When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
With the cost of copper now, a new 20' long, 220v w/ground #8 wire won't be cheap.
Hence my recommendation to use the chepo 10 or 12 and see if it works. 20 foot is not that long so voltage drop should not be excessive. If he uses the higher settings the wire may get hot but won't damage the welder. It will just put out less amps.
Its been my experience that 120 amps is enough to do any job on the vette and more often 90a so you never use the welder at full ampacity anyway.
Hence my recommendation to use the chepo 10 or 12 and see if it works. 20 foot is not that long so voltage drop should not be excessive. If he uses the higher settings the wire may get hot but won't damage the welder. It will just put out less amps.
Its been my experience that 120 amps is enough to do any job on the vette and more often 90a so you never use the welder at full ampacity anyway.
I hate to be an a--, but where does he say it's for the vette? Maybe he is building a water tower for his factory next door.
Big2Bird
Quote:
Originally Posted by turtlevette View Post
Hence my recommendation to use the chepo 10 or 12 and see if it works. 20 foot is not that long so voltage drop should not be excessive. If he uses the higher settings the wire may get hot but won't damage the welder. It will just put out less amps.
Its been my experience that 120 amps is enough to do any job on the vette and more often 90a so you never use the welder at full ampacity anyway.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hate to be an a--, but where does he say it's for the vette? Maybe he is building a water tower for his factory next door.
1) It's the wire size, not the breaker
2)Wrong. Longer leads must be larger gauge to compensate for distance.
3)Not familiar with that product. Does it have aa size/temp rating?
1) I know its the wire size but, without pulling the wire, the breaker is all you have to go by and is usually rated for the circuit that it feeds including all the receptacles attached to it. So, the breaker is the MAX rating of the entire circuit. Just trying to make it easy without getting anyone hurt.
2) That is why you must not extend the power cord if the welder with the same size leads. To quote myself "The cable on the welder is the longest it can be for the max rated power. Any longer and you fry your welder or trip your breaker. Talking about the power cord, not the welding leads.
3) Yes it does, you might be able to find it on thier website but I am not sure. Its pricey but good stuff. Used as "shore" power for RV's and boats.
I made an extension cord for my arc welder and it works just fine. 10 guage I believe. I've also put on LONG extensions for when I used to weld on semi-trailers and they also worked fine.
I've also used an arc welder to thaw frozen underground metal pipes. Yes, that happens here on the frozen tundra. I've done it on runs as long as 200 ft. using an aluminum "extension" wire to get to the far end. Again, no problem.