What gauge to wire a 50 amp line?

[everlastsupport]

A 50 amp cutter will pull under but close to 30AMP when you power it and will run on 30amps without a problem. The output voltage is not 220 volts at the torch, it is rectified and stepped down. There are details on the back of the unit, should have an Max I (max current)

On the gauge of the wire, there are plenty of tables on the internet. But the length does affect the gauge as well. Long run, lower gauge.

It is always better to be safe than sorry. Though I know things are tight on most right now. If you are in doubt, hire a professional electrician.

[Steveg]

Current capacity of a wire depends on conductor size and the type insulation on the conductor. IE TW, THW,THHN, etc check the code.

sg

[jakeru]

If you look at the actual size of the wire feeding into the back of your unit, you may be under-whelmed, or surprised. I think my Super200P has something like 12 gauge (or maybe it was even 14 gauge) wiring in the main power cabling that feeds it, and inside the unit. And after the power switch, it all goes through a quick connect spade terminal into a printed circuit board trace, too!

However, it seems to be working just fine. I have tripped my 30 amp breaker using the plasma before, but there has never been any sign of anything going wrong with overheating or undersized wiring inside the unit. Also the arc seems to be rock solid consistent. I think inverter machines like everlasts are able to handle varying or fluxuating voltages much better than competing transformer machines do.

[mp006ltk]

The breaker is there to protect the wiring int he walls, and not he equipement attached to it. Length of run is important, but a rule of thumb is 6 awg for 50 amp, 8 for 40. If you put a 50 amp receptacle on the wall run the apropriate cable and breaker. The same thing goes for 40 and 30. If you ever sell your house/shop you will most likely have bigger things to worry about than to cap off the receptacle, and someone is likely to plug a dryer into an outlet wired by a 10 awg cable. Thats when lawyers get involved.

Oh and if you're in Chicago, the code is crazy, so hire someone. Residential in that area requires conduit. They're a little extreme, becasue of the union influence and the fact the entire city has allready burned to the ground once.

[TAPnTX]

I know this is an old thread, but was looking for an Extension cord for my Powertig 250 EX.

There are a few options that are not to expensive and should meet Code requirements.

RV's use a 30 AMP (8 ga.) and 50 AMP (6 ga.) extension cords to hook up when parked where there is power.

The other is Hobart and some others make a Welder extension cord for 50 amp 230 volt welders or plasma cutters.

Both are reasonably priced and readily available.

Listen to Shawn!!!


Todd

[bigjoeinkg]

Checked the price today for the 6AWG/2. Lowes had the cheapest price. HD was over $3/ft. I will be running the #6 to my 50A outlet. Copper prices are getting up. Who would thought that copper would follow gold and silver as a precious metal.

[Tritium]

China is thinking about backing their currency with copper. If that happens watch out, old pennies (the solid copper ones) will be like dimes or better. I had a shop fire 10 years ago and finally am getting around to cleanup of the copper (welders, wiring, cable etc.) I took it to the metals recyclers Tuesday and got $344 for 106 lbs of badly burned copper. I just finished putting in a new 50A circuit for my Lincoln Tombstone AC welder yesterday. Luckily I had just enough #6 left over from a few years back at 50 cents a foot.

Thurmond

[bigjoeinkg]

Went to an estate auction last week. Picked up about 200 ft of 14/2, 75 ft of 12/2, and 50 ft of 10/2. New 6-50 outlets, 100A sub panel with breakers, conduit, rough in boxes and lot of other goodies. Paid $15 for the lot. Had a good 1HP and 1/3 HP motor to boot. Bad thing is, I have to go buy the 6AWG wire.

[Tritium]

Went to an estate auction last week. Picked up about 200 ft of 14/2, 75 ft of 12/2, and 50 ft of 10/2. New 6-50 outlets, 100A sub panel with breakers, conduit, rough in boxes and lot of other goodies. Paid $15 for the lot. Had a good 1HP and 1/3 HP motor to boot. Bad thing is, I have to go buy the 6AWG wire.

Score!! What a deal!

Thurmond

[ogorir]

+1 on 6ga for in-wall wiring for 50a plug. I went a bit cheap-### with my extension cord @ 8ga SEOOW seoprene cable. still cost me $120 after tax for 50 feet.


I should also add that length doesn't affect the current carrying capacity of a wire. it DOES affect the voltage drop, though, which is why you need to bump up to the next bigger gauge for long runs. the actual current carrying capacity is determined by how well the cable can dissipate heat and the insulation on the wire. for instance, the old school knob and tube wiring can carry a lot more amperage through the same gauge conductors because the wire isn't insulated and it's stood off in the air similar to a transmission line. and to the guy who said that pulling 50a through 10ga will make it 'red hot' is exaggerating to make a point. not a good idea for sure, but definitely not near 800 degrees.