Can i hook my lincoln MIG 120 volt to an extension cord? How long can i go? what do i need to know? I am welding my floor pans on the side of the house and cant move the car up front by garage cuz people dont like to buy houses with old cars all apart with sparks flying everywhere and some crazy guy with grease and peices of metal in his hair sittin in there working on it. people are weird.
I haven't had any trouble using mine on an extension cord. Use a heavy guage extension cord, not one of the thin ones.
Your house may look funny with floor pans welded to it. Good luck! I have a big industrial extension cord my dad got from work (power company) you may need one like that. I don't think it would hurt your welder would probably throw a breaker first.
I dunno that I woulod have Home Depot make me one, but you could buy the stuff to make one there. When we were wiring up a buddies welder at his shop, we used some old 8/3 romex I had laying around. As I recall, back when I bought it a year and a half ago, it was pretty pricey per foot. Somewhere better than $1.00/ft, but I can't recall an exact figure. You might try an electrical parts supply house, they may be able to get the cable for you cheaper. This is all asuming 220V. </edit> Wow, nevermind. It helps to read the thread. Home Depot has a 100' 12/3 extension cord for $50. I am not sure if they have anything in a larger gauge.
What size breaker is the welder supposed to be hooked to? That will tell you the gauge wire you need in the extension cord. I have never used one of the 110V welders, so I am not too conversant on what the power requirements are. 12 guage will handle 40 amps with no problem. Try looking at the chart on this page to find the gauge you need: http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
I have a 110 Lincoln MIG at the shop, and I run it on an extension cord a lot. We have two 50' cords, the welder runs fine on one, and lousy on the other. No difference between the cords that I can see, maybe the one is coming apart inside, who knows. Anyway, my point here is... If your welder is pissed off, sputtering and spitting, and acting like you have a bad ground, there is too much voltage drop in the extension cord, you need a heavier gauge cord.
The gauge you use is determined by not only the current you'll draw, but also the distance you run it. In other words, you may be able to run a short 12 or a longer 10. What ever you use, completely unwind it..never leave it coiled up.
AJ...now you need to explain why you don't leave it coiled up!!! I use a short 15 amp cord inside the garage sometimes...but I generally like to use the wall plugs directly whenever I can. One other thing to pay attention to outdoors is that the gas doesn't get blown away from your weld by the breeze. You may need a windbreak of some sort.
When it's coiled, it presents reactance (AC resistance) to the current and will drop voltage, consume power, and overheat.
hmmmm so i need 25 feet here is my welder specs Rated CV Output Amps/Volts/Duty 90/19/20% Cycle Output 25-135A DC
Listen. On something of this nature, don't have blind faith in the advice you get here. Do some research. Your owners manual will tell you which extension cord you can use. If you don't have the manual, it's available, free of charge, on Lincoln's website.
why should i put faith in a company that responds to my question like this below is reply to my email. Kolby: Go to some place like Home Depot or Lowes and purchase the industrial rated extension core. About the size of your thumb. Harry
no it works...but the reason i am asking here is i talk to lincoln and look at the reply i get so i come here people have experience using welders on cords. and are much more help.
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