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Welder power cord

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77crewcab

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I need a new, longer power cord for my 220v welder. Something about 20-30 feet long. Can I just buy the wiring at Home Depot or does it have to be something different? If romex type will work what kind do I need to buy? An extension cord is really what I am needing to make. Any ideas?
 
There is a formula somehere that tells you what size wire for a given length for a certain amp rating. Make sure the wire isn't too small or you'll either start a fire by over heating the wiring or your machine will keep stopping on you when the wiring overheats
 
PM readymix, he built one for his welder. His is only 110 but the cord he built is about 100 ft long and heavy duty and has 20A plugs on it.

He might be busy with all the hurricane **** going on but he knows 'trons and stuff.

I remember him saying he got everything at homedepot but it was not cheap

Dik
 
So I need 10/3 and male/female plug ends and thats it? I am trying to make the cord long enough to use the dryer outlet and not have to add another plug in the garage. I will unplug the dryer and plug in the welder when needed. Any problems with this idea. Also any problems using a 50' 10/3 extension cord and replacing the ends like mentioned in that link?
 
You need to make sure of what AMP service your dryer plug is. Also, i would buy thicker wire 8-3 instead of 10-3. It never hurts to have a larger wire than required but it is a bad idea to have less wire than you think you need. The price difference for the wire isn't going to be much to worry about.
 
Okay so I'll buy the 8/3, the dryer is on a double 30A breaker, the plug says 30A-125/250V. The plug has two prongs that are like / \ and the third look like a backward L. Looks like the male plug in the linked thread. Sound like it will work?
 
Yep, that will work. You may find that you'll need two different AMP rating plugs for your cord as the dryer probably takes a different one than your welder does.
 
I have to replace the plug on the welder anyway, so will get on e to match. "Someone" drove over it. I don't know who it could have been.:doah:
 
DO NOT replace the plug on your welder with one that isn't the correct AMP rating for your welder. The reason i say this is because someone could potentially plug it into a service that is greater than the machine is safely capable of running and then you could blow the circuit board in the welder. The different rating plugs have different termination to prevent from plugging into the wrong AMP circuit.
 
Nope replacing it with the same kind as pictured, thats whats on it, just um smashed. No worries same style plug as origional.
 
4X4HIGH said:
DO NOT replace the plug on your welder with one that isn't the correct AMP rating for your welder. The reason i say this is because someone could potentially plug it into a service that is greater than the machine is safely capable of running and then you could blow the circuit board in the welder. The different rating plugs have different termination to prevent from plugging into the wrong AMP circuit.
Click to expand...

I may be misreading this and I'm not trying to throw stones so please don't take this the wrong way. The plug rating is a limit of what the plug was designed to handle and pass the amperage and voltage through to the attached cable.

The welder will only draw what is needed to operate. All wiring on the entire circuit (end to end - circuit breaker to welder) must be able to deliver what the welder needs to have on full power operation. Lower settings = less amperage draw on the circuit.

It's like hooking a radio directly up to your truck battery. The battery is capable of delivering hundreds of amps. The radio will only draw 1 amp.

The 10/3 is fine for your application.

Here's a couple of links: http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

http://www.djsociety.org/Wire.htm
 
Yeah thats my power cord in the link a ways up. I wanted to buy 10/3 wire, but they were out of the flexible stuff so i went with the 8/3. Buy the ends that match your plugs and you'll be good. For a 50' cord i would go with 10/3 I think to ensure good flow over the long distance. I use my dryer plug as well. You will be fine with that circuit. My 175 Lincoln has a mox requirement of 20 amps according to the book so just about any 220 circuit should be up to that.
 
Went and looked today and the total for everything will be about $80 plus tax. Thats for 8/3, and a plug for each end. I am not counting the cost of the replacement plug for the welder. 10.3 and 8/3 were only one penny per foot difference.
 
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