The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest 220 spot welder extension cord

I bought a HF spot welder and need to make an extension cord. The cord on the welder has 3c 14awg 300v on it. I am thinking about using a 14awg 110v extension cord (with 220 ends).My thought is with higher voltage it should be lower amps. Anybody see any problems with this?

Sure do.
1. You are reading the ratings of the cord NOT the machine. Read the nameplate on the machine to get volt and current needs.
2. I have no idea of what you are talking about re this extension cord.
3. When using extension cord you should calc volt drop and choose conductor size based on that.

Dan Bentler

Thanks Dan,
Unfortunatly the welder does not give me watts or amp ratings. With a 14 amp 110 volt extension cord(50 ft) wouldnt the amp rating be about twice what the cord that came with the tool was rated for?
Thanks Jason

Oops! I was thinking amps when I read awg!

Did you buy the thing new? It will give you the input current. Most spot welders draw around 25 amps @ 220 volts. The cord is probably very short and that is how they get by with light cord. at 50 feet, you will have to quadruple the wire carrying capacity.
8 gauge is the very minimum you can use at 50 feet. The extension cord will probably cost more than you paid for the welder. I use 4 gauge on my 50 foot cords. They cost $15 a foot.

I did buy it new but it did not give me input current with the instructions or on the welder. I checked HF's website and found it is 25 amps @ 220v. Wow $15 a foot! Looks like I may have to go with a shorter extension cord and move my cab closer to the outlet!
Thanks!

ALL electrical equipment is required to have a nameplate listing amps and volts.

Dont get excited - he threw $15 per foot for #4 conductor. I dont have wire table in front of me but would bet for a 50 foot you should be OK with # 8. Go see an outfit that sells to electrical contractors. You may do as well or better cost wise than Home Depot and for sure you will get comepetent help.

I would also cut off that cheap HF cord and put on a good SO type with 4 #10 conductors neut ground and two 120 (total of 240). I would also run 4 conductor in the extension. You may never need the neut but IF you do you will breathe big sigh of relief.

Dan Bentler

$15 a foot is for #4, but I would bet that #8 would still cost close to what he paid for the welder for 50 ft stranded. I agree that he should through away the cheap HF power cord, and he should think of possibly stringing 8/3 or 6/3 Romex to near where he is working if his codes will let him do that.

I made a 35 ft #6 wire ext cord for my welder last year and it cost me just over a 100 bucks.
I went to a electrical supply for the best price on the wire. It was good stranded wire, gas/oil resistant, and limp, none of that stiff hard to coil up stuff.

Just call around for the best price.
Dan

I use my 220v generator and that makes my welder transportable.
Have welder will travel. The cost is about what you pay for the extension cord.