Forney 275 Cable Size

admin

Hello all,I have an old Forney 275 AC/DC and I need to refit it with new cable leads and I'm just not sure what size would be safe and best for my application. I have done some reasearch on the web and have determined that seeking the opinon of more experienced individuals is my best option. I would like to have the Forney stationay in my garage and be able to move around freely as my welding requierments change. I have estimated this to be ~15'-20' of cable. I will be welding 1/4"-1/2" 1010/1018 steel plate. I will also be welding tubing/pipe anywhere from 2"-3" OD with a wall thickness from ~1/8"-1/4" wall thickness 1010/1018 steel as well. That's about it...I know this information is not exhaustive but it is a starting point. I have also include some pics. Thank you all for your help and suggestions. Attached Images
Reply:Here's a chart that may help.http://www.pacificcabling.com/Specia...rage_chart.htmOne thing, I like to do on my machines, I hooked tweeco connectors to the machine and have a short light stinger (#2) and ground that I use all the time. The lengths are about 15' each. Between this and the machine I can hook in as many lengths as I need. I managed to pick up a couple of large 2/0 cables that had a few bad spots. ( I don't need the heavy cable, but I got a good deal on it) I cut them down to about 25 foot lengths and put the tweeco's on both ends. This lets me store the cables easily and only work with the minimum amount required. I can also add more if needed easily. The above was from a post I did recently for a similar question. One thing thats some what different with yours, is that you will need to either use the original plugs or find a new set. My first thought is that if the originals plugs and the first few inches of wire are good, would be to cut off the ends and either splice into the new leads or add the tweeco disconnects and go from there. You may be able to get new plugs, but it's not something I've looked for for years. My old craftsman had plugs like that and I managed to reuse the old plugs on that.If all you need is 15-20' of cable, I'd probably just buy #2..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:http://weldingmag.com/equipment-auto...es-gages-0109/From table 4, rounding up to 300 amps. 100 ft of 1/0 has a 2.65 voltage loss per cable. The cable length you plan on is 20 feet. # 1/0 cable.100 ft/20 ft= 1/5. that is 2.65 volts x 1/5 = 0.53 volts loss for each cable or 1.06 volts for both cables at 300 amps.# 2 cable.2.8 x 1/5 = 0.56 volts or 1.12 volts loss at 300 amps. You may safely use # 1/0 or # 2 cable.