Help me choose wire for a 220V extension cord...

[shelljeep]

I feel like I've dodged the bullet for long enough. I have been using some romex for a 220V extension cord for about 4 years now, and the other day, a buddy was rolling it up and said he got a "tingle". Not gonna take take that kind of risk anymore.
I think I've narrowed it down to a couple of good choices from the McMaster-Carr catalog, and would like some help deciding which to use. Let me know if I'm wrong and should be using something else.

The power is coming from my dryer receptacle and is going to a Millermatic 175, or a PMP 40/160 Plasma/Tig/Stick combo machine.

Both of the cords are 600V rated, 30 amp, 10/3 AWG, and rated for outdoor use(which they won't really see).
I'm wanting about a 40' length.

The choices I came up with:
1. #7080K45 Thermoplastic rubber jacket w/TPE inner insulation. Designated SEOOW.
2. #7081K41 Neoprene Rubber jacket w/EPDM inner insulation. Designated SOOW

The main difference between the two cords is that one uses neoprene for the outer sheath, and EPDM for the inner insulation. This neoprene cord is supposed to be the most flexible of the two, and is rated to be oil resistant on both the inner insulation and outer sheath, but from what I've read EPDM doesn't get along with gas and oil, etc. And I can tell you from experience that my neoprene wetsuits don't last for shit after a job repairing an offshore oil leak. There are different types of neoprene so that point may be moot.

The thermoplastic cord uses TPE for the inner insulation also.

Price difference is negligable, cents per foot.
I guess I'm leaning towards the TPE cord, what do you guys think?

[Mechanos]

Never used SEOOW myself. I have a 10/3 cord I made up for my welder/plasma and used SOOW. It's extremely tough shit and has held up just fine.

[shelljeep]

Hey, I was just told that 10/3 actually has 4 wires in it. This is true? If so, I should only need 10/2 since the romex I'm using now only has 3 legs to it.
Is 10 gage sufficient for this cord or should I go with 8?

[flaash]

Hey, I was just told that 10/3 actually has 4 wires in it. This is true? If so, I should only need 10/2 since the romex I'm using now only has 3 legs to it.
Is 10 gage sufficient for this cord or should I go with 8?

depends on the amperage that you will be running through it. and how long it is.
but as a rule of thumb i always run the biggest gauge wire i can afford at the time.

[fj40charles]

Hey, I was just told that 10/3 actually has 4 wires in it. This is true? If so, I should only need 10/2 since the romex I'm using now only has 3 legs to it.
Is 10 gage sufficient for this cord or should I go with 8?

10 gauge is sufficient at 40 feet. Have you thought about buying a 10 gauge extension cord at HD and putting new ends on them?

[Mechanos]

Hey, I was just told that 10/3 actually has 4 wires in it. This is true? If so, I should only need 10/2 since the romex I'm using now only has 3 legs to it.
Is 10 gage sufficient for this cord or should I go with 8?

That is misinformation..... When talking about NM cable (aka Romex) 10/3 has 3 conducotrs in it. 10/3 with ground has 4 conductors in it.

You will need 10/3 for the SOOW or SEOOW cord.

[shelljeep]

Thank you for that. I'll order the 10/3.
As for the HD 10 guage extension cord idea, I think I will have a cheaper, better deal with the wire I'm talking about here since i am going to reuse the ends I have.

[Urban Wheeler]

10 gauge is sufficient at 40 feet. Have you thought about buying a 10 gauge extension cord at HD and putting new ends on them?

I did that... a 50 foot cord was cheaper than 25 feet of stuff off the reel. Difference was the cord was 3 conductor, stuff on the reel was 4 conductor. If I'd had the money I would have rewired my wall plug for a 4 prong socket, run the four wire stuff to my welder cart, and then wired a welder plug and a couple 110 plugs. That way I have only one cord to deal with.


The cost to do the extension cord vs romex was pretty close.

[Wheel28]

you can buy the 10/3 soow at home depot for about 1.25 a foot. Seems easier than ordering it. Thats where I bought my cord for my plasma cutter.

Wheel

[Wolfmanjack13]

1

[fj40charles]

you can buy the 10/3 soow at home depot for about 1.25 a foot. Seems easier than ordering it. Thats where I bought my cord for my plasma cutter.

Wheel

You can purchase 50 ft. 10/3 extension cord for $53.00 + tax at HD.

[BurntOrange]

Have you thought about buying a 10 gauge extension cord at HD and putting new ends on them?

FWIW, some of those 10 gauge long extension cords are only rated for 110v, not just because of the plugs but because of the sheath. 10/3 SOOW is normally rated for 600V and can also be found with a thinner jacket/sheath where it is only rated for 300V, I think. Better make sure that Yellow Jacket or whatever cord is rated for 300V if you are using it with a 220 welder.

[nissancrawler]

I just bought my 10/3 off the reel at lowes. i got 25' I believe, and it cost me about $40 with ends.

[fj40charles]

FWIW, some of those 10 gauge long extension cords are only rated for 110v, not just because of the plugs but because of the sheath. 10/3 SOOW is normally rated for 600V and can also be found with a thinner jacket/sheath where it is only rated for 300V, I think. Better make sure that Yellow Jacket or whatever cord is rated for 300V if you are using it with a 220 welder.

The Ridgid brand extension cord is SJTW.. The "J" would indicate that it is a "junior" which is good for 300 volts.

[NIB-98TJ]

Have you thought about buying a 10 gauge extension cord at HD and putting new ends on them?
That's what I did. It has worked great.

NIB

[CPOM]

Your welder should only need 10/2 cord, (2 conductor plus ground), not 10/3.

I'm assuming the other machine is the same way.

[BMB]

Your welder should only need 10/2 cord, (2 conductor plus ground), not 10/3
:confused:

If you get 10/2 cord (not wire) it will only have 2 conductors and no ground/neutral.

SJ, SO cords are designated by the guage and the number of conductors in the cord. 10/2 = 10 guage, 2 conductor (no ground/neutral/extra wire)


BMB

[fj40charles]

Your welder should only need 10/2 cord, (2 conductor plus ground), not 10/3.

I'm assuming the other machine is the same way.

This applies to romex. 10/2 in a romex would be 2 conductors plus ground.
Cord designation is different. 10/2 is only 2 conductors.

BMB is correct.

[Chris]

:confused:

If you get 10/2 cord (not wire) it will only have 2 conductors and no ground/neutral.

SJ, SO cords are designated by the guage and the number of conductors in the cord. 10/2 = 10 guage, 2 conductor (no ground/neutral/extra wire)


BMBFurther unless you are running a small welder you need at least a 50 amp designation. YOu need #8 at least. Not to mention that voltage drop calcultaions increase greatly in extension cords versus conducters in a raceway(conduit,etc) Buy at least a #8 cord or risk your welder burning up.

[Mechanos]

Further unless you are running a small welder you need at least a 50 amp designation. YOu need #8 at least. Not to mention that voltage drop calcultaions increase greatly in extension cords versus conducters in a raceway(conduit,etc) Buy at least a #8 cord or risk your welder burning up.
:laughing::laughing::laughing: :shaking:

[Chris]

help me, what's funny?

[fj40charles]

Further unless you are running a small welder you need at least a 50 amp designation. YOu need #8 at least. Not to mention that voltage drop calcultaions increase greatly in extension cords versus conducters in a raceway(conduit,etc) Buy at least a #8 cord or risk your welder burning up.

10 gauge wire is good for 30 amps at 230 volts. You can use smaller wires for welder since the welders we use at home are not 100% duty cycle. Just look at the pig tail that comes with our welders. I'll bet most are made of 10 gauge or smaller.

For all other wiring, you need #6 wires for hot legs for 50 amps at 230 volts. Ground wire can be smaller.

[badman14]

I use these extension cords to run my Powermax 1000, Miller Econotig, and Lincoln SP175+. They have never let me down. I did have to change out the cord on the plasma (which didn't come with a plug anyway) but, it was no biggie. You could just change the end on the extension cord and keep the correct ends on the machines.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HEAVY-DUTY-50-AMP-8-3-MIG-TIG-WELDER-EXTENSION-CORD-50_W0QQitemZ110143613314QQihZ001QQcategoryZ67042QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[fj40charles]

I use these extension cords to run my Powermax 1000, Miller Econotig, and Lincoln SP175+. They have never let me down. I did have to change out the cord on the plasma (which didn't come with a plug anyway) but, it was no biggie. You could just change the end on the extension cord and keep the correct ends on the machines.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HEAVY-DUTY-50-AMP-8-3-MIG-TIG-WELDER-EXTENSION-CORD-50_W0QQitemZ110143613314QQihZ001QQcategoryZ67042QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I like it.. I would rather spend a few extra dollars and get a heavy duty extension cord (8 gauge) instead of making my own. I figured I'll have $85.00 just in parts to make my own 10 gauge extension cord.