Anyone found a decent 16A extension lead for their welder?

[RichGooding]

Hi all,
New to the forum- just wondering if anyone has found a decent quality 16A extension lead for their welder- preferably one that won't easily melt or cost the earth?
Thanks,
Rich

 

[brightspark]

Hi all,
New to the forum- just wondering if anyone has found a decent quality 16A extension lead for their welder- preferably one that won't easily melt or cost the earth?
Thanks,
Rich

make up your own using 2.5mm 3 core flex and use a decent plug and socket . most leads are only 1.5mm

 

[skotl]

^^ that ^^

I buy 2.5mm arctic cable and make my own

For example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/2-5mm²-Ex...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JNKH7ZGY1440VFEK9REF

 

[Luke]

Okay you pay a slight premium, but you can buy a ready-made 2.5mm^2 16A extension lead.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/carroll-m...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=COmMwLjAsdMCFY0S0wodHBoNUQ

 

[Hood]

Personally I would use SY cable as it has a bit of protection but I suppose it depends where you will be using it.
Think 2.5mm 3 core SY can be got about £1.30/m

 

[zx9]

Hi all,
New to the forum- just wondering if anyone has found a decent quality 16A extension lead for their welder- preferably one that won't easily melt or cost the earth?
Thanks,
Rich

I suppose the big question is how long? And the big caveat is don't use it whilst it is still coiled.
I have a 10M 16A 2,5mm no name extension that I bought from one of the local electrical wholesalers years ago, runs my Parweld TIG but I very rarely go over 120 / 150 amp and not for long 'cos I am a rap with a silent C welder.

 

[8ob]

Someone on here pointed us at 16amp leads on offer at Aldi for £25 ish . I went and got one, pleasantly surprised at the quality and at how supple the lead is, its a chunky bit of cable. https://www.aldi.ie/caravan-25m-extension-cable/p/076702135741300

Edit it was @mrfuzzy http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/16amp-25mtr-2-5mm2-extension-lead-24-99-aldi.72226/

Bob

 

[Dave-Measom]

Bought one of these at xmas (about as exciting as it gets at my age!). Chose it as it had heat resistant rubber cable and some decent connectors.

https://www.toughleads.co.uk/collec...strial-plug-to-16a-socket?variant=34480266831

 

[wristpin]

Aldi had a 25m one last week for £24.99 - both in store and on line.

 

[dannyp]

my prefered choice for heavy duity extension leads is HO7RN-F its proper tough cabel, SY sounds good in theory but in rality its gets grubby and prikely then rusty.

artic cabel is cheep but doset take heavy abuse like rubber

 

[Richard.]

2.5mm rubber flex cable is my preferred choice.
I don't like SY for extensions unless really needed. It always drags its **** about in twists

 

[Johnseat]

I use 2.5 SY cable as the lightweight armour sleeving helps with the poor environments you tend to use the 2.5 extension cables in.

 

[normspanners]

+ 1 for the aldi one looks like 2.5mm arctic cable
I use 4mm rubber coz I have rolls of it.

 

[Hitch]

We keep a mix of 2.5 and 4.0 artic cable in the van, Its a bit of overkill, for the 16a stuff, but we run long lead sometimes, and the plugs and sockets get swapped about to suit the supply available. (32a on our genny) We run all machines with a 32a plug on them, then just use a fly lead or 16a(M) to 32a(F) or 13a(M) to 32a(F)

For a dedicated 16a, id make or buy one from 2.5 artic cable. (Assuming you are talking a sensible length)

 

[armalites]

You can buy H07 heavy duty rubber in 2.5mm for around £1 per metre

 

[skotl]

You can buy H07 heavy duty rubber in 2.5mm for around £1 per metre

10m ready made H07 extension for £24: https://www.criticalpowersupplies.c...exible-cable?gclid=COuIr7Dhs9MCFQcQ0wodt74Fhg

(I'd still make my own )

 

[armalites]

(I'd still make my own )

Me too, I'd make mine 11m as I like to go the extra metre

 

[skotl]

Me too, I'd make mine 11m as I like to go the extra metre

'specially as it's 1.09361 x those who only go the extra yard lazy gits!

 

[RichGooding]

Thanks for your advice- appreciate it. Looked at the Aldi one, nice cable but connectors looked a bit flimsy, particular for someone like me who seems to break anything and everything!

In the end I went for this one, 15m rubber lead for £23. Turned up today and I'm chuffed with it, as the connectors seem far stronger. https://www.toughleads.co.uk/collec...strial-plug-to-16a-socket?variant=32408580996

I'm sure it's a bit biased as they only sell rubber leads, but I found this comparison of artic vs rubber vs SY cables interesting on their site https://www.toughleads.co.uk/pages/what-makes-our-leads-so-special

Rich

 

[brightspark]

a rubber lead will be fine . very flexible doesn't cut easily and don't go hard in cold weather