Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
- david58
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Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
I recently got a plasma cutter and mounted on top of my welding cart. So now I have cords everywhere. What I am thinking of doing is running both power cords into a junction box so I only have 1 power cord. And also I am thinking it would be nice to have a couple 110 power outlets on the work station. Now for the grounds to the welder and plasma cutter I would like to ground both machines to the work station and have one 20 foot ground cable to use with either machine. Is there any problems with grounding the machines together like this? Neither one is digital.
Hot, humid air is less dense than cooler, drier air. This can allow a golf ball to fly through the air with greater ease, as there won't be as much resistance on the ball.
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
I haven't tried this, but as you won't be using both of them simultaneously I can't see how it would be a problem. If you were planning to use both tools at the same time it might well be different.
On the other hand, I haven't tried this, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
Stray
On the other hand, I haven't tried this, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
Stray
- Dale M.
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
Don't see any problem with the extension cord (proper gauge for current needed) and outlets on cart... Would not use common ground for work side though.... Do not what parity the MIG may be on (+ ground for steel) and what ground config is for plasma torch.... Use cord hangers on sides of cart, one side for plasma and other side for mig... And just live with it.... The "electronics" in either unit can be expensive to fix if there is a feed back and something goes "zapp"....
Dale
Dale
"Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster"
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster"
- david58
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
I understand what you are saying but on the other hand I can't see anything getting zapped since neither machine is digital. Even if I have to add a switch so the right machine is grounded only when in use, then that is the approach I will take. I won't be using both machines at one time. And having one ground wire to remotely operate either machine will clean up the work area. Having two grounds doing the same thing is not anything I want to live with. And why is the ground for a plasma cutter so small, that is the real problem it get's tangled too easy.Dale M. wrote: Use cord hangers on sides of cart, one side for plasma and other side for mig... And just live with it.... The "electronics" in either unit can be expensive to fix if there is a feed back and something goes "zapp"....
Dale
Hot, humid air is less dense than cooler, drier air. This can allow a golf ball to fly through the air with greater ease, as there won't be as much resistance on the ball.
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
Remember, if you are plugged in the feed and ground power are coming through the switch but if there is feedback up through the ground it is not switched/protected. I think that is what Dale is saying. Personally I would not take the chance that something could happen. Remember Murphy's Law: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong” (and at the most inappropriate time)
Many people think that there is also an adjoining law which states that: ‘Murphy was an optimist’. (An optimist being stated as: ‘A person disposed to take a favorable view of things’)
Lee
Many people think that there is also an adjoining law which states that: ‘Murphy was an optimist’. (An optimist being stated as: ‘A person disposed to take a favorable view of things’)
Lee
- Dale M.
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
Whether machines are digital or not they still have "electronics" and any feed back may damage them.....
Have a friend that has a simple plasma cutter, it smoked a couple of components on circuit board (non digital unit) the repair bill was $150 to send in circuit board and get it fixed and return it, you willing to spend that kind on money to test a procedure....
And Murphy never sleeps.....
Dale
Have a friend that has a simple plasma cutter, it smoked a couple of components on circuit board (non digital unit) the repair bill was $150 to send in circuit board and get it fixed and return it, you willing to spend that kind on money to test a procedure....
And Murphy never sleeps.....
Dale
Last edited by Dale M. on Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:35 am, edited 2 times in total.
"Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster"
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster"
- david58
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
Yes I am Dale. No seriously I am not looking to fry either machine, but when working I have been using both the welder and the plasma cutter on the same project. And not thinking had both grounds hooked up side by side or piggy backed using either machine. And anyone who has both machines is guilty of doing the same. After asking this question I researched it quite a bit and found out that the ground lead is actually going all the way thru the circuitry in the machine and getting the actual ground thru the AC ground thru the electrical socket. On the other hand I don't like tripping over 15 cords and leads when I am working that could lead to a trip to the ER. Having to switch the power cords back in forth is a hassle especially after you have crawled under a vehicle to cut or weld, same with the ground leads, not to mention the drills, and grinders, etc..... it takes to do a job. There has to be a better way than just living with it. I see nothing wrong with combining the grounds as long as the ground path is clean. Just like on a VW.
Hot, humid air is less dense than cooler, drier air. This can allow a golf ball to fly through the air with greater ease, as there won't be as much resistance on the ball.
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
Could having the welding cart as a common ground be potentially dangerous as it is un-insulated? Couldn't the cart ground to something other than what you're working on? I don't know if what I'm saying is right or not, or even if it makes any sense. I would for sure call my local welding shop/supply house and ask. Damaging a tool is the least of my worries, be safe David.
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
Interesting observation David; I, as a rule, don't have two electrical things hooked up to something, I disconnect one before the other is attached just out of habit. I also limit my extension cords to one and it only has one lead. Your argument in this direction sounds reasonable and I can think of ways around it but damn, Dales comment about the evil Mr. Murphy not sleeping is as good argument as there is not to do it.david58 wrote:Yes I am Dale. No seriously I am not looking to fry either machine, but when working I have been using both the welder and the plasma cutter on the same project. And not thinking had both grounds hooked up side by side or piggy backed using either machine. And anyone who has both machines is guilty of doing the same. After asking this question I researched it quite a bit and found out that the ground lead is actually going all the way thru the circuitry in the machine and getting the actual ground thru the AC ground thru the electrical socket. On the other hand I don't like tripping over 15 cords and leads when I am working that could lead to a trip to the ER. Having to switch the power cords back in forth is a hassle especially after you have crawled under a vehicle to cut or weld, same with the ground leads, not to mention the drills, and grinders, etc..... it takes to do a job. There has to be a better way than just living with it. I see nothing wrong with combining the grounds as long as the ground path is clean. Just like on a VW.
The two units having different ground, on pos. the other neg., has to be a deterrent to this as hooking them up to the same object at the same time could (maybe) be giving you the chance to get "bit" big time. I'm not positive about this but geez, even if the possibility is remote then I would stop the practice before it got started. Yeah, I know that as one gets older you cannot do (think) of more than one thing at a time as well as you could when you were young and sober… I’m at the age where ‘the one thing’ is getting pretty damn hard to do too.
Having a plethora of electrical cords, extension cords, air lines, tools and other snake like obstacles’ on the floor to run over and have your wheeled object suddenly stop or not want to move in the first place plus tripping or stumbling over them is irritating but we all deal with it. I have had to develop some new habits of cleaning up an area during intense working modes (yeah, like that those intense modes are going to happen now days).
Some schools teach that you use a tool then put it back in its place then move on to the next step so you don’t have to stop to look for where you left the damn tool all the time; if you need the tool again you go get it in its place (remember Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. and their go-arounds about this). Also, it gives you a chance to think about what you are doing while you do it. Not preaching just giving the same advice that I am trying to learn myself.
There are single leg rotary switches (180° similar to battery isolator switches) that are almost fool proof that may work but there are down falls even to this kind of switch. As electricity became available they used to use wiring systems that had two bare wires running side by side and used glass/ceramic isolators to keep them apart (I don’t remember the name of this kind of wiring but I have run onto it in the past). They used rotary switches on them but even then they had shorts and fires.
Lee
- Dale M.
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
Knob & Tube...Ol'fogasaurus wrote:. As electricity became available they used to use wiring systems that had two bare wires running side by side and used glass/ceramic isolators to keep them apart (I don’t remember the name of this kind of wiring but I have run onto it in the past). They used rotary switches on them but even then they had shorts and fires.
Lee
Dale
"Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster"
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster"
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Re: Cords everwhere everywhere a cord
Thank you Dale, all I could think of was tube and post which I knew wasn't right.
Lee
Lee