HOW TO - make a 220V extension cord

[MicroZone]

If you follow the above, you'll be fine. Home Depot cord, parts and bada-bing!

[crawler]

Mac,

Will 10 gauge be sufficient for 30amps (230volts)?

Thanks,
Charles

[WolfmanJack13]

Originally Posted by crawler

Mac,

Will 10 gauge be sufficient for 30amps (230volts)?

Thanks,
Charles

10 gauge is perfect for a 30 amp cord.

[MAC702]

#10 is what your dryer already has between the panel and that receptacle.

[crawler]

Thanks for the info on the wire gauge... I used #6 for my receptacles since I had purchased 2 spools of 500' I didn't want to have to worry about upgrading wire later when I installed a 50 amp breaker....

[lewray]

Heres my ole thing....sure saved my butt two days ago went out to weld on some mtr mounts and the outlet was just too far....works great

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/DSC01050.jpg

[rustywrangler]

Originally Posted by lewray

Heres my ole thing....sure saved my butt two days ago went out to weld on some mtr mounts and the outlet was just too far....works great

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/DSC01050.jpg

Is that solid wire or stranded?

[IrishBrewer]

Looks good but I would like to make a suggestion.

Either get the enclosed wall-mount type receptacle or screw a metal box onto the type of receptacle shown in the photos. This will better protect the wires at this end of the cord. The type of receptacles that have their own box are nice because they have a cord clamp built into them.

[MAC702]

Originally Posted by lewray

Heres my ole thing....sure saved my butt two days ago went out to weld on some mtr mounts and the outlet was just too far....works great

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/DSC01050.jpg

It's always nice when you post something like that to at least mention to others who might try it, that it's illegal.

You no doubt did it because you were using material you had on hand. Romex, as you can see in the photo, is not very flexible, and is really only designed to be bent during a permanent installation.

Real cords are stranded with much finer wire, designed to take constant flexing which can break the larger strands in Romex, especailly if the utmost care wasn't taken during stripping of the individual wires. The slightest nick on the copper will be sure to be a broken strand in a short period of time.

I'm not telling you not to use it, and you've obviously already learned how to deal with its tripping hazards.

[MAC702]

Originally Posted by rustywrangler

Is that solid wire or stranded?

It's stranded, but NOT the fine stranding designed for flexible cords. It's stranded just enough to allow it to bend while being installed inside a wall.

It looks like either #8 or #6, so the main conductors will be stranded, but it will have a #10 solid for the uninsulated ground. Real cords also have an insulated ground.

[MicroZone]

A VERY good note to other members. Please be safe out there and try to do stuff the safest way possible.

[rustywrangler]

I've done something similar like the OP only used 25' of 10/3 SOOW wire.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...5/DSCF8369.jpg

[MAC702]

Nice cord, Rusty.

[MicroZone]

Very nice! Mine is more colorful though and bright!

Gotta' love safety YELLER!

[lewray]

Originally Posted by MAC702

It's always nice when you post something like that to at least mention to others who might try it, that it's illegal.

You no doubt did it because you were using material you had on hand. Romex, as you can see in the photo, is not very flexible, and is really only designed to be bent during a permanent installation.

Real cords are stranded with much finer wire, designed to take constant flexing which can break the larger strands in Romex, especailly if the utmost care wasn't taken during stripping of the individual wires. The slightest nick on the copper will be sure to be a broken strand in a short period of time.

I'm not telling you not to use it, and you've obviously already learned how to deal with its tripping hazards.

Im very impresed there Mac702 very very good observation. Yes thats very correct I should have explained it was used for a "to get out of a tight situation" I could not agree more. Yep its stranded enough just to bend which do creat hazards.

I never made it to journeyman


Then I noticed IBEW......Yep worked w/ alot with those guys and nearly joined once during the tower thing with Fuellgraf Elec. You have a Great Eye

[tanky321]

Originally Posted by MicroZone

The receptacle end is the same - green is ground, black and white are power. I made sure to connect like colors on the "big tooth" or the larger pin. I am lacking words this morning, still first cup of coffee.

Attachment 9930

The aftermath, cut 110V connectors, various cable encasing:

That Recepticle should be in a box from what I can tell. Looks like a regular Recessed Recep from the pic. Id put it in a a 4" Sq. deep box.

[MicroZone]

tanky - Yes, afterwards I had installed it in the proper box, I just don't have the time to take a picture and post. It's a common sense type of thing, so I didn't bother. Thanks for pointing it out though for our other memebers.

[wild west]

I'm having a hard time finding the receptacle that's shown in that extension cord. What brand/part no. is that, and where do you shop for high amp stuff? Home depot sucks for any specialty parts.

[MAC702]

Home Depot and Lowe's here both carry these. The part numbers will vary, but the receptacle is a NEMA 6-50R configuration. If you put that in Google, you'll get hits for the manufacturers as well as on-line retailers.

If Home Despot and Blowes in your area aren't up to par, you'll have to go to an electrical supply house.

[Sandy]

The Home Depot here is pretty hit and miss on that kind of stuff. I've seen them more consistantly at local hardware stores but with quite a huge price increase to go with it. I lean towards shopping where I can get what I need and cost is secondary.

[wild west]

It looks like that receptacle is kind of like this one: leviton surface mount receptacle. That's just a wall mount style though. Doesn't it make you a little nervous having a plug laying around that is encased in steel and isn't water tight?


EDIT: I guess I can only post 1 link at a time? I have another question - I'll add another post.

[wild west]

Is there something like this for 50 amp, or would these work with 10/3 wire?
wetguard plug and this wetguard connector.

[MAC702]

You should be able to get raintight connectors if you are willing to pay for them, but not from Home Despot. My connectors aren't out sitting in water, though, and have no need for that protection. Heck, I can't remember the last time I even saw a cloud that wasn't created by a passing aircraft.

[wild west]

Originally Posted by MAC702

You should be able to get raintight connectors if you are willing to pay for them, but not from Home Despot. My connectors aren't out sitting in water, though, and have no need for that protection. Heck, I can't remember the last time I even saw a cloud that wasn't created by a passing aircraft.

LOL, yeah, I wasn't planning on welding in the rain. Just something about 50 amp/240 volt service and steel cord wraps that makes me nervous. I like my stuff to be more idiot proof, as sometimes I am the idiot. "oh wait, maybe I should turn off the breaker before I jam this screwdriver in there!"

[MAC702]

The steel box is grounded. The electricity would much rather stay there, than go through you, even if there was a fault or wet conditions created one. But yeah, never underestimate an idiot.

Murphy's Law: When something has been made idiot-proof, someone will invent a better idiot.