Can I put on a longer cord?

[handirifle]

I have a pair of Lincoln 140HD, 120v MIG units. I run them often on 100' 10ga extension cords. In fact, I have run them MANY times on 400'-600' of 10 ga extension cords. When we use this much extension cord, we use a 30amp circuit/breaker. Yes, there is some voltage drop (measured 108 volts at 600' on this 30 amp circuit while running the Lincoln on its high power setting with slow wire feed), but the cords and equipment do not get abnormally hot from the resistance since we are using high quality plugs and cords.

The Lincolns are rated to draw 2000 watts at full power which is 83% of a 20 amp circuit (watts/volts=amps) which is right at the limit of a 20 amp breaker before it trips since modern breakers (ex. Square D) fault/trip at about 80% of their rated capacity. For all of my work bench outlets, I switched to 25 AMP breakers so I can draw a full 20 amps before the breaker trips which is expecially important/helpful for the chop saw that is rated at 2400 watts under full load.

If I were to run it to a 100ft or more, I would definately move up to a 10ga cord. Wow, 600ft is a LONG extension cord, heavy too I bet.

lostcause,
You might have a point there. I have seen some 25ft 12ga cords at the big box stores too. IF I do make it a permaant power cord, I will reroute the cord inside the unit. Currently it comes out the front, and it's a PITA cause the cord is short already, and not coming out the back limits even further how far away from my work I can go.

I looked and mine is 14ga, but a very stiff insualtion on it.

Thanks

 

[SPYDERLK]

I replaced the 6' 12/2 cord on my Miller 210 with 25' of 10/2 SO cord and a new plug the day after I got it home.

That will work Great for home use, but in commercial use OSHA Frowns on it.. I know of a welder sent in for warranty repair where the owner replaced the OEM cord to a longer one. Welder was repaired under warranty, but the cord was replace to the OEM cord length as a billed item...

Considering that he went up in size for the moderate extension, that is ignorance personified and should be contested.
larry

 

[Cyclone Jake]

Mr Crab, WTH ?

I was thinking the same thing, WTH? Must not know the difference between AC and DC power.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Yes, my vote goes for an extension cord. There should be no problems as long as you wire it up properly. IF you think you may have a heavier welder in your future, go with 8 or 6 gauge wire...It won't hurt and at that length, it won't break you.

 

[kennyd]

IF you think you may have a heavier welder in your future, go with 8 or 6 gauge wire...It won't hurt and at that length, it won't break you.

BUT a heavier welder would probably be 220 volts, and require different plugs.

 

[handirifle]

Yea it would be a 220v and use an entirely different circuit. I will most likely get an old Lincoln stick welder, cause it's what I can afford. When I do that, I'll buy some very long cables to work with, cause it will be too heavy to move around anyway.

 

[Chilly807]

I bought 25' of 10/3 SJTW and added a 50 amp plug on each end for my 220v welder extension cords. No reason you couldn't use 120v plugs if you only wanted to buy the wire once.

Sean

 

[handirifle]

I bought 25' of 10/3 SJTW and added a 50 amp plug on each end for my 220v welder extension cords. No reason you couldn't use 120v plugs if you only wanted to buy the wire once.

Sean

On this welder it's only black, white and green wires, so it will be 12/2 or 10/2 but I seriously doubt I'd find a 110v plug that would handle 10ga wires.

 

[Todd NE WY]

On this welder it's only black, white and green wires, so it will be 12/2 or 10/2 but I seriously doubt I'd find a 110v plug that would handle 10ga wires.

Actually Home Depot sells some that not only handle the 10 ga(Just barely) but light up with different colors to let you know if the circuit is wired properly. I just had to buy a set to repair a 10 ga extension cord that was a snow plowing causuallty.

Todd

 

[davygp38]

Yes, my vote goes for an extension cord. There should be no problems as long as you wire it up properly. IF you think you may have a heavier welder in your future, go with 8 or 6 gage wire...It won't hurt and at that length, it won't break you.

I made my own 30' extension cord, out of 6ga 3 wire service cord. I did this for a couple reasons. Number 1, is the fact that I could not find an extension cord that was 6 gage. Number 2 is that I had a couple of dryer plugs on hand, ( this type of plug was what the shop was already wired for, so I stuck with them.) Number 3, I can use this cord to hard wire the 50 amp outlets, on my new shop addition. I am convinced that to get the most out of my welder, or plasma cutter, I want the 6ga. So in my opinion, get the largest cord you can. Even if it is impractical to have a 100' 6 ga cord,get, or make a 50' cord, and if you have to get closer, then step down to a smaller ga cord. The closer you get to your work, with no voltage drop the better.:thumbsup: Just my two cents.