made with 6/8-gauge wires and Nema 14-50P/s2-50R. the locking connector has a threaded ring and a weather-proof

www.homedepot.com

Personally I would prefer an unknown cord from H-D to an unknown cord from eBay.

 

[MovingAlong]

... for my welder ...

... my welding is sheet metal work with a mig but I do sometimes do heavier arc welding. Do you think this cable is heavy enough? thanks.

So, you have more than one welder? Look at the requirements for each welder, should be printed on a metal plate toward the back.

What do the machines require? Not hard to size the wire after that. But don't forget to take into account your circuit run from the panel box. With a 50' cord, the circuit is 50' plus the run to the panel box... always size to your biggest load.

Also, you'll want to learn more about the jacketing materials. STW cord does not look like something I'd want in a garage.

 

[TractorJeff]

Lowes or Home Depot or Menards for a decent Cord for RV. As suggested, make your own cord. An 8 gauge should be sufficient for home use. As far as the outlet, depending on the size of the building, you may want 2 outlets utilizing 6ga cable and 50amp breakers.

 

[nadogail]

I built my 8 AWG cord from parts I bought at Home Depot, I weld with a Hobart Stickmate and run 7014 electrode set at 100 Amps.

 

[welder4956]

I made my own from 10 gage SJOOW and ends from HD. For light duty MIG welding, 10 gage is fine and you don't need 50A continuous rated capability.

 

[mrpizza]

I made one out of SO cable for mine years ago. 6/3 SO cable is $8 a foot at Home Depot. 50 ft and the correct ends will still be cheaper than the premade one.

The math isnt mathing here

That premade cable is 85 bucks, you are talking about 400 just in cable alone?

Also, i have one of these 50-foot welder extension cords. Mine has a lighted end, and it works fine.

 

[strutaeng]

Yeah, I also made my own. I have an Ironman MIG/flux-core 210 and a Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DC. I used #10 SOOW from THD with a plug and receptacle at each end. Seems like it's currently around $2/ft locally for that cable.

I've done plenty of welding on both machines' medium settings without any issues. The only drawback is the female receptacle is kinda bulky.

 

[u2slow]

I have done a LOT of welding with my 211 on 20A 10ga 120V, but you will find you are severely limited to power out, Still sufficient for light sheet metal, though. Go to 240 V and the same wire and pair of 20A breakers will let you run it flat out to full duty cycle.

I do. I meant 20A @ 240V.

 

[cannuck]

The only drawback is the female receptacle is kinda bulky.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to walk away from a straight line like that??!!

 

[dogdog]

It wasn't cheap but I have a 25' from Cyberweld. 8 awg wire. I think I would make my own before buying some chinese junk off Amazon.

Just make sure that you are not blind sighted by.... The cable is advertise as welding cable for 50AMP max load. It will handle that for a short period of time which is what most welding cables do... but if OP uses one of those BuzzBox stick welders that really needs the 50Amp.. then that cable probably would not work well. Just saying know what you are getting into. The quality of that cable is not in question... just the gauge and advertised marketing ****.

*I have the Vevor castor just shipped to me and they are fine quality... really heavy duty... 2400lb constant load ...

just saying....

 

[Bert_]

Just make sure that you are not blind sighted by.... The cable is advertise as welding cable for 50AMP max load. It will handle that for a short period of time which is what most welding cables do... but if OP uses one of those BuzzBox stick welders that really needs the 50Amp.. then that cable probably would not work well. Just saying know what you are getting into. The quality of that cable is not in question... just the gauge and advertised marketing ****.

*I have the Vevor castor just shipped to me and they are fine quality... really heavy duty... 2400lb constant load ...

just saying....

Most of the common stick welders run on #10 wire. The Lincoln tombstone I think can run on #12 because the duty cycle isn't that long.

 

[Bert_]

I made up some welder cords for a neighbor. First was just a couple extensions. Then wanted 2 female receptacles so he wouldn't have to keep switching the plugs for welder and plasma. I made it from #10.

Last I've seen he made more himself with two 50 amp receptacles and then he put a 120v receptacle on it too (that's it's own set of problems). So now he plugs in a inverter welder, a plasma cutter, iron worker, and a pancake air compressor into that #10 cord. He says one thing running at a time but I've seen multiple being used before. I've been there and felt the cord and it's not even warm.

 

[dogdog]

Most of the common stick welders run on #10 wire. The Lincoln tombstone I think can run on #12 because the duty cycle isn't that long.

No idea last I check it was 40amp requirement. Only beef I have with that vevor cable is the advertisement tends to be a bit misleading 50amp… other wise it’s a good quality cable

 

[welder4956]

Most of the common stick welders run on #10 wire. The Lincoln tombstone I think can run on #12 because the duty cycle isn't that long.

Lincoln owners manual for the AC 225 recommends 10 gage wire up to 100 ft, 8 gage for runs over 100 ft. That would assume 225 amps at 20% duty cycle. If you are running 125-130 amps or less with 1/8" or smaller electrode, 12 gage wire would work but not recommended.

 

[PugetDude]

In my younger and poorer days I ran my old Lincoln Tombstone off an extension cord made out of 12-2 Romex and a 6-50 range outlet from Goodwill. Wired the other end into the 30 amp dryer breaker in the panel.
Not the best idea, but it worked; never tripped the breaker or started the cord on fire, even when I had it dialed up to 225 and was cutting steel with soaking wet 7018 rod.

Ah, those were the days.

Now I run my Miller 211 on a 30 amp 220v breaker and have a 15' blue (allegedly 50 amp) extension cord I bought on Amazon- lets me reach anywhere in the garage. 12AWG, very flexible, doesn't get warm in use. No issues with power, even with the welder dialed up as far as the auto set will go.
Last summer I ran two 10 lb spools of .030
Solid wire on 110V with a 25 foot 12gage extension cord doing ornamental iron projects. Never blew the 20 amp breaker it was plugged into. Lincoln 135

Unless you are welding commercially or do a lot of heavy plate fab, you probably don't need anything near 50amps.