13 replies to this topic

[col7778]

I'm trying to run a welder off of domestic socket with extension lead, i have read various information saying you can't run of an extension lead with out blowing fuses etc.
How to you guys get round this.



Please move if i have posted in wrong section.

[tadleysimon]

mines plugged into a domestic socket via a extention lead,

works fine.

ring mains are usually fused to 32 amps and the welder wont draw more than 13 amps as thats the size of the fuse in the plug.

[Bean]

Yip - mine's off an extension lead too - Not had any problems!

[col7778]

Are you using a domestic extension.

[cooper s wannabe]

I'm trying to run a welder off of domestic socket with extension lead, i have read various information saying you can't run of an extension lead with out blowing fuses etc.
How to you guys get round this.



Please move if i have posted in wrong section.

if its a 13 amp welder and you use a decent heavy extension lead you will be fine. you will have to make sure you keep the lead out and not coiled up as it will get to hot then start popping fuses and melting cable. you can plug what you like into a 13amp socket as long as you dont exede 13 amps.

[Bungle]

using a extension lead can cause a voltage drop

if the voltage drops the current goes up to compensate

if your welder is running close to 13 amps the extra current from the voltage drop might just take it over and blow the fuse

if you must use a extension lead use one as short as you can and as thick as wire as you can find

i use my camping lead that has 2.5mm cable rather then the normal 1.5 or even 1mm cable

and remember a heater is a coil of wire, leave the lead 1/2 wound up and it will get hot

[ibrooks]

Simple maths as the other have said. So long as the flex of the extension lead is rated at more than the current you are drawing and the fuses in the two plugs are also rated high enough (but lower than the flex) then there should be no problems.

Lots of cheapo extension leads use lighter flex though so you do need to pay attention and you can't just get around that by fitting a bigger fuse as that's plain dangerous.

The point about uncoiling a lead is also good. If you are pulling a decent amount of current through them then a coil of wire can get quite hot as it becomes a heating element. This won't blow the fuse though as you haven't increased the current being drawn until it melts through the insulation and wires touch - that way fires lie and you REALLY hope that the fuse blows first.

Iain

[sonikk4]

I use a 15ft heavy duty extension lead with a 13amp plug connected to a standard ring main and have never had any problems. I

[col7778]

Many thanks for information, need to get heavy duty cable now.

[Bungle]

make one up to the length needed

http://www.screwfix....lue-2-5mm-x-50m

just buy a plug for one end and a multi socket for the other

http://www.screwfix....Lead-6G-240V-1m

this cable will far exceed any ready made lead

[scb]

Mine killed my extention cable lat week and it was uncoiled. It was a cheap Homebase one though.

[tadleysimon]

mines a heavy duty one with an rcd plug on it,

i plug my grinder into it aswell as the welder so better safe than sorry

[olds_kool_lews]

i had a cheapo extension lead, and that was a pain in the backside when it came to welding, fuses kept goin, thought id blown the welder up a few times, but turned out to be the inferior extension, got a heavy duty one and never had a problem since!

[Rich.]

I had the advantage of being a sound tech before i took up fabrication full time so i donated alot of my electrical equipment to the fabrication company once i packed in the sound tech (I had alot of my own gear).

So all the extensions in the shop are either 5 10 or 20m lengths, 5 and 10m being 1.5mm core and the 20's being 2.5. All the cable is HO7 TRS (Tough rubber sheath), with duraplug plugs and ends on. Companies like stage electrics will sell these ready made up, although its far cheaper to buy a drum and make a few of your own.

http://www.stage-ele...x?code=609-3288

These cables are designed for touring so will be upto most things you can throw at them. I would say its impossible to find a harder wearing extension than these.

Rich