Welder extension cords

ProbablyBroke

ProbablyBroke

does not torque to spec
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
Location
Reidsville
I've been borrowing a homemade 50-foot 10/3 extension cord from a friend for a while. Never had any issues with it. I run a Hobart Handler 187, an L-tec 750 plasma cutter and a buzz box stick machine with it. Any reason to buy an 8/3 cord for my uses? I gotta bite the bullet on a cord soon. Thanks in advance.
 
My extension cord for my Esab 161 on 220v is a buriable 6/3 that's about 55ft long. Works very well actually and I use it around the house and also when I travel to do welding repairs. I put a typical oven plug on one end and the correct plug for my welder on the other. Same one I used at @ckruzer house.
 
I would look for 8ga or 6ga service cord.

It has rubber outer jacket over the fine stranded wires so it’s flexible and easy to roll up.

I do have an ext cord that’s solid wire, and I always roll it up, and roll it out, careful not to kink it.
 
S/o or s/j cable will make yoir life much easier.
But will cost most up front.

I think the 187 only draw like 22a iirc?

If so. A 10/3 Will be fine. No info on the plasma
 
So since we are talking about it, this is what I use. 50'
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Thoughts? Never had a problem running my spectrum 375 or millermatic 175.
 
I've got a homemade extension cord built from buried underground power cord that was originally a 220 service for temp power on a construction site . Been rocking it for a decade.
 
I bought my 8ga 25ft extension cord for my welder from some company online. Fancy lighted plugs, pretty heavy duty water resistant insulation. Even has my damn name all down the cord. But it was fairly cheap under $40 range. I thought about buying them for gifts for people and putting interesting statements on them.

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tsconver said:
Who did you buy it from?
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Random eBay company. Shop around Bc they are priced all over the place. But it was cheaper than building one 2-1/2 years ago when I picked it up
 
Same for me it was cheaper on amazon to buy it than build one. Also got the lighted plug but no name on it. Bought a 20' should have bought a 50'.
 
I like the plug with a handle on it,does it work well? Dont have a pic but he made one with a double box on the end. One side for the welder the other for the grinder or what ever 120.
 
I ended up buying a 50' 10/3 cable off eBay for 82$. Haven't seen the quality yet, but just the 50' of cable would have been 100$ at lowes. I'm going to be running this from my 4 prong stove plug in the kitchen to my 3 prong welder in the garage. Is there a way to convert 4 prong to 3 prong without buying the adapter dogbone.
 
ProbablyBroke said:
I've been borrowing a homemade 50-foot 10/3 extension cord from a friend for a while. Never had any issues with it. I run a Hobart Handler 187, an L-tec 750 plasma cutter and a buzz box stick machine with it. Any reason to buy an 8/3 cord for my uses? I gotta bite the bullet on a cord soon. Thanks in advance.
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hey unless you're in a super hurry, soon I'm gonna get power routed to the garage and then I won't have to use this 200ft cord I made. It's 8/4 stupid heavy freaking wire and i made it into extension cord for my 110 welder (yes I did lol, gotta have that full 20amp and the closest outlet is 130ft away LOL) . Then I have a 100ft 10/3 running my 220 compressor and plasma cutter and it works both at the same time perfectly fine for long time now so I don't see why you need 8/3
 
ProbablyBroke said:
I'm going to be running this from my 4 prong stove plug in the kitchen to my 3 prong welder in the garage. Is there a way to convert 4 prong to 3 prong without buying the adapter dogbone.
Click to expand...

If you do it "right" you can save @jeepinmatt a trip.

Ill post more on a keyboard later, unless @shawn or @doc or other sparkys wanna jump in.
In short there is no "proper" way to do that, but there is a better way. Just make darn sure that your cord is used in your application only as a variables could change (in the wall) and make a situation scary.

(Im thinking sub panel bond difference )
 
Ron said:
If you do it "right" you can save @jeepinmatt a trip.

Ill post more on a keyboard later, unless @shawn or @doc or other sparkys wanna jump in.
In short there is no "proper" way to do that, but there is a better way. Just make darn sure that your cord is used in your application only as a variables could change (in the wall) and make a situation scary.

(Im thinking sub panel bond difference )
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I'm not touching that. Have I done it? Maybe. Am I going to tell you how? Fuck no.
 
A wise man knows when to head advice.
I'm not wise but I am learning.
 
ProbablyBroke said:
I ended up buying a 50' 10/3 cable off eBay for 82$. Haven't seen the quality yet, but just the 50' of cable would have been 100$ at lowes. I'm going to be running this from my 4 prong stove plug in the kitchen to my 3 prong welder in the garage. Is there a way to convert 4 prong to 3 prong without buying the adapter dogbone.
Click to expand...

Cut one end off of the extension cord and wire this or similar on. https://m.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-50-Amp-125-250-Volt-Black-4-Wire-Grounding-Plug/4068225
You just won't have a neutral wire to hook up in the connector, which isn't needed anyway since the welder is 3 wire 220V.
 
Thats the answer I was looking for. Y'all got me worried I'm gonna burn this place down. What do I risk by not running a neutral ? Ignorance is bliss until your mess is on fire.
 
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