Cheap DIY welder extension cable

[LAW]

so i was about to buy 50 feet of bulk 10/3 cable at lowes toady at 1.90$ a foot... 95$ for just cable
then i stumbled by these 50 foot 10/3 extension cords for 55$

so i got one of these for 16$ to plug in where the a/c in the garage is

and the other end is wired in such a way that i can have 110/220 (11$ for the plug)

id post wiring info... but i dont want to be responsible for someone killing themselves

and i gotta share a pic of my new baby!

 

[Brian McVickers]

Great new welder!

You probably already know this but just be sure that your plugging into a large enought circuit. If your welder is 220v it probably needs a 50A circuit so don't just plug into your clothes dryer plug, it's only 30A!!

I'm in the middle of a welding 101 class and it's top of mind! Can't wait to see what you make!

Brian

 

[goodtimes]

Miller makes a good machine...I'm very happy with my MM210.

I don't know what the amp draw is on your machine, but make sure that the "extension cord" is up to the task (10/3 should be fine).

 

[BigAl]

and the other end is wired in such a way that i can have 110/220 (11$ for the plug)

id post wiring info... but i dont want to be responsible for someone killing themselves

That is a great idea.

 

[LAW]

Great new welder!

You probably already know this but just be sure that your plugging into a large enought circuit. If your welder is 220v it probably needs a 50A circuit so don't just plug into your clothes dryer plug, it's only 30A!!

I'm in the middle of a welding 101 class and it's top of mind! Can't wait to see what you make!

Brian

i think its only a 20 amp welder going to a 50 amp outlet.. i was told the cord was overkill for that welder

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

wow that is killer.. I spent about $75 for my 10/3 at the wire supply house.. A 50 amp is too high though for a 10/3, it will melt the wire before it triggers the fuse. I had extensive discussion with an electrician about this at the time.. I would probably go with a 30 amp or so...

 

[devinsixtyseven]

...Now you can build a welding table for that bad boy

The 100V pigtail is a great idea. (You're not concerned about not having a separate "neutral" path for the 100V vs sharing the ground line for the 220V? I know it works and why but...)

-Sean

 

[BigAl]

...You're not concerned about not having a separate "neutral" path for the 100V vs sharing the ground line for the 220V? I know it works and why but...)

-Sean

I'll bite, what's the problem? Where is the "separate neutral path", I can't get my head around this.

 

[lowenbrau]

I'll bite, what's the problem? Where is the "separate neutral path", I can't get my head around this.

The ground wire is not supposed to carry currrent except in a fault situation. In some places the ground and neutral are only allowed to be connected at the service entrance. In this application the install breaks all kinds of codes but will work fine. Just remember that when you pinch the cord on your grinder that is connected to that 15 amp outlet you are going to get 50amps worth of sparks and melting plastic before the circuit trips.:yikes: Keep a fire extinguisher handy and delete this thread before you call the insurance company.

 

[chet]

so what about using 4 conductor wire run to a stove outlet? no not my real stove outlet! I have a stove outlet wired into my shop to handle the amps from my compressor. I unplug the compressor when I use the welder. with a 4 conductor could I have a proper 120V outlet on my welder cart as well as power for the welder?

The bad thing with electrical is knowing just enough to kill yourself! (like me!)

 

[goodtimes]

You still have no protection for the circuit (other than the 50 amp breaker---or whatever size breaker you are using). But using the 4 conductor cable will indeed give you the proper neutral (which is exactly why they do it...for the 120v control circuit...which is generally fused in the stove).

Oh, and I did steal my stove circuit to power my welder and plazma cutter. Gas stove, yet they ran 230v/50a to it....

 

[LAW]

i know its kinda dangerous with the 120 volt pigtail.. its only plugged in while supervised.. if it wasn't i would do it right

i may have been mistaken about the 50 amp outlet.. the socket is rated for 50 amps, but the only thing plugged into it is a wall a/c unit

but hey... i gotta live up the the name sparky somehow