Welding Extension Cord

[Buggy Chief]

thanks cudda...My thoughts too.

[Jake98]

8/2 Romex is stranded, it's pretty flexible.

[posixPilot]

I've purchased "short" lengths of SO cord from this site before: http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/heavyduty-so.aspx?page=2

I say "short", since most places that sell SO usually have a 200' or 500' minimum. This place will sell 50' or 60' minimums. SO is a rubberized, stranded conductor extension cord that is waterproof and very flexible, yet some what expensive. It's way better than NM/UF options you have at the warehouse stores.

Mike

[67cudafb]

Man thats top of the line but ouch it is a little pricey for me like snap-on vs craftsman. I misread price for some reason I had a brain fart $1.75 is good price what was shipping cost web site says minimum order 100' ?

[Jake98]

That 8/3 is less than the 10/3 extension I bought, per foot.
edit: I just ordered 75', I'll return the fancy ext. cord I was just about to cut the ends off of. Thanks.

[posixPilot]

That 8/3 is less than the 10/3 extension I bought, per foot.
edit: I just ordered 75', I'll return the fancy ext. cord I was just about to cut the ends off of. Thanks.

Glad it helped. I had to go about 100ft from my electrical service to my garage where I run my welder. When I looked at the labor and cost of trenching for conduit, 6/4 for the run, sub-panels, etc, I acually found that it was cheaper to buy 110ft of 4/4 and build a spider box. As an added benefit, I was able to make the cordset compatible with my generator, so the whole setup is portable (if you can call 100ft of 4/4 SOOW "portable"). The SO cord is way heavy, but plenty flexibile, so it works well.

Cheers
Mike

[Jake98]

What does your name refer to Mike? I have more 'hood time' piloting than welding, but sadly not enough of either.

[posixPilot]

Yeah, same here. I was about half way to my instrument rating when I gave it up a few years ago. It got to be just too expensive ... however, I have a habit of trading one expensive hobby for another .

Cheers
Mike

[SeanMurphy265]

There was a big discussion on welding web about making an extension chord; there was a thread that was a how to. I doubt you will beat $75.00 for a chord. I paid $35.00is for my chord because the checkout lady at home depot did not understand the difference between 30' and 30 quantity. She thought the guy wrote down the wrong number after all there was only one piece of wire! After arguing with her and telling her she was wrong... I paid and walked out the door.

[Buggy Chief]

Me too. I seem to trade expensive hobbies as well. Owned a Bonanza V-35B and really miss her....however, Not the annuals, maint., etc... Was really fun, but can be a PIA with Maint. and takes the fun out of it.

[KSmith]

Earlier (on page 2) I gave a link to an ebay purchase I made of 100' of 10/3 extension cord for 69.99 shipped. Can't beat it at 70cents a foot, and now that I have heat in my shop, it is very flexible. Romex is not to code or recommended for extension cord, but only for in-wall attachment. I cut off the 15amp plug/receptacle from the extension cord and added proper ends for the first 25' one I made. I have plenty left for 'growth'. In my breaker panel I have 6/3 from the 50amp breaker to the wall-mounted welder 6-50R receptacle. Overkill for now, but who knows, I might want an old Lincoln tombstone someday, which requires 50amps. My current welder has max input amps of 32amps. Due to a 60% duty cycle of my current machine, and that extension cords can take duty cycle into consideration versus continuously loaded wiring, 10/3 is more than capable.



Without wishing to hijack, I learned to weld in A&P mechanic school and got my license at 19. Got most of the flying ratings in my 20s and flew charter, corporate, instructed, in nice machines up to Beech 18s airmail and cargo at night/instruments in the midwest. Personally loved the old planes and last one was a '46 aeronca champ. Loved flying seaplanes, and gliders. Later went into engineering work on F-16, B-2, turbine engines, and more. Anyone who has been there, knows that flying is in the blood and the heart, and will be forever.

[posixPilot]

Due to a 60% duty cycle of my current machine, and that extension cords can take duty cycle into consideration versus continuously loaded wiring, 10/3 is more than capable.

The one issue you may have with 10/3 over a 100' cord is voltage drop. The calculator says that this should be about 12 volts, which could leave you as low as 228V if your utility is at 240V. Just something to keep in mind if you have any problems.

Cheers
Mike

[Jake98]

Four pilots on one thread, very cool, being that we're something like 1 in 400,000 last time I heard.
My 8/3 arrived today. Not too heavy, 75'.
You guys realize we're all gonna be expected to build our own bush planes now, right? I'll start a new thread: My Top 10 Excuses... 10. I cut up all the neighborhood kids' bicycles and...

[Jake98]

Without wishing to hijack, I learned to weld in A&P mechanic school and got my license at 19. Got most of the flying ratings in my 20s and flew charter, corporate, instructed, in nice machines up to Beech 18s airmail and cargo at night/instruments in the midwest. Personally loved the old planes and last one was a '46 aeronca champ. Loved flying seaplanes, and gliders. Later went into engineering work on F-16, B-2, turbine engines, and more. Anyone who has been there, knows that flying is in the blood and the heart, and will be forever.

You gotta be more careful with your metaphores these days That's a nice bunch of experience, I'm jealous.. I've got about 350hrs. private, complex, maybe 2/3 thru ifr (I like to think). I did my primary at CDW, stopped for about 7 yrs., then picked it up again at FWN? (sussex) Been stopped for about 10 yrs. now, if funds permit.. will do it again.

[Buggy Chief]

Awesome...

[Buggy Chief]

You gotta be more careful with your metaphores these days That's a nice bunch of experience, I'm jealous.. I've got about 350hrs. private, complex, maybe 2/3 thru ifr (I like to think). I did my primary at CDW, stopped for about 7 yrs., then picked it up again at FWN? (sussex) Been stopped for about 10 yrs. now, if funds permit.. will do it again.

Amen...It's in the blood. I have about 300 hours with 250 in High Performance Complex. Never got the old IFR, but I must say that I am impressed with you guys getting an A&P rating. Quiet honestly, that is how you make money in aviation

[Jake98]

Me too. I seem to trade expensive hobbies as well. Owned a Bonanza V-35B and really miss her....however, Not the annuals, maint., etc... Was really fun, but can be a PIA with Maint. and takes the fun out of it.

How about some pics of that beauty!

[Buggy Chief]

Ok. How do you post pics here?

[zoama]

Ok. How do you post pics here?

It's best to upload the pics straight fom your computer so they appear as a thumbnail... like this... just mouse over it.

[posixPilot]

I'm especially jealous of the sea plane experience. I've always dreamed of flying an Albatross some day (i.e. before the few that are left end up in a museum).

Jake, you should check out X-Plane ... it's a cheap but decent way to practice IFR procedures. Also, google VATSIM. It's way over the top, but also kind of cool.

Cheers
Mike