Buying a extension cord for Lincoln 225 welder-what gaug

[andy r]

Sometimes I need to pull the welder outside of the machine shed a little more to adequately get the job done. Using a Lincoln 225 buzz box. What would be the recommended gauge of electric wire for the extension cord? I assume 10 gauge would be enough. How about 12 gauge? This typically would not be continuous welding. Thanks.

 

[Eagle Beagle]

More than 60 foot run, use 8 guage. You can use 12 as your nuteral and ground.

Beagle

 

[andy r]

Forgot to mention I was probably just going to find one on ebay of the correct gauge.

 

[Russ from MN]

I think they require 50 amps, so that would be no 6 copper, that's what I have!

 

[MarkB_MI]

Those welders all use a 50 amp plug, although most of the time won't draw that. The gauge is going to be dependent on how long your run is, but the nominal gauge for 50 amps is AWG 6.. I certainly would not use 12 gauge cable, but you could probably get away with 8 gauge for a short run, say 25 feet. Anything longer than I would want at least 6 gauge.

Don't go by the gauge of the factory power cord, it will probably be undersized even for its short length.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Mark,
What the code book says you should use and what I use is 50 ft of 10g 30 amp breaker to my welder plug-in and a 25 ft 10g extension cord.
It works for me. I never go over 120 amp setting on my Lincoln 225 amp buzz box.



This has worked for me for 20 years .. Never tripped a 30 amp breaker. The breaker protects the wire.
. I made my own extension cord.

 

[cjunrau]

I would buy welding cable instead. I often find 20ft booster cables in 2 gauge on sale for cheap. Gives me 20 ft more cable. That way the buzz box stays inside. Way easier and cheaper to ad 25 ft or more to the cables than buy welder plugs. The cable that comes with welder is too small anyway. I replace it with heavier and use the thin at the end.

 

[kencombs]

There are special rules for welders due to their intermittent nature. I use a similar setup for mine. Just match the gauge and breaker and youll be fine. I dont have the nec reference handy but it can be found with your favorite search engine

 

[RJKeith]

10 ga would be pushing it. I would use #8 SO cord for 50 feet or less. You will need to go to an Electrical Supply Store to find it, and they may have to order it.

 

[retired farmer]

If you measure todays 12 gauge wire you will find it is actually 14 gauge. Need to go to 10 gauge to get the 12. Found that out a couple days ago.I have two extension cords but I don't remember what they are without looking.

 

[John T]

andy R HERES THE DEAL as I best recall from my days as a Power Distribution Engineer, but NO warranty mind you.

What you can

Get by with
What is the rated ampacity of the conductors used
What is the distance
At what welding current and for how long (duty cycle considerations) will you weld.

NOTE Duty cycle and diversity (such as say welding) can per the NEC (as I best recall) in certain limited cases
allow the use of smaller conductors

What amount of Line Voltage Drop is acceptable
Line Voltage Drop is a function of 1) Distance, 2) Current, 3) Wire Gauge

SAFETY NOTE the overcurrent protection device (fuse or breaker) is to protect the CONDUCTORS so if you use smaller wire size the breaker accordingly !!!!!!!!! IE if you use say 8 Gauge Wire use a 40 NOT 50 Amp Breaker !!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL MAKES A DIFFERENCE and is needed to answer your good question

THAT ALL BEING SAID

I have seen people who weld at low currents for short periods use 10 gauge AND IT WORKED (even if NOT NEC proper)

HOWEVER to A) Reduce line voltage drop B) Match the conductors ampacity to the outlets and plugs typically used C) Provide for the capacity just in case you needed to weld at higher currents for longer times with no worry D) To err on the side of safety

If I were the engineer who made the call I would (still subject to distance, IE may be even bigger) and I recommend using 6 Gauge 50 Amp rated Copper conductor extension cord EVEN IF SURE (subject to current and time) 10 Gauge or 8 BETTER would work PS I would NOT use 10 myself !!!!!!!!

As always, where fire and life safety are concerned you may want to at least consider consulting with professional engineers and electricians and the NEC versus what's posted here especially by lay persons and even myself being long retired and not up to date on the NEC

Many typical AC Buzz Box Welders use 50 amp rated plugs and outlets and if straight 240 (NO 120) you ONLY would need Two Hots plus a safety Equipment Grounding Conductor (which can be smaller then the tow hots)

There ya go its YOUR money YOUR choice YOUR risk to wire as you well please. All I can do is provide my recommendations so YOU make the call and please be safe

Best Wishes, God Bless Yall

John T Live in the RV at the Eureka casino parking Lot dry camped in Mesquite Nevada

 

[dr sportster]

You may want to get longer secondary leads instead Then you don't have to move the unit. Otherwise a piece of 6 awg should work fine.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

(quoted from post at 07:48:33 10/28/21) If you measure todays 12 gauge wire you will find it is actually 14 gauge. Need to go to 10 gauge to get the 12. Found that out a couple days ago.I have two extension cords but I don't remember what they are without looking.

How does that work? Wire gauge is a very specific measurement and very tightly regulated. Someone selling undersize cable would surely not get away with it for long? One fire, and lawyers and regulatory bodies would bring the pain.

 

[DoubleO7]

(quoted from post at 12:42:24 10/28/21)

(quoted from post at 07:48:33 10/28/21) If you measure todays 12 gauge wire you will find it is actually 14 gauge. Need to go to 10 gauge to get the 12. Found that out a couple days ago.I have two extension cords but I don't remember what they are without looking.

How does that work? Wire gauge is a very specific measurement and very tightly regulated. Someone selling undersize cable would surely not get away with it for long? One fire, and lawyers and regulatory bodies would bring the pain.

12ga stranded, squeeze caliper jaws together = 14ga

 

[MARK ROBKE]

I actually have an extension cord I made 30yrs ago; it is probably 6 or 8 gauge. On a side note 2 or 3 times in the past at my work I actually used heavy duty(same gauge as the leads) jumper cables to extend my leads. I stuck a 3/8 bolt in each plug receptacle end for the leads, and clamped the jumpers on to them, and then to the leads. It worked fine for a few small welds. Quick and easy! Mark.

 

[old]

10 gauge is no where near enough since it needs a 50 amp supply of power. You need 8 gauge or even better if you use 6 gauge but 8 is the bear minim

 

[buickanddeere]

#8 will do ok