losing amperage

Date 12-12-2007 22:21

I am setting my machine up to hook my suitcase to it.I have 100ft of #1 stinger.What i was thinking about doing was putting about 25 or 30 ft whip on it out of #3ca with quick connects.To switch back and fourth.my question is,do u think that would be to small.or will this work.i would be welding with the whip,when i aint using my suitcase.Thanks

By JescoPressure (**)

Date 12-12-2007 22:42

kinda depends what your using the suitcase for? Migging handrail and intermittent little beads no prob if your fluxcoring 0.45 and pouring the wire to it . Then it might overheat
im just curious what is #3ca ? In canada they size cable like

small large
#4 #3 #2 #1 1 ot 2 ot 3 ot 4 ot

By 52lincoln (***)

Date 12-12-2007 22:44

in Tx we use #1,#2,#3.At least thats what i call it #1 bieng the biggest.12vs miller

By 52lincoln (***)

Date 12-12-2007 22:49

Sorry.i will be stick welding with whip.the suitcase whip is #1ot

By JescoPressure (**)

Date 12-12-2007 23:34

same idea with the whip are you gonna be using alot of small rod/ lower amps or lots of continuous burnin 3/16 or 1/4 inch? I put a 12 foot #1 whip onto my 100ft 1ot lead and was welding a tank floor with 3/16 7018 at 235 all day one after anouther for 11 hrs. burnt my connector up at the whip . The heat builds up at the reduction

By makeithot (***)

Date 12-13-2007 02:13

I run 2ot cable on everything except for the last 15ft I ues a #1 or a 1ot whip depending on the size of the rod . have had the the wire feeder out at least 200ft and not had any significant current lose or over heating problems using .045 dual shield wire.

By 52lincoln (***)

Date 12-13-2007 02:54

so what does anybody recommend ?

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 12-13-2007 04:50

If You are only using 5/32 & smaller rods You should be fine with the #3 whip of 25-30'. You can get away with a shorter length of smaller cable, but if it gets too long you will have too much voltage drop from resistance. The tables show #3 being OK for 150 amps up to 100'. That 100' includes BOTH cables, stinger and ground. You get some resistance at each cable end connection, and some in the twist lock joint, it ain't a perfect world. Keep the setscrews tight.