Ground cable size?

[TraderMark]

Thanks to all the responses on my "worm" post I've just about eliminated that problem. Better metal prep, closer attention to air movement around the weld and a few adjustments to the MM200 have given some nice looking welds.

But.... I happened to notice the other day when I was welding with the HH 187 at work that it has a ground cable the same size as my MM200.

I'd wondered a couple times if the ground cable on the 200 was a bit small but I always forgot about it as soon as I struck the next arc.
Yeah, I suffer from CRS at times.

So what size cable SHOULD a MM200 have?

 

[Todd727]

Welding Cable

The leads on an arc welder should be the same size as each other.

On the MIG, the work lead is usually not any longer than the MIG cable, which normally maxes out at 25'. Remember when sizing cable, that you add the two leads to come up with the distance. So, a 25' MIG gun and 25' work lead would have you enter the charts at 50'.

Found this in one of Miller's manuals: Miller Cable Recommendation

I imagine they installed a #3 10' cable on your MM200 which would be correct.

 

[Shield Arc]

The leads on an arc welder should be the same size as each other.

That's not necessarily true. I'd say at least 95% of people I know who stick weld have a smaller, (whip) for the stinger lead, anywhere from 10 feet long to 20-feet long. I've read where a smaller stinger lead can have ill effects on machines with arc force. It doesn't seem to have any effect on my V350-Pro.

 

[TraderMark]

Thanks for the info Todd.
I'll check when I get home this afternoon.
I did notice that the ground calble and clamp get extremely hot, even when welding light material like 3/16 and 1/4 FB and tubing. And the clamp is a good clamp, one of the brass or bronze, some kind of alloy, and not the cheap, thin, plated ones. So I don't think it's my clamp.

Mark

 

[Todd727]

That's not necessarily true. I'd say at least 95% of people I know who stick weld have a smaller, (whip) for the stinger lead, anywhere from 10 feet long to 20-feet long. I've read where a smaller stinger lead can have ill effects on machines with arc force. It doesn't seem to have any effect on my V350-Pro.

Good point, but that is just a relatively short section for easier handling of the stinger. My point was that both leads are equally important and there isn't a "ground lead" in the same sense that there is an electrical ground of a smaller gauge than the hot and neutral.

 

[rcowan]

Bigger is better.

RC

Thanks to all the responses on my "worm" post I've just about eliminated that problem. Better metal prep, closer attention to air movement around the weld and a few adjustments to the MM200 have given some nice looking welds.

But.... I happened to notice the other day when I was welding with the HH 187 at work that it has a ground cable the same size as my MM200.

I'd wondered a couple times if the ground cable on the 200 was a bit small but I always forgot about it as soon as I struck the next arc.
Yeah, I suffer from CRS at times.

So what size cable SHOULD a MM200 have?

 

[CJONE]

Thanks for the info Todd.
I'll check when I get home this afternoon.
I did notice that the ground calble and clamp get extremely hot, even when welding light material like 3/16 and 1/4 FB and tubing. And the clamp is a good clamp, one of the brass or bronze, some kind of alloy, and not the cheap, thin, plated ones. So I don't think it's my clamp.

Mark

Check the connection between the cable and clamp, when this happens they are usually loose or corroded. CJ

 

[pat32rf]

1/2" rebar is better than anything smaller......