Welder leads

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I have a sa200 in my shop, I need to buy some leads, 75’.Wondering what and where I should buy? I’m just welding different things in shop nothing serious.It’s confusing on line, hoping someone will steer me to the best / cheapest choice. Ty
Reply:You know that saying...Be careful what you ask for. lol good luck!Lincoln 330MPXLincoln Power Mig 256Lincoln LN-25X Wire FeederMagnum PRO 250LX GT Spool GunModified Lincoln 225¼ Ton of Torches OFC-A OFG-AAir Carbon Arc GougingEverlast 62i Plasma CutterIngersoll Rand Type 30 14hpInstagram: #Freebird Welds
Reply:

Originally Posted by M001

I have a sa200 in my shop, I need to buy some leads, 75’.Wondering what and where I should buy? I’m just welding different things in shop nothing serious.It’s confusing on line, hoping someone will steer me to the best / cheapest choice. Ty
Reply:I've bought wire from Ebay before and had decent results. The last batch was 6 gauge SER/service entrance cable. Several years back I got some heavy copper wire for winch hook ups. I want to say it was around 4/0 gauge. I didn't notice much poorness to it - it was very soft and flexible, surprisingly so but that is one of the reasons I bought it. With today's prices nothing is "cheap". Unfortunately, when it comes to copper - even the "cheap stuff" isn't cheap. Just an FYI - there are some cheap cables out there that are not UL listed. The UL listing jacks the price up. If you don't care about that then have at it. If you are welding at a job site, or somewhere else where equipment is subject to inspection, then non-UL cables can fail your inspection and cause problems. Just because cables on Ebay are advertised as being "UL listed" doesn't necessarily mean they are. You should see that labeling in the lettering directly on the cables. Example - this Southwire 2 gauge is $861.25 for 250ft and is advertised as Non-UL cable. At least they are honest about it. https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com...987015ba4e9d44
Reply:Are you just replacing old cables of current leads, or do you need the cables, connectors, clamp and stinger? What gauge do you want? Maybe also a short, lighter whip for the stinger, to connect to the longer main cable? What online sources have you looked at so far?Below is the link to the cable page for one welding supply company that would have free shipping for such an order. I've happily dealt with them, but not recently. I tried searching  a number of other welding company sites, but found their search function (or their stocked items) badly lacking, or nonexistent. Hard to compare prices, etc. when they offer such poor information.https://ramweldingsupply.com/search....ection=productHere's a link to an Ebay search; you can add a cable size to the search term, if you want to narrow the results a bit"https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...-53200-19255-0 Maybe others here have more suggestions..Last edited by Oldiron2; 03-21-2022 at 12:58 AM.Reason: Added a few words for more clarity.
Reply:I bought  #2 copper wire from EWCS-  Electric Wire and Cable Specialists Made in America. not the cheapest but not the priciest either.Very flexible cable even in cold weather and it is 600 strand which  jmo  does a better job carrying current since many of the electrons move on the copper strands  surface .HTP  Pro Pulse 220 MTS (Anniversary Edition) 1962 Idealarc TIG  300 300 1974 Idealarc TIG  300 300  1988 HF Power MIG 150  2015  Lotos Ltpdc2000d plasma/Stick/TIG    Victor 100 torch, 200- 210 Oxy/Acet gauges
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Originally Posted by FlyFishn

I've bought wire from Ebay before and had decent results.
Reply:

Originally Posted by 455dan

does a better job carrying current since many of the electrons move on the copper strands  surface .
Reply:You'd want at least #1 cable for an SA200. See if there is a Red-D-Arc or other welder rental outfit in your area that may have used cable. I bought 50ft. 2/0 cables with quick couplers on both ends for $2/ft. (cad) several years ago from Red-D-Arc. I didn't really need 2/0 cables but it was cheaper than buying new #1 cable. 1/0 cable would have been a good size but they mostly deal with 2/0 cable. I think it was less than 1/2 price of new and the quick couplers are an added bonus. I also got a new 10' #1 stinger and cable and a 5ft 2/0 ground clamp and cable for a reasonable price.Last edited by Welder Dave; 03-27-2022 at 04:38 PM.
Reply:I would get number 1 and skip a bunch of connectors cept for at the machine.  Hook clamp and stinger to them. You can always buy more.  

ok at this mess I found during a remodel,,, had just kind of morphed on.

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