What diameter welding cable

[MrFluffy]

Hi, quick easy one to answer (if you know!), what diameter welding cable should I be buying for a 375 amp arc set?
Ive bought a 400amp pod, and Im going to use the arc facility on my boc tig, but it never came with the arc cables so I have to make some up. And as usual Ill have to buy it in the uk and get it shipped...

 

[Archie]

75mm^2. At least, that's what's on my MIG.

EDIT: How much do you need? I've got a couple of lengths going spare.

 

[MrFluffy]

Enough to go from the welder to the pod, ive already got a earth lead on it from the tig side of things...

 

[3Rs]

It would be a good idea, if you told us the length of cable that you require, the Thickness of wire.
This is important because for every 2 meters your amps drop, if your welding heavy metal you will require thick cable, as your slim cable will only melt. and your holder/stinger. will become to hot to handle. Personaly I would be going for 35mm cable with about 2-3 meters in length.

 

[shenion]

If all else fails, read the manual that came with the welder

Mine came with this table:

Uses AWG sizes, but you would need to convert it to sq mm.

 

[MrFluffy]

Cable length is as long as I make it, so in this instance is going to be about 5m as thats a bit longer than the earth electrode.
Shennon, the usual problem, no manual as its for my boc transtig 375, and not the murex rebadged one, but boc's own...

 

[shenion]

You can download the manual for a similar welder, most have the identical table.

 

[Weldingartisan]

It depends on how often/long you intend to weld at 375amps. Unless you are building a bridge or a battleship, my guess would be not very often. I use 10metres (each) of 35mm sq on my 400amp Esab Aristoarc with no problems. Most cable charts are for continous use, which is impossible with MMA. W/A

 

[MrFluffy]

Not very often, Im just a tinkerer with the odd big job.
This time I need to sew the end of the dipper back together on my Jcb 3c, someones done a very poor repair in the past with almost no penetration and when one of the pins came adrift and walked out the bush one side, it tore the end bush out with the side load. Plan is to cut out two plating pieces from 8mm and reinforce the weak area on the sides while sewing it back together in general. I just want to make a proper job of it and if all goes well, Im going to weld on some fork eyes onto the front bucket to take jcb tines.
I think mr archie is kindly going to sort me out 5m of the mentioned 75mm which will do nicely. I can back the digger dipper just inside the workshop next to the welder
Thanks all !

 

[Weldingartisan]

If you use 75mm sq on your electrode holder, you'll have arms like Sampson by the end of the week! Put a connector on the end and use 3metres of 35mm sq for the holder. W/A