Making a Whip ( plug extension) For a Plasma Cutter

[Leeboy20]

I have a Cut 50 plasma cutter
http://www.uwelding.com/catalog/item/5311312/5291399.htm

What im wondering, is right now i have a 110V plug on it because my compressor is 240V and i only have a single 240V outlet. The unit has its own 110/240 converter built in, so i was wondering if i could wire a female 110V plug on one end, then on the other end my 240V plug. ( i figured if i had a small thick cut, i could run off the full air tank temporary) Is this possible, and what gauge wire would be the right one to use ? And plugs?

 

[rsanter]

I have a dual voltage unit as well and that is exactly what I do
I made an 'adapter' cord that is only for the plasma.
its about a foot long, 10 or 12 ga if I remember right.
one end goes to where the mill plgs in and the other matches the plasma

bob

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

What is your input power requirement at 240v? What style 120v plug do you currently have on it? Making a whip is easily possible but to do it right and make it safe you need to make sure everything is rated for your highest possible draw.

Just guessing based on how we wired up our Miller 625 I think you'll want to use 10ga with a 50A 240v plug, you'll also want to have a 50A 120v plug on the other end of the whip, reason for this is the machine can draw much more power running on 240v and if you're using a 20A 120v plug on it right now you may damage or possibly melt the plug under the higher load at 240v.

The best way to do it would be to add a second 240v plug if you have the capacity on the circuit, or add a 30A 240v circuit and wire everything with 10ga.

 

[mrb]

the safest way to do this so that no other 120v load could accidentaly get plugged into 240v is to put some sort of oddball plug (L7-30 or something) on the plasma cutter and make two adapters, one with a 5-15 male and oddball female, and one with your 240v plug and oddball female.

 

[Leeboy20]

Cool, i think i will go to the electrical store and look for a 50Amp 120 plug, thats my easiest and quickest option for now ..Thanks

 

[Leeboy20]

the safest way to do this so that no other 120v load could accidentaly get plugged into 240v is to put some sort of oddball plug (L7-30 or something) on the plasma cutter and make two adapters, one with a 5-15 male and oddball female, and one with your 240v plug and oddball female.

 

[Norcal]

Cool, i think i will go to the electrical store and look for a 50Amp 120 plug, thats my easiest and quickest option for now ..Thanks

A 50A 125V rated device is not going to be a easy thing to find, special order most likely......

 

[socapots]

i recently looked into this as well for my cutter.
Ended up just cutting the end off and putting the 220 right on it.
Main reasons were the saftey part of it. I am normally the only one working in the shop. But the last thing i would want is some unsuspecting plugging a 120 into a 220 plug..
that would ****..

 

[bradweingartner]

It's a 50A plasma cutter but it does not draw 50amps from the mains. FYI.

I have a similar unit. My solution was to use twist-lock connectors with two whips. No other twist lock equipment so no chance of mixing up 120v and 240v.

 

[Leeboy20]

Sounds like the right solution, so, what amp plugs do i need?

 

[Leeboy20]

I just got back form a electrical contractors store, and he told me , making a whip is illegal and not code....So, i left empty handed.