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desertjoe 
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Location: New mexico
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 Topic: New power cord for my mig,,,,,
Posted: 21 Oct 2023 at 9:57pm |
I'm wanting to replace the power cord on my Lincoln 175 Mig welder. When I bought the machine It had had a BIG bulky hard to move power cord and just plain a good eyesore,,,!! Do not know what wire size it now has but the OD on the power cord is 1 1/4" OD and very stiff to move around! I would like to install some smaller in size power cord that is more flexible. Any thoughts on this,,,,??
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Codger
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Location: Utopia
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Posted: 21 Oct 2023 at 10:41pm |
Use #6AWG SOOW cord for your input cord up to about 50' length for that size welding machine. Any smaller and you'll lose some top end performance and possibly weld quality. You could downsize to #8AWG but if you weld much over 125A the input cord will begin to warm up.
My assumptions are your welder is a 60% duty cycle single phase unit. If a 20% duty cycle unit, I wouldn't be afraid to downsize to #8AWG for the power cable as the welder will shut down before the input cable warms.
There are reasons that original cable is so heavy and it's not because the manufacturer wants to ensure they spend a bunch of money building the machine.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 21 Oct 2023 at 11:14pm |
That welder only has a 20 - 25 amp input... But they "recommended" a 50 amp plug and wire when new... Thats a little odd.. An 8 gauge wire would be 40 amps. That should be fine as Codger says as long as the cord is not 50 ft long or your using 175 amps continuously !!
I just bought a "high flexible cable" for a smaller welder a month ago.. Bought over the internet at Home Depot of all places... see if i can find a link to a " flexible #8"..
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 21 Oct 2023 at 11:20pm |
here is a 25 ft cord on AMAZON that already has the plug on the end !!! 8 gauge..
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 21 Oct 2023 at 11:26pm |
The above cord is a STW which i think is a plastic cover.. Might get hard when COLD or 20 years old.... the SOOW that Codger talked about is rubber and should last forever.. Cost a little more.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Codger
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Posted: 21 Oct 2023 at 11:28pm |
SOOW is a very heavy EPDM jacket and if the welder in question is older, very well could be equipped with this. SJO is also very flexible but does not offer near the durability, or longevity of the SOOW but it is much lighter in physical weight. It is a PVC jacketed wire. SJO is typically what your outdoor extension cords are made from and we know how well that stands up to sunlight. Used continuously indoors wouldn't be a problem till a weld berry is dropped upon it.....
SJOW cable is smaller/lighter than SOOW and is weather rather for outdoor use, (the "W" stands for "weather, or outdoor" use) but is a bit difficult to source and used to be expensive.
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Coke-in-MN
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Posted: 24 Oct 2023 at 10:29pm |
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Most units can also go with a reduced size ground wire . like 2 #6 and 1 #8
Now many units now use the 4 prong plug rather than the old 50 Amp range plug .
Ran into that back in 90's when wife replaced her large studio KILN for ceramics . Had to change receptacles and buy a power cord .
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Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
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shameless dude
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Posted: 28 Oct 2023 at 7:20pm |
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well Joe....if'n you gots 2 short cords...you can stand between them, wet both yer fingers and grab the ends of each cord for a positive connection! uh....maybe you should wear a jock strap too!
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desertjoe
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Posted: 29 Oct 2023 at 8:23pm |
You Know,,Shameless,,,I really do believe you like me,,,ya just don't want to admit it,,,,,  
But,,,but,,,what do I do with the third lead,,,,??
Edited by desertjoe - 29 Oct 2023 at 8:24pm
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shameless dude
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Posted: 29 Oct 2023 at 11:18pm |
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uh...don't spit before putting it in yer mouth?
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desertjoe
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Posted: 30 Oct 2023 at 3:00am |
AWwwww and here I thought you wanted me to stick it into,,,,,,MMmmm,,,never mind,,,,!! 
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jaybmiller
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Posted: 30 Oct 2023 at 6:20am |
OK, I don't understand having a 'reduced ground wire' size. If NEEDS to be same size as the power leads otherwise when machine shorts out, the smaller ground wire will fry and open up.
house 14/2 has 14 gauge ground wire.....
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Codger
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Posted: 30 Oct 2023 at 6:34am |
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You are allowed to downsize one size on the grounds. I looked into this when built my building.
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DMiller
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Posted: 30 Oct 2023 at 7:22am |
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I have a Rubber Sheathed 240v cable, very flexible and at 20' a great deal of Handy.
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shameless dude
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Posted: 01 Nov 2023 at 3:00am |
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Joe....check wally world in the camper area, think they have 50 ft cables...can't remember the price tho.
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