Building a 220v extention cord for a welder.
Thread Starter
0.0 BAR
Joined: Feb 2005
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Building a 220v extention cord for a welder.
What size wire would you use and what type? I've looked online and found a few people using 8/3 and 10/3. I want it to be about 50ft and it's powering a ching chong meow tig :P
0.5 BAR
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 130
Re: Building a 220v extention cord for a welder.
Built mine with standard 220V home wire, it is quite stiff.
I rolled it up in loop so that i unfold it, it looks like a big telephone wire.
It is far from best, but it works. I dont unroll it often, if you're going to move often dont use this, lining on this wire is quite thin, it might puncture and short.
Good luck.
I rolled it up in loop so that i unfold it, it looks like a big telephone wire.
It is far from best, but it works. I dont unroll it often, if you're going to move often dont use this, lining on this wire is quite thin, it might puncture and short.
Good luck.
0.0 BAR
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 0
Re: Building a 220v extention cord for a welder.
Originally Posted by Ludique
Built mine with standard 220V home wire, it is quite stiff.
I rolled it up in loop so that i unfold it, it looks like a big telephone wire.
It is far from best, but it works. I dont unroll it often, if you're going to move often dont use this, lining on this wire is quite thin, it might puncture and short.
Good luck.
I rolled it up in loop so that i unfold it, it looks like a big telephone wire.
It is far from best, but it works. I dont unroll it often, if you're going to move often dont use this, lining on this wire is quite thin, it might puncture and short.
Good luck.
0.0 BAR
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 0
Re: Building a 220v extention cord for a welder.
The chinese TIG inverters don't draw ----. Look at the cord coming out of it. Its like 14ga. I use a 50 ft 12ga extension on mine but its just to do exhaust on the cars so I am only in the 60-75 amp range. Whats that draw? 10amps?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Re: Building a 220v extention cord for a welder.
Originally Posted by CSaddict
The chinese TIG inverters don't draw ----. Look at the cord coming out of it. Its like 14ga. I use a 50 ft 12ga extension on mine but its just to do exhaust on the cars so I am only in the 60-75 amp range. Whats that draw? 10amps?
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,693
From: Your mom's panties
Re: Building a 220v extention cord for a welder.
I'd go with a #10 SO cord if you plan on using the cord for a bigger welder. 25A max depending on who makes it and certain conditions so there's room to grow. SO cord is that tacky rubber ---- you usually find outdoor cords are made from, like those Frogskin 110V extension cords.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,811
Re: Building a 220v extention cord for a welder.
if i have to have one i use my 40' 4/4/4/4 cable i made up for my big honda generator that plugs into the house circuit breaker. Way overkill for the 160amp welder but u know...
honestly copper is so expencive id say make do without one for now lol! #10 is perfect for what you need, but if you're going to be upgrading the box later on and don't want to hack up wires later, use #8.
if you use your meow meow on 110 every now and then like i do, the lower voltage drop on the #8 can be the differance between tripping breakers! when im plasma cutting on 110 i can throw about any 15amp breaker ive seen on a 25' #12 extension cable, but it normally won't on a 25' #10.
honestly copper is so expencive id say make do without one for now lol! #10 is perfect for what you need, but if you're going to be upgrading the box later on and don't want to hack up wires later, use #8.
if you use your meow meow on 110 every now and then like i do, the lower voltage drop on the #8 can be the differance between tripping breakers! when im plasma cutting on 110 i can throw about any 15amp breaker ive seen on a 25' #12 extension cable, but it normally won't on a 25' #10.
