Thread: How far can you run an extension cord ?

to run a 1200 watt saw you need a 2.4 kva petrol generator or an 1.8kva diesel generator.

Temite thanks you helped create a brainwave . Why not invest in a battery circular saw . Easier than a genny ' and l wouldn't have to get the power on till l'm ready , couldn't see a problem right !
Hey Sturdee . Mate my attempt at humour via email , better glue in a smiley face next time yeah .
Mater Blaster , when nothing else works l try the hammer . Saved the day many a time but then l'm a signwriter so we have to make allowances .
Cheers .
Jack

Originally Posted by masterblaster

Hey Sturdee . Mate my attempt at humour via email , better glue in a smiley face next time yeah .
Jack

Good idea Jack for without it we don't know if it is tongue in cheek or foot in mouth.


Peter.

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

If it's only 1200w that you need (plus an allowance for start-up loading), it may be worth buying an el cheapo GMC gen set...

If you are going to use leads, they must be shorter and have a higher amp rating or, for example you will distroy the motors costing you alot more then you started with.

The full load draw for a 1200W motor is around 3.9 amps.
Most leads are 0.75 or 0.5mm sq cable, leads labelled HD are usually 1mm sq cable. Connecting even HD leads together you would get a voltage drop of between 22 and 25 volts.
Too high i'm afraid

A bit late fellows, Masterblaster hasn't been on the board since October last year.


Peter.

Steve hasn't been here for a while either.

Seeing that it seems to be the season of the walking dead...and there has been some recent BS posted.

It is not legal in australia to make or use an extension cord less than 1mm2
thet is a 10 amp lead.
a 15 amp lead is 1.5mm2
a 25amp lead is 2.5mm2

those are the commonly available approved felxible cords available for use in extension cords.
the term heavy duty in relation to electrical fles pertains only to the outer onsulation which is heavier.

True voltage drop is an issue and a much bigger issue than most would like to think.
But the limiting factor is is earth resistance.
I cant remenber the detail (I'd have to check tables)
but the limitation on the length of a single extension is the earth resistance required by the standard.

for instance it is impossible to make a legal 100m 10 amp extension cord using 10 amp flex. it simply will not spec up.
even 50 metre wont do it.

As far as i'm concerned any extension cord with 10 amp plugs longer than 20m, I'll be making it on 15 amp cable.
Most of the 30 metre 10 amp builders leads sold by the tool shops these days are made on 15 amp cable.

running realy long lengths of extension cord is something that should be frownd upon. Further has become very hard to do it legaly under the current regs.

BTW have you seen the price of 2.5mm2 flex.

cheers

Voltages and currents are of a bit different values here, however here is what I've done.

I needed to do some welding on my neighbor's gate. My wire welder is a 115 volt and up to 20 ampere machine. The neighbor didn't have a 20 amp plug available so I used an extension cord of 25 feet and 14 gauge. I really couldn't draw a satisfactory arc at all.

What I had was a box of 250 feet (76M) of 12 gauge wire intended for in the wall wiring. I did not desire to cut this wire as it was planned for a project in the shop. I put a plug on one end of the 12 gauge wire and an outlet (power point) on the other end. I welded my neighbor's gate without a problem.

This technique may be a solution to your problem.

Generator option is a good one, Battery Saw is better, Handsaw is a good one as well but.... Another offering of suggestion is with a Power inverter plugged into your truck/tractor battery to produce elec. AC current whilst you are sawing. I

have made such long runs with a spool of Romex, although only a 250 ft. distance (#12/2 w/G) wired wth a duplex receptical and wired to the main box, when building a shed to be wired later.

Yeh fellas that might be all fine a beaut in the US.
here our electrical regs are very much stricter
And the consequences of getting it wrong are 4 times as bad because the voltage is twice as high.

the use of non flex cables for even properly installed tempoary wiring is forbidden.
the use of paralell flexes is specificaly forbidden.

the penalty for most infringements of this type in QLD is 40 penalty units for each offence a penalty unit currently sits at $75.
the possesion of a non compliant item is one offence, the use of it is another, allowing someone else to use it is another.
It is possible for them to hit you five times for the same bit of sillyness if they want to because of the way the offences are framed in the act.

the electrical legeslation in QLD is some of the most agressive in the world.
Man they'll stand you up & kick you in the bum, turn you arround and kick you again

best option is either a battey powered or hand powered tool.
Or a generator.

Interestingly in QLD the use of inverters to power 240 volt tools is specificaly forbidden on building sites.

cheers

Is this a rhetorical question?