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Welding And Extension Cables?


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#1 mister bridger

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 03:59 PM

Not sure where to put this so this seems as good as anywhere. I'm planning some steel work at the end of the garden (40 ft - ish) and it would be a lot easier to weld it all in situ, but this will mean using quite a long extension reel. Is this likely to be a problem? Don't want to melt something other than the steel I'm welding! Your thoughts?



#2 stoneface

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 04:14 PM

Depends on the current your welder needs.

 

But the larger the cores of the extension cable the better and make sure it is fully un-wound.



#3 mister bridger

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 04:16 PM

It's 6mm steel so the welder (Rtech 180) will probably be cranked up high. I've found out the hard way in the past about unwinding the extension cable!



#4 T5FAU

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 04:34 PM

I use an R-Tech 180 on a extension to my garage and its perfectly fine, but then im only doing panel work and 3mm box section, so its not turned up to 11. Well, 6 max. They say upto 160 amp is suitable for a 13A plug, so providing you have a quality 1.5mm extension lead, unwound with quality plugs and sockets, youd probably be okay. 



#5 mister bridger

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 04:45 PM

Thanks, not got the steel yet but I'll try it on the heaviest bit I can find tomorrow



#6 Avtovaz

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 05:13 PM

ist when they are wound up they create problems and melt, just make sure its unwound and maybe take your time a bit more doing the welds?



#7 Spider

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 06:44 PM

As the other guys have said, be sure it's all unwound. The issue with long leads and heavy loads is not so much melting something, but loosing volts along the way. If your welder is an Inverter type in one form or another, most a generally very tolerant to a wide range of voltages.

About the only item that comes to mind to watch with Voltage is Electric Motors, ie, an Air Compressor, but even then, it needs to loose a fair amount of volts and be running for some time before it becomes an issue.



#8 MiniMadRacer

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 08:06 PM

Might be an idea to buy quality cable and "make" your own extension lead...the "reset" button the reels can be tiresome to keep resetting them



#9 Ethel

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 10:40 PM

Two extension leads supplying the same 13A socket?

 

You'd want to be sure they're plugged in the same ring main. Though wouldn't be surprised if it works fine anyway as long as don't go at it long enough to overheat the extension - stock up on teabags!



#10 nicklouse

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Posted 24 February 2021 - 10:56 PM

You won’t have a problem as long as the extension is unwound.



#11 ClassicAsh

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Posted 05 March 2021 - 09:03 AM

I have the same R tech 180 welder. I have used it along with very long extension cables and never had a problem, as everyone says, a good quality heavy duty extension lead and should be all good.



#12 mister bridger

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Posted 05 March 2021 - 05:21 PM

Job is done and the only problem encountered was the on/off switch failing on the welder half way through. Replaced free of charge and arrived next day from R-Tech despite the machine being YEARS out of warranty. Always brilliant after sales service from them!






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