extension lead size

[Badger1bear]

Hi guys I have a welding job which is 150ft away from my 12kva generator. I have a fronius trans steel 2200 that doesn't mind running off of long extension leads (according to vids on YouTube) would I be right in thinking a 6mm cable with 16amp commando plugs would cut the mustard or do I need something beefier ?

getting the power source closer to the job is not an option

Thanks for any advice given

 

[bigegg]

Hi guys I have a welding job which is 150ft away from my 12kva generator. I have a fronius trans steel 2200 that doesn't mind running off of long extension leads (according to vids on YouTube) would I be right in thinking a 6mm cable with 16amp commando plugs would cut the mustard or do I need something beefier ?

getting the power source closer to the job is not an option

Thanks for any advice given

10mm isn't *that* much more expensive.

 

[Westfield-builder]

10.0mm will be a sod to terminate in 16amp plugs and sockets, maybe go up to 32amp.

 

[brightspark]

6.0mm horn7 rn flex will carry 39amps cant remember what the voltage drop is over 50 meters and cant find my calculator at the mo

 

[Westfield-builder]

And 6.00mm will be easier to terminate

 

[knighty]

online calculator says....

running at 4kw (fronius spec says welder is 3.8kw max)
45m of cable (150ft ish)
240v supply

4mm cable is 9.24v drop (200watts heat into cable)
6mm is 6.18v drop (137watts heat into cable)
10mm is 3.75v drop (82watts heat into cable)

welder should be fine with any of them, and the cable shouldn't heat up at all even with 4mm

I'd go with minimum 6mm... because why not

depending on price maybe go with 10mm but only if it's not much more expensive and if it'll come in handy in the future... like if you want to run a few things at the end of a long lead?

 

[Badger1bear]

Excellent advice guys as always, Thankyou

 

[Badger1bear]

Hi guys just a quick follow up question.
I went for the 6mm arctic flex with a couple of 16amp connectors. Now the job is done, having an extension lead 50mtrs long is a little unwieldy to say the least. Would I find a drop in power if I fitted other commando plugs in the 50 mtr run ? Let’s say have three extension leads with 16amp plugs but if I needed a long run of 50mtrs again and I joined them all together would there be any drop in voltage/amps etc ??

 

[knighty]

Hi guys just a quick follow up question.
I went for the 6mm arctic flex with a couple of 16amp connectors. Now the job is done, having an extension lead 50mtrs long is a little unwieldy to say the least. Would I find a drop in power if I fitted other commando plugs in the 50 mtr run ? Let’s say have three extension leads with 16amp plugs but if I needed a long run of 50mtrs again and I joined them all together would there be any drop in voltage/amps etc ??

technically there'll be a voltage drop... but not enough to make a difference

only problem you'll have is if the plugs/sockets are damaged or have rusty pins etc.