I apologize if this has already been discussed. I have an older welder with a "crow foot" 10-50 male plug, and I want to plug it into my generator that has a L14-30 female socket. I think I know how to wire the plugs properly, but I want it to be right the first time. I would like to make an extension cord as long as I am doing it, instead of a short pig tail. The farther I am from the racket of the generator, the better my welds are likely to be.I would like to know what gauge is recommended for say, 15'- 20'. Thank you in advance. I appreciate there being a place to go to get intelligent advice.
Nema 10-50 to L14-30 adapter / extension cord
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I guess I'm a bit confused but let's give it a try. If you have a 50 amp crows foot on the welder, that's only a 3 wire cord. The L14-30 is a 30 amp 4 wire receptacle. So basically to make the extension cord you will need a female 50 amp 3 wire cord connector a piece of 10/3 SO cord (cut to the length you want) but you'll be using a 30 amp 4 wire twistlock cord cap. Being your generator only has a 30 amp receptacle is the 50 amp welder going to work with that???
This is not completely code-book legal but there's nothing hazardous about it.
You'll need some 10/3 cord, a L14-30 plug and a 10-50 receptacle and some way to mount it. I'd use a single gang deep Bell box. In fact, I HAVE used single gang deep Bell boxes......
The L14-30 plug will have 4 prongs, 2 will be hot, 1 neutral and 1 ground. Connect the green wire of the cord to the ground prong (it'll have a green screw or state 'GR' or ground). Connect the black to one of the hots (brass screw) Connect the white to the other hot. It doesn't matter which hot the black and white connect to, do whatever is easiest. The neutral (silver screw) is not connected.
At the other end, screw some sort of connector (a cord-grip is best) into one of the hubs in the Bell box. Get a box with 3/4" or 1" hubs, 10/3 won't fit into a 1/2" hub. Get a basic 10-50 receptacle, it'll fit the box with little room to spare. Connect the green wire to the straight prong, and to the box ground screw. The 2 hots go to the angled prongs. It doest matter which one goes where. Get a single-gang metal cover plate that fits the receptacle. It'll fit the Bell box nicely.
Instead of a Bell box, you can use a 4 square deep (2 1/8") box with an industrial cover that fits the receptacle. Your choice.
Rob
You'll need some 10/3 cord, a L14-30 plug and a 10-50 receptacle and some way to mount it. I'd use a single gang deep Bell box. In fact, I HAVE used single gang deep Bell boxes......
The L14-30 plug will have 4 prongs, 2 will be hot, 1 neutral and 1 ground. Connect the green wire of the cord to the ground prong (it'll have a green screw or state 'GR' or ground). Connect the black to one of the hots (brass screw) Connect the white to the other hot. It doesn't matter which hot the black and white connect to, do whatever is easiest. The neutral (silver screw) is not connected.
At the other end, screw some sort of connector (a cord-grip is best) into one of the hubs in the Bell box. Get a box with 3/4" or 1" hubs, 10/3 won't fit into a 1/2" hub. Get a basic 10-50 receptacle, it'll fit the box with little room to spare. Connect the green wire to the straight prong, and to the box ground screw. The 2 hots go to the angled prongs. It doest matter which one goes where. Get a single-gang metal cover plate that fits the receptacle. It'll fit the Bell box nicely.
Instead of a Bell box, you can use a 4 square deep (2 1/8") box with an industrial cover that fits the receptacle. Your choice.
Rob
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We did this at work, and I used a surface mount 50 amp receptacle instead of a box.
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Just change the end on the welder to a 14-50 or 6-50. The 10-50 that is on there was never really correct/legal anyway.
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What welder is it and how often do you plan on running it off the generator ?
Buzz box welders are highly inefficient and tend to produce poor PF which isn't good for a long life of most consumer grade generators.
If you are planning on doing welding off grid on any type of regular basis, you should look at a generator/welder.
You should also check your current generator rating. Most 9000w generators are really about 7000 rated watts. The extra 2000 watts claimed are called starting or surge watts. They are there to allow motor starts only. Any sustained running in the surge capacity will shorten the life of the generator.
Buzz box welders are highly inefficient and tend to produce poor PF which isn't good for a long life of most consumer grade generators.
If you are planning on doing welding off grid on any type of regular basis, you should look at a generator/welder.
You should also check your current generator rating. Most 9000w generators are really about 7000 rated watts. The extra 2000 watts claimed are called starting or surge watts. They are there to allow motor starts only. Any sustained running in the surge capacity will shorten the life of the generator.
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