electrical question

[Badger1bear]

hi guys, I have reservations on something and I would like your input.

Someone I work for from time to time wants to run a 14mtr extension lead to a 250 amp welder. Am I being over cautious or is this too long for an extension lead with a welder of that size at the end of it ? he pays the money at the end of the day, its his welder so if anything goes wrong its down to him

Just like to hear your input on the matter

 

[shenion]

As along as the lead has heavy enough wire to do it without losing too much power, it should work fine.

 

[Badger1bear]

He sent me a text stating it was arctic cable 2.5mm, means nowt to me

is that big enough for the job ?

 

[Robotstar5]

2.5mm arctic cable can carry 25Amps, depends what input current his welder takes?

 

[500e]

25A max not on reel would prefer bigger Rubber cable

 

[Badger1bear]

thanks for that guys much appreciated

 

[mike 109444]

If it's got a 13amp plug at the end then max you will do is 13amps into the welder!
If it's you using the welder just look over your shoulder from time to time to see if the extension is smoking.........

 

[Badger1bear]

If it's got a 13amp plug at the end then max you will do is 13amps into the welder!
If it's you using the welder just look over your shoulder from time to time to see if the extension is smoking.........

I am certainly not getting envolved with this fiasco job

 

[piman]

Hello Badger,

is the welder 240v or 415 volt, that would make a difference. If it is, as suggested, on a 13A plug then there is no danger of the extension lead getting too hot, that's barely half the load carrying capability of the cable but the capacity of the welder will be very restricted.

Alec

 

[Badger1bear]

It's 240 Alec, I have seen compressors and cement mixers run on long extension leads and they have overheated and burned out. My thoughts were the welder might go the same way ?

When I use my welder I try to plug straight in from the welder to the supply or use a short extension lead to reach.

We will see if anything happens

 

[Julian_P]

If it's you using the welder just look over your shoulder from time to time to see if the extension is smoking.........

Indeed, and given the intermittent nature of welding you have plenty of time to allow it to cool off - just like cheap welders with tight duty cycles

The thing (as has been said) I find with these cables is to make sure they are totally unwound and laid out not laid out in a heap.

Julian

 

[piman]

Hello Badger,

the extension cable size needs to factor the voltage drop due to it's length, motor driven devices, in particular, do not like reduced voltage and run at higher currents. With a welder it depends on what setting you are using it on, if low down in it's range then it should be OK. Transformer welder's output voltage will tend to drop off as the current is increased if the extension is causing a voltage drop, I really don't know about inverter welders as I don't know their internal workings?

Alec

 

[normspanners]

You will get a volt drop on ANY cable it is just how much, due to the size (dia) and length of the cable and amps drawn of course, it generally will not damage a welder coz it will only be able to use what it is given by the cable. It is a resistive load but amotor relies on the voltage to maintain the revs it wants and needs to achieve. If you think of it like water in a long hose the water can only flow as fast as the hose will let it due to the friction of the hose BUT you will eventually get water out of the end of it, the way to get more water out is to turn the pressure up (IE voltage in electrical terms)to overcome the friction or you get a larger dia hose(biggger cable), the only thing with a small hose is, if you were filling a large tank and it didnt matter it would just take along time, or if there was one person drinking it they would be ok but if there was a large amount of people required and needed to be drinking from it, they would start to die due to thirst!. The welder is a bit like the large tank or a group of people it will work but slowly /not as well. but the motor is similar to the large group of people on a hot day that NEED that water and will start to die, but quickly, because they cannot get enough out of the small hose(cable)