Extension cord for 110 welder

Hey all,

So...I'm trying to weld with my Lincoln Pro-mig 135. The thing works great when plugged in to an outlet (no extension cord), but now I'm ~75' from the outlet and need to buy/build an extension cord. What's the best bet? I'm not opposed to building a temporary cord out of house wiring (I need to wire my house anyway...so it will truly be temporary, and I don't mind buying the wire because I'll use it anyway), but I'm not sure if the plugs are the weak point or...???

I also figure I'll need this in the future, on occason. So if building a permanent cord is the way to go, I'll do that. I just need to know what to build it out of.

Anybody who's done some welding out away from the outlet a bit...what's your experience?

Maybe I should borrow a generator?

Worst case, I have to move the project closer to the outlet...and that's a hassle...a big hassle, but may be the best alternative.

Thanks!
Clem

i've ran my Mac Tools branded Miller 110 volt welder on a 100 foot extension cord without a problem.. i don't know how big the cord is, but it's just one of the cheap orange things you can buy at places like Wal Mart for a few bucks.

10 gauge 75-100' cord to keep your voltage drop less than 5% over the distance.

choosing extension cord size

I run my Lincoln 125 on a 25 foot homemade cord. The previous homeowner made the cord, it looks like 12 AWG orange extension cord with a yellow screw-terminal 3prong plug on one end and a 4 gang outlet box on the other. Never noticed a difference from plugging into the wall.

I'd buy the heaviest AWG extension cord you can afford for the length and you should be good. Even after you wire the house, the whole point of a 110v rig is portability to odd places, so the cord could come in handy.

I built my own extension cord for my 220v welder. I don't remember what the gauge is, but my electrician father in law helped me with it. It's a rubber-sheathed type of cable that is quite easy to deal with, which is good when the thing is about 3/4" in diameter House wire would be unruly for sure.

10 ga. for 110 oughta work for that distance

Keith: that cable sounds most likely 8 ga. , good choice FIL

hooo...yeah...This one's going to cost me.

I've been looking at the cost of cord/cable/etc on the intertubeneterwebs.

However, it never hurts to have a good, heavy extension cord handy.

Clem

Oh...wait. I just realized...I need 10/2 wire to make this cord, right? 110v needs 10/2...and 220 needs 10/3, right?

That won't be quite so costly.

Clem

I've done 100 ft. Harbor Freight extensions, and all I got was a warm wire. (90w)

I payed a fortune for my 220 extension, wish it was 110.

120vac uses 2 conductor plus ground - one hot, one neutral, one ground.
240vac for a power tool like a welder also uses 2 conductor plus ground - two hots and a ground.
240vac for something like a stove or dryer would use 3 conductor plus ground - two hots, a neutral and a ground. This is because a stove or dryer needs both 120vac (for the controls) and 240vac (for the heating element.)
Of course, you wouldn't use an extension cord for a stove or dryer but that's the difference in the wiring requirements.

Get the biggest cord you can find, not just the biggest you can afford. Just because it CAN work doesn't mean that the unit will be very happy.

Nearly wrecked an air compressor trying to run it on an undersized extension cord. It "worked"...

N Sperlo wrote: I've done 100 ft. Harbor Freight extensions, and all I got was a warm wire. (90w)

Print that on a T-shirt FTW

It will have a lot to do with what "heat" setting you are trying to use the welder at. My Lincoln 135 does not like my 12 ga 100 foot for anything but the two low heat settings. 10 ga and I am good to go.

Yeah...I'm at the top heat setting. "D" as it were.

Worst welding I ever did, and that's saying something, was with a Hobart Handler on the end of an extension cord. In the wind. It was all I had available and I had to use it to get home. I am very grateful I had it there. Fortunately, it was just exhaust tubing. Or once was.

It was related to this incident:

behind the motel 1K Mi from home.

I use a 10ga extension cord. I had no idea I needed anything like that until I couldn't get much penetration with the 14ga I was trying to use. I haven't had any problems since!

My little MIG only has 4 heat settings and I've used an extension cord to bring it down enough to weld 22ga.

If you want full power, a good, heavy cord like the 10ga one mentioned is needed.

Shawn

Trans_Maro wrote: My little MIG only has 4 heat settings and I've used an extension cord to bring it down enough to weld 22ga. If you want full power, a good, heavy cord like the 10ga one mentioned is needed. Shawn

using an extension cord to bring it down low enough to keep from burning through light material...now that's smart. I likely wouldn't have thought of that. Good job.

Its already been said, but I will repeat it. You will need a cable with a 10 gage conductor. I deal with a lot of battery chargers, that are fundamentally similar to welders, and under sized extension cords are the root of many problems. Sometimes expensive problems.

Oh, right, I forgot to hotlink a photo.

Some SJ 10/3 would work.. as this is a garage setting.. I would suggest SJOW so it has an oil and weather resistant outer cover. Just add some good hubble ends and you should be good to go

I used to power my "garage" in L.A. (a 40' shipping/storage container about 125' from the outlet) with a 100' 12/3 extension cord. The last 25' was some 12/3 SJ that I hard-wired in to an outlet box in the container. I could use my 110v flux core for light stuff, but if I tried to crank it up to full heat it wouldn't do it.

I had the same issue and just went to my welding supply store and bought an extension cord from there. It was pricey but worth it. No issues

Looks like Home Depot has a Ridgid brand 10 awg, 100' extension cord for $133. I'll probably grab that and give it a whirl tonight.

Thanks everyone!

Clem