Stupid Welder Question

[zendriver]

Setting up (finally) the 120/240 inverter Mig welder, but in the instructions, says "do not use extension cord"

Understand wire capacity and just plugging it in to anything, but is there reason a welder can't be used with an extension cord, provided it's appropriate for the amperage?

All my outlets are in the corner of the garage and I'm not sure where I want to extend them to, just yet. Tthe supplied cords are like 8'.

Maybe something like this? ( I could get by with 25')

https://www.amazon.com/PrimeWeld-Welder-Extension-Rated-Welding/dp/B0B7CLXH5V/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Bert_]

I wouldn't hesitate to use a cord.

Could probably use a lighter cord that that one. I don't know the specs for your machine but most will run on #10.

#6 is a big heavy cord that's not fun to drag around.

 

[speed bump]

On transformer machines they don't run very well if the input voltage is too low. On an inverter it shouldn't care as long as the voltage drop isn't crazy out of range.

Personally I run almost all of my welders on extension cords and on a bunch of my machines I made the power cord permanently longer.

 

[u2slow]

Standard disclaimer verbage.

#12 or #10 cord is likely sufficient. The machine's user manual should have circuit wire-size guidelines.

 

[micromind]

Provided the wire size is big enough to operate the welder, there is no difference between a cable run inside of a wall and an extension cord run across the floor.

The 'do not use an extension cord' was put there by the legal department in an effort to reduce corporate liability in case some joker uses a 16/3 cord for a 40 amp load and burns down his garage.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a cord for my 230V welder. It's a heavy cord but no difference than what is run from the box to the outlet.

 

[GaryM909]

I have run 120' of #10 using a Miller XMT304 or a Miller Multimatic 220 with absolutely no problems.

 

[larry_g]

This question comes up quite a bit and I always think, is anyone thinking about the length and gauge of wire already in the wall between the receptacle and the breaker box? Do you have 6 gauge wire in the wall, and what is the length? If you have 10 gauge in the wall then a 10 gauge extension cord should suffice. If you have 6 gauge in the wall then 6 gauge in the extension should be reasonable. Then factor in what the machine is pulling and what voltage your running 120 or 240.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[PCustoms]

I've run a 120v MIG off a 100' 12 gage cord and would again if the need arose.

I originally setup my 240v MIG to run off a 50' cord, as the rental didn't have 240v in the garage. The cord was either from Amazon or eBay, pretty sure US made and at least 8 gage.

EDIT: searched my email for fun, it was from eBay and 8awg.

 

[zendriver]

This question comes up quite a bit and I always think, is anyone thinking about the length and gauge of wire already in the wall between the receptacle and the breaker box? Do you have 6 gauge wire in the wall, and what is the length? If you have 10 gauge in the wall then a 10 gauge extension cord should suffice. If you have 6 gauge in the wall then 6 gauge in the extension should be reasonable. Then factor in what the machine is pulling and what voltage your running 120 or 240.

lg
no neat sig line

Good point.

The 240v is less than a foot, 120v 4' or so.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I've used a 25' extension cord made from 10/3 SO cord for many years for my 240V MIG and TIG welders. This year I finally added an outdoor welder receptacle on the front of the garage so I didn't need the extension for stuff I'm doing just outside the garage.

 

[Wamsutta]

I use a 25 ft 6AWG extension cord with my machine. I used an extension cord calculator to arrive at that size.

 

[PCustoms]

I use a 25 ft 6AWG extension cord with my machine. I used an extension cord calculator to arrive at that size.

Damn, what machine you running?

What wire is in your walls?

 

[Wamsutta]

Damn, what machine you running?

What wire is in your walls?

I think what I did is I overrated it for when I get a larger machine someday and a larger breaker box. Right now my 240V receptacle is on a 20A breaker and I think the wire size to that receptacle is only 12AWG. I want to eventually run 8AWG wires on a 100A breaker to any 240V receptacles.

I wanted to get a Miller 255 but after doing some calculations, I determined that my 20A breaker is not big enough for that machine.

I had to settle for a Miller 220 for the 20A breaker feeding the 240V receptacle.

 

[Bert_]

I think what I did is I overrated it for when I get a larger machine someday and a larger breaker box. Right now my 240V receptacle is on a 20A breaker and I think the wire size to that receptacle is only 12AWG. I want to eventually run 8AWG wires on a 100A breaker to any 240V receptacles.

I wanted to get a Miller 255 but after doing some calculations, I determined that my 20A breaker is not big enough for that machine.

I had to settle for a Miller 220 for the 20A breaker feeding the 240V receptacle.

Any machine that plugs into a 50A receptacle will run on #8. Anything bigger than that is going to be hardwired. No 100A breakers on regular plugs

 

[Jswain]

They put that in there because some people are ridiculous and would have 300ft of the cheapest dollar store block heater cord plugged into it.

Be reasonable and you will be fine, run the shortest cord you need. 12awg is probably fine, what welder do you have?

I used to take the wire off my machines (140-180amps machines) and wire them up with a 12awg cord long enough to get the welder to anywhere in the shop.

 

[oldmachinenut]

I have had a 50 foot 10 gauge cord on my
Millermatic 130 cart for years and the welder work fine.

 

[Wamsutta]

Any machine that plugs into a 50A receptacle will run on #8. Anything bigger than that is going to be hardwired. No 100A breakers on regular plugs

Are you saying I can't run a 100A breaker on a 240V receptacle? Because some of transformer based machines like the Miller 252 pull in more than 50A at their max rated output.

 

[dchawk81]

****, son, I use 4 gauge for my angle grinder.

 

[Jswain]

Are you saying I can't run a 100A breaker on a 240V receptacle? Because some of transformer based machines like the Miller 252 pull in more than 50A at their max rated output.

You don't need more then a 50a breaker for a 252. Because of duty cycle you could do a lot of welding without tripping the breaker, only at the max settings and even then it would take awhile(if at all)

My precision Tig 225 draws over 100amps when set at over 200a on the machine and I can still weld with it on a 50a breaker. 60-70a would be better for the Tig but still works fine for short beads, I can do back to back 4" long beads without tripping breaker.

 

[American Locomotive]

A 10AWG cord will be fine. Regularly run my Lincoln Squarewave 200 at full power on a 10 gauge cord. No issues.

My little 125A Lincoln transformer MIG does not like extension cords though. Welds noticeably worse when running on say a 14 gauge cord.

 

[seber]

All my welders run off a six guage extension. I've been doing it that way for thirty years with no problem. Just don't use a light guage.

 

[dr_clyde]

Are you saying I can't run a 100A breaker on a 240V receptacle? Because some of transformer based machines like the Miller 252 pull in more than 50A at their max rated output.

A 50 amp circuit is more than enough for a 252. You’ll trip the thermal breakers on the machine before you pop a 50 amp circuit on a 252.

You can put a receptacle on most any size breaker you want, but your wires and the receptacle have to be rated to the breaker size.

I had a 100 amp breaker on my Syncrowave 350 and I had it hardwired in, as the only receptacles I could find were arc flash rated twist locks and they were about $500/each half.

The largest common receptacle you’ll find for a residential single phase circuit is 50 amps. Any larger than that and you’re better off hard wiring in whatever you’re running. Larger receptacles exist, but they’re absurdly expensive.

If you put a 100 amp breaker on a circuit designed for 50 amps, you could start a fire in the walls and not know it.

 

[Wamsutta]

If you put a 100 amp breaker on a circuit designed for 50 amps, you could start a fire in the walls and not know it.

What size wire would you need between the 50A breaker and the 240V outlet? Let's say the outlet is 50 ft from the breaker.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

I think what I did is I overrated it for when I get a larger machine someday and a larger breaker box. Right now my 240V receptacle is on a 20A breaker and I think the wire size to that receptacle is only 12AWG. I want to eventually run 8AWG wires on a 100A breaker to any 240V receptacles.

I wanted to get a Miller 255 but after doing some calculations, I determined that my 20A breaker is not big enough for that machine.

I had to settle for a Miller 220 for the 20A breaker feeding the 240V receptacle.

8 gauge on a 100 amps is a big no-no!

 

[Wamsutta]

8 gauge on a 100 amps is a big no-no!

OK I'm learning. I guess I don't need a 100A going to a 240V outlet. Is 50A the most an electrician will do?

 

[bb29510]

your miller 225 pulls 44 amps

 

[GarageHobbyist]

I run all of my machines on extension cords. My table is in the middle of the garage. Keep them as short as you can and a decent size.