New to forum and question about extension lead

[Kevaaq]

Hi Everyone,

I have been browsing the forum for a while and this is my first post. I have no experience of welding but want to get started. I have been lucky enough to acquire on long term loan a nearly brand new condition Clarke 135TE. It is from a friend who bought it on offer a few years ago to have a go at learning to weld. He had a quick play and decided welding wasn't for him. To stop it cluttering up his shed I have now got it for as long as I like.

I have a VW camper that will need some welding in the near future so I want to learn how to weld safely first. Apart from time my first stumbling block is a suitable electricity supply. I have a long back garden and any welding on the van will be at the bottom of it. I need to get an extension lead of about 45m to reach it. The guy in Machine mart said that it is not recommended to use any extension lead especially one that long as the voltage drop could cause the welder to overheat and/or be otherwise damaged. Can i use an extension and if so what type of cable should I make it from?

I am keen to start learning but can't get going at the moment

Kev

 

[keith19]

Here's a calculator:
That's only at a domestic 13 amps to start with. The volt drop is about 4%, but in reality for welding you should go up at least a size in wire diameter beyond the 2.5 mm they advise, which is the thinnest possible.
But thicker cable will be very costly, especially if it's something like 4 or 6 mm armoured, run along underground.
Welding on long extensions is not advised, as it can cause all kinds of problems. I have seen it done with limited success, and occasionally in some hair-raising ways

 

[madkayaker]

for a temperary extention lead that length you would need 4mm sy cable. but fixed wireing carryied out by a compitant sparkey would be my surgestion

 

[the snooper]

i would have thought that 2.5 would be sufficient given the fact that kev wont be welding no where near full power and the voltage drop is not that great, it is probably within uk power production spec which i think is -6% +10% which lmeans the power companies can supply power as low as 216.2 volts and as high as 235 volts

so it is possible that your welder could be powered straight from the mains distribution board and still only get 216.2 volts although i doubt it would go that low but it is obviously a voltage that wouldnt damage your equipment if they are able to supply it

 

[madkayaker]

its worth remebering that therfe will be a drop to the socket he is starting from and that that cdalculator don't calculate flex properly.

 

[the snooper]

i still think it will be in spec and fine to weld up a camper

 

[octo0072000]

extension leads

i would use caravan extension leads they are 16 amp outdoor rated with the blue plugs and use the blug plugs on the welder as well more contact area in those plugs than the 13 amp ones use amp plug at the house end you can buy a converter for that as well use the bay of flea

two of these would do nicley (NOTE THIS ONE IS HEAVY DUTY I USE ONE OF THESE FOR THE HOUSE TO SHED)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/25M-CARAVAN-2...1787?pt=UK_Cables_Hookups&hash=item35b2a78d2b

for welder end

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/16-AMP-BLUE-P...ervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item3cb65235fa

use normal 13 amp plug on house end
or better still get a 16amp blue socket fitted outside the house they are water proof then you wont get volts drop

 

[Paul.]

When carrying out maintenance work in food factories I regularly run a 140 amp inverter arc come tig set from a screwfix 50 mtr extension lead without any noticeable drop in performance, just make sure its fully unwound it should be ok, its not like you will be production welding off it.

 

[Kevaaq]

Thanks everyone,

The caravan lead with blue plugs sounds like a good idea, but would obviously need a couple joined together. Before I go down the extension lead route I will get a quote to wire up the garage at the bottom of the garden. Maybe get a blue socket put in there as well. Unfortunately I think it will be quite a while before I can even switch the welder on if I do that. I thought it would be easy just to get hold of the welder and start having a go, but in reality quite a lot of thought and planning has to go into it for safety reasons and for a reasonable chance of success. BTW I think I posted in the wrong section of the forum. I meant to post in the learning to weld bit, sorry about that. I will be posting there quite a bit when I get set-up. Thanks for the advice so far.

Kev

 

[rtbcomp]

I'd still get the welder and practice nearer the house before starting on the vehicle anyway.

 

[Kevaaq]

I could weld nearer the house, but worried about the neighbours complaining. I will be practising a lot before welding the van. I am going to try getting hold of some old body panels to play with.

Kev

 

[octo0072000]

find a local small body shop and explain what you want it for they may help you they get pested by the local scrap men all the time also find a fabfication place in your area for a few beer token you should get some 2 mm to pratice on 2mm is better when learning 1mm later one

 

[bunnymofo]

how can the neighbors complain ? when my neighbors complain i tell them to **** off

 

[chunkolini]

have used my 180amp Butters welder on a 50m extension with no problems.
I learned about unreeling them years back, I had two fan heaters plugged into an unrealed extension..Suck it and see.
Practice some where easy to access at first, the front room is great.
Chunko'.

 

[the snooper]

I had two fan heaters plugged into an unrealed extension..Suck it and see.
Chunko'.

catch fire did it chunko

 

[Kevaaq]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I will give it a go next week when I have some time off.

Kev