Welding Power cord 8/3 or 6/3
- Thread starter Snacktime
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The longer the cord the more amp/volt drop/loss you will have. If you plan on having to use the welder that far away from the plug then I would up the AWG size personally.
fj40charles
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your little welder is not going to pull 40 amps. I'd say 20amps max at 230v.
I'd use 10 gauge cord (10/3) for what you're wanting. 8/3, or 6/3 is way overkill and waste of money.
I'd use 10 gauge cord (10/3) for what you're wanting. 8/3, or 6/3 is way overkill and waste of money.
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Say what?
fj40charles
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Corrected my typo.
10 gauge is good for 30amps at 230v continuous duty. You could use it for more amperage if you factor in NEC article 630.
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fj40charles
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I would measure the input power at the receptacle to determine if the voltage loss is an issue. We have 245v coming out of our receptacle so voltage loss is a non issue for us.
fj40charles
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I would measure the input power at the receptacle to determine if the voltage loss is an issue. We have 245v coming out of our receptacle so voltage loss is a non issue for us.
Voltage Drop Calculator
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Nice tool! Will be ordering 8/3 as I know I will have this cord till the end of time. I may be not using the cord to the max but I may at some point use the cord for something else too!
Thanks again!
Figure this, an 8/3 cord at 100 feet will handle 60 amps all day long. 6/3 is overkill as one already ssaid, 10/3 is good for 50 ft but it will get warm.
Did you meter while there was a load on or just in the socket (no load)?
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an 8/3 100 feet long will handle 60 amps all day?
good one! you a plumber by chance? This is just downright scary advice. Checking a fricking amperage table in your code book, then a voltage drop table.
#8 awg TW or RW 90 is rated for 45 amps I believe. So now your loading a 45 amp cable to 60 amps? You gonna pay for his house after he burns it down?
Maybe if it was 400 feet long, then the voltage drop would be so great he'd only be able to pull half the power.
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I use a 75 ft 8/3 for my miller 252. I've never welded anything better than 3/8" with it. But it didnt get warm at all.
Sure, how far up was the dial turned? You probably wont have any problems medium duty when your only running maybe 20 or 30 amps. What about when your trying to burn some thick steel, or cut some steel and have it cranked all the way up? I think your gonna do that eventually.
The risk lies in full heat (amperage) and overheating the cord to the point where the insulation melts off it.
Though, you likely have it on a 40 amp breaker mr brokenparts where a 45 amp cable is protected. In which case the breaker will go before the cable is damaged.
If your running #8 (good for 45 amps) or worse yet #10 (good for 30 amps) on a 60 amp breaker, at full load you could burn the insulation off the cable and start a fire, or worse yet, you could burn off the jacket and have a bare conductor on a piece of ungrounded steel (think sheet of plate metal on wooden table or saw horses). Then your buddy or his buddies girlfriends cousins childs friends sister... leans against it with damp or sweaty arms or clothes.
And it might not be the welder thats the problem. Someone may use the cord for a kiln to heat ceramics or glass, or a range or oven for powder coating at a later date, and not even think about checking to see what size wire it, as long as the cord ends fit.
Point is, getting away with unsafe tools is one thing, recommending it to others is another. If you can spend $800-$2K on a decent welder, spend the extra $50-200 over the cost of cheap stuff, on a good welding cable as well.
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fj40charles
SILVER Star
Read up on NEC article 630.
Being a canadian Im more familiar with the CEC than NEC.
But, (and I havent found the rule for it online yet) it seems like the rule specifies the derating of the conductors to a receptacle based on the duty cycle of the welder so long as the receptacle is only ever used for that specific welder and no other equipment.
Having not seen the rule, can you tell me if it also specifies the derating of electrical cords to have smaller rated conductors then what the receptacle ends are rated for?
If so I may be over sizing the cables (dramatically at that)!
But, (and I havent found the rule for it online yet) it seems like the rule specifies the derating of the conductors to a receptacle based on the duty cycle of the welder so long as the receptacle is only ever used for that specific welder and no other equipment.
Having not seen the rule, can you tell me if it also specifies the derating of electrical cords to have smaller rated conductors then what the receptacle ends are rated for?
If so I may be over sizing the cables (dramatically at that)!
the nec deals with building wiring. that is to say... permently installed in a building . extention cords and other plug in equipment i belive it's the "appliance manufactures assoc." ( i could be wrong since it's been many years since i last looked and it could be some other quasi governing group at this point) extention cords are used in "open air" an as such can handle greater loads than a wire concealed inside of a wall. that along with the welder's duty cycle , in effect limiting the load - 8/3 for me
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I bought 100' 6/3 SOOW 600v cable a few years back....(got it for around $120) it has been great and have had no issues
I run a 250 miller with a 50 amp
Probably overkill as I havent weld anything thicker than 1/2".
I run a 250 miller with a 50 amp
Probably overkill as I havent weld anything thicker than 1/2".
In the CEC "open air" means suspended in the air, like in the case of overhead wiring. Multiple conductors wrapped in an outer jacket is not defined as open/free air.
The actual terminology is: "conductors in free air" and "conductors in raceway or cable" Then there is of course deratings, i.e. more than three conductors, higher than 30 degree celsius ambient temperature, cable tray, and distance deratings.
