Welder extension cord

[bretto]

I want to do some projects coming up but where I live now, there is no 220 in the garage so I want to make an extension cord to reach the dryer recepticle. What would be the proper gauge wire to use for at least 50' of cable. I am not sure of the exact amperage of the really old stick welder I have but it is a brute. Also where might be the cheapest place to get wire? I have looked at the local hardware shops but I feel I might get a cheaper price somewhere else. Anyone have a hook-up?

Thanks,
Brett

 

[RockMonkey]

I used 6 gauge, but mine's not an extension cord, it's wired directly to the fuse box. Prolly close to 50 feet though. I got raped for mine at Home Depot, I'm sure you can get it cheaper at an electrical supply place.

 

[muleskinner]

You will want #6 wire. I may have some for sale, I'm not sure on the lenth. I'll try to check this week. Call some Electical Wholesale places and get prices on #6/2 S.O. cable and P.M. me.

 

[Skyetone]

#6/2 I thought it was #6/4 four wires... Damn I'm gonna look like an idiot. I have a 20 footer I made three? years ago. I thought they called it by the guage of the wire....#6 with how many there was in the wrap.....4 am I right? I too want to make an x-long extention cord. Home depot has it... But yes it's pricey. I'd be curios about if electrical shops would sell it to a non contractor also....

 

[muleskinner]

#6/2 I thought it was #6/4 four wires... Damn I'm gonna look like an idiot. I have a 20 footer I made three? years ago. I thought they called it by the guage of the wire....#6 with how many there was in the wrap.....4 am I right? I too want to make an x-long extention cord. Home depot has it... But yes it's pricey. I'd be curios about if electrical shops would sell it to a non contractor also....

You are correct. But they don't count the ground usually, and he only needs 2 conductors and a ground.

(12/2 Romex, or house wire has 3 conductors and the same with S.E.R. cable)

 

[Get Me wired]

With SO cable there is no "ground" its just gauge/conductors.

On an extension cord the gauge depends on the load your running through it and you don't need to worry about increasing the gauge until you go over 100ft. Article 310.16 of the NEC gives you ampacities of 3 conductor cable. Basically 10 gauge is good to 30 amps & 8 gauge is good to 50 amps. So what's your welder's max amperage draw?

 

[Caleb]

With SO cable there is no "ground" its just gauge/conductors.

On an extension cord the gauge depends on the load your running through it and you don't need to worry about increasing the gauge until you go over 100ft. Article 310.16 of the NEC gives you ampacities of 3 conductor cable. Basically 10 gauge is good to 30 amps & 8 gauge is good to 50 amps. So what's your welder's max amperage draw?

most welders I believe are about <60 amps...BUT with that said have you ever ran a 220V welder on 8 gauge I have and wanna know what happened...the cord caught fire (this is because our maintenance guy was going by the code book and said it would be fine, I kept saying we should be using #6 wire) we soon after switched to #6 with no issues...

 

[Caleb]

most welders I believe are about <60 amps...BUT with that said have you ever ran a 220V welder on 8 gauge I have and wanna know what happened...the cord caught fire (this is because our maintenance guy was going by the code book and said it would be fine, I kept saying we should be using #6 wire) we soon after switched to #6 with no issues...

BTW, this was on a 30 ft cord...

 

[harkinoff]

With SO cable there is no "ground" its just gauge/conductors.

On an extension cord the gauge depends on the load your running through it and you don't need to worry about increasing the gauge until you go over 100ft. Article 310.16 of the NEC gives you ampacities of 3 conductor cable. Basically 10 gauge is good to 30 amps & 8 gauge is good to 50 amps. So what's your welder's max amperage draw?

you are suppose to use the 60 C column when the amperage is under 100 amps, you use the 75 C when over 100 amps.... just a little info...in this case, 8 is only good for 40 amps, smallest I would go is 6, since most buzz boxes are rated at 50+ amps

 

[harkinoff]

check out 110.14C , just incase you wish to argue

 

[Get Me wired]

60 Amps on 8 gauge

BTW every time I use my welder I run it on about 35 ft of 10/3 SO.

Is the dryer outlet is rated to handle something that needs a 6 gauge extension cord?
So in an effort to look at the totality of the situation lets get back to my question, Brett what amperage does you welder draw or what kind is it and we'll see if we can find out?

 

[robrocketanski]

my buddy and i went over this. at his work he uses 150' of 4 ga. we determined that the issue is where you set your welder, most of the time you under 50 amps. the welding store guy said 20' is the longest you can go and my friend is like "i use a 150' at work and its fine?" he welds fixtures and stuff (big stuff) at a greenhouse, a commercial one. they are the largest non automotive fed-ex customer in michigan.

so i think 6 is right but i would just get 4 b/c i bet the cost isn't too much more and better safe than sorry.

at the moment my welder runs off a dryer plug (30 amp i think) through about 30' of 10/3.

 

[Get Me wired]

you are suppose to use the 60 C column when the amperage is under 100 amps, you use the 75 C when over 100 amps.... just a little info...in this case, 8 is only good for 40 amps, smallest I would go is 6, since most buzz boxes are rated at 50+ amps

10 is still good to 30 Amps

 

[Get Me wired]

check out 110.14C , just incase you wish to argue

Your are correct sir.

 

[Caleb]

60 Amps on 8 gauge

BTW every time I use my welder I run it on about 35 ft of 10/3 SO.

Is the dryer outlet is rated to handle something that needs a 6 gauge extension cord?
So in an effort to look at the totality of the situation lets get back to my question, Brett what amperage does you welder draw or what kind is it and we'll see if we can find out?

Its only 60 amps at full power, most arel much less than that, that is the specs on a MM251...210 and below will all be <50 amps...

 

[Get Me wired]

From the question I think money is an issue. So just because Caleb is a better electrician that the electrician and some welders can draw 50-60 amps there is no need to build a $80-100 extension cord.

 

[Caleb]

From the question I think money is an issue. So just because Caleb is a better electrician that the electrician and some welders can draw 50-60 amps there is no need to build a $80-100 extension cord.

I dont quite understand that but I do agree, there is no need for a $$$ extension cord, but I would at least do #6 if it were me...

 

[Get Me wired]

I dont quite understand that but I do agree, there is no need for a $$$ extension cord, but I would at least do #6 if it were me...

$$$ = 55¢ per ft to $1.20 per ft

 

[Skyetone]

hey I have a few points here. LOAD Ok yea my dryer is rated around 30amps, my welder is rated at 50 amps. I run a #6 20footer all the time. How much draw does your dryer really pull durring use? I don't honestly know. But like a car you pull a large load to get the starter to crank the motor, from there it takes very little amps to run the vehicle.
The reason that the 8guage melted is because of the load it was taking from the welder. Say you are welding 1/2 plate and want to use 1/8" rod. CRANK UP the power right. Well that makes a heavier load, causing more heat in the wires. Then they ignite.
On another note though, I have a lincoln buzz box 220 Why is the cord so chinsy on that out of the factory? is it 8 or 10 guage? I'm almost positive it isn't 6 but it's not here to check.

 

[RWH]

other then the stock shody cord i love them little Lincoln tombstones 220's

their tough as nails