Electrical extension
 

Hi:

I have a Hobart Handler 180 welding machine. Some times I need to fix things around our property which I can't bring them to the welder such as our gate which is about 100 feet away from my nearest 50 amp outlet. I was thinking to make a 100' extension cord since I don't think the stores off the shelves one can handle the amperage, but I was not sure as to what gauge and type of wire to use. I think the 50 amp breaker to my 50 amp outlet in my shop is 10 gauge wire but of course the distance between them is not 100'.
Does an 8 gauge outdoor wire will do the job? Can I just put the wire in a conduit and connected to an outdoor type outlet for future use?

Thanks

Re: Electrical extension
 

Here's a calculator I've used for things like running 50 amp service to an RV pad. Plug in your numbers and it will tell you what you need:

http://www.paigewire.com/pumpWireCal...ookieSupport=1

Re: Electrical extension
 

your running 10 ga wire to a 50 amp outlet on a 50 amp breaker?
10 ga wire is good for 30 amps in a residential application
your hobart 180 will run on a 30 amp breaker, i'd change out the breaker asap
it may work for now or it may go up in smoke and take your shop with it

your hobart 180 is rated at 20 amps according to the specs
http://www.hobartwelders.com/pdf/spe...andler_180.pdf
you could run a 12 ga cord out there, but use 10 ga to be safe if you change the breaker to 30 amp
if you throw a 20 amp breaker in there you could buy a 12 ga extension cord

Re: Electrical extension
 

The wiring was done be an electrician whom I gave the welder mannual to. We even had city inspect the wiring as part or permit process. May be it is a 8 gauge. I should look at it again.

Re: Electrical extension
 

Depending temperature rating of the breaker that the wire is attached to, 8s could potentially work from the breaker to the plug in your garage. In my 25 years as a wireman though, 10 awg are good for 30 amp, 8 awg is for 40, 6 awg is for 50 amps. Your welder should have a minimum breaker rating stated within the manual or on the nameplate on the unit. We only load a breaker to 80% of its rated capacity. If your welder in fact can pull 30 amps when its turned up, a 30 amp breaker would be too small. I suspect that there may be a 40 amp breaker (40 x .80 = 32 amps) in which case, #8 would be fine on a 40 amp breaker. 50 amp breaker should have 6 awg.

Generally speaking without doing the voltage drop calcs, we usually will upsize one wire size for every 100' of distance. This really does depend on the real world draw of your welder at the distance you are using it. If you're welding 1/2" plate at 100' away from the source, the extension cord will be much bigger than if you're just welding sheetmetal.

We usually buy pre made 50' 6-4 temp power cords from Whitecap, Grainger or the like. They are expensive and I think that they are only 50' each due to the weight.

TBH, you could probably find a portable generator that could run your welder for about the same cost as the cable. It might even be more useful.

If you're willing to bury the conduit to protect it from damage, that might be your best bet. If it were mine, Id run a minimum of #6 in a 1" conduit for a 40 amp breaker. 50 amp breaker - I'd bump it to #4 awg.

Re: Electrical extension
 

I have a 30ft extension cord for mine made from 8/3 so cord.. it works fine..my welder also has a 30 ft 8/3 so cord on it as well..but I agree if you want to use it all around a generator would be the best way to go

Re: Electrical extension
 

you can run any sized cord you want, bigger is more money
according to hobart specs; the welder is 20 amp, voltage drop does not figure in below 100 ft
i'd use a #10 cord and change the breaker to a 30 amp

Re: Electrical extension
 

If the welder has a 3 wire plug, for an extension cord, you could purchase a standard 120V 12ga extension cord and put the proper ends on it. If it is a 4 wire, probably custom cord time. If a 10ga cord isn't much more get that as this is one case where bigger will be a bit better due to less voltage loss when you are running the welder near full power.

A exception exists in the NEC for welding circuits, allowing them to be underwired since most welding operations are intermittent and allow plenty of time for the wires to cool off between uses. So you may well have a 10ga wire on a 50A circuit and be code legal. Should be labeled as a welding outlet. If you sell the place, make sure it is labeled as a welding circuit so they don't plug in the industrial strength clothes dryer and start a fire when the wires melt.

Re: Electrical extension
 

A 180 welder is rated at ~25A so it needs a 30A (10AWG cable) breaker, not 50. W/ 100' of extension, maybe #8 cable but its pretty heavy.

Re: Electrical extension
 

i bought a lincoln 120v flux core welder for just those circumstances. worked just fine on my gates/etc...

Re: Electrical extension
 

maybe you know more than hobart, but i've posted the specs for this welder twice
according to hobart the 180 is rated at 20 amps, 18.75 amps if you convert 4.5 kva using 240 volts

http://www.hobartwelders.com/pdf/spe...andler_180.pdf