I have been told of people running 15A 240V migs and compressors on home 10A 240V by making a short extension lead with a 15A female and 10A male plugs without experiencing any problems, I was also informed of this at one of the larger local power tool mobs....does/has anyone on here do/done that and does it work ok?

Very limited with decent migs and compressors made for 10A, and since I am renting the current house dont really want to have 15A outlets installed....apprently the standard home 10A are rated a fait bit higher, but I definately dont want to go burning down the house lol

You can do it (although you shouldn't). Easisest way to do it is to file the earth pin down till it fits in the socket.

You will of course trip the circuit breakers as soon as you try welding on the higher amps, if it doesn't somethings very wrong, but it should work just fine for thin sheet.

I have run a 15A arc welder on 10A outlets for 30 years without ever tripping the circuit. The wider earth pin on a 15A extension lead is filed down to fit the 10A socket.

Any this is in Mini Chat, why?

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

Well I'm assuming that this is for the mini that jasonf is restoring. I could be wrong........

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Thanks guys, filing down the earth pin was also suggested, however for warranty purposes I didnt think that would be a good idea lol....but filing down an extension would be easy enough, but I was told to keep the extension lead as short as possible.....

Hanra, and you replied why? as 1018 has easily deducted, yes it is regarding my resto....and mayby it should have been in general chat, but I am in no way perfect...and have no problems for a MOD to say so and move to appropriate section....

A dedicated 15 A circuit is run using 2.5mm sq cable and has one 15 amp outlet only on it.
A normal power circuit is run using the same size cable and may have several 10 amp outlets on it.
Both use the same size overcurrent protective device be it a 20A circuit breaker or HRC fuse or 16A rewirable fuse

So , for an assumtion from that you would be best to run it with the welder being the only thing running on that powerpoint at the time , no compressor , fan , lead light or anything on the same powerpoint if it's a double and definitely no double adapters or power boards ?

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Ahhh ok, thanks Norton, so basically it is pretty safe to do as long as I only use the one outlet on that circuit and have nothing else running on any other outlets on that circuit....

jasonf,

I have a 180 amp MIG on a 10amp point and works OK on small guage metal for body work etc. Have welded up to 4mm and still no problems.

A good piece of advice someone told me was to keep the extension cord from the power point to the welder as short as possible (5 metres) as it seems to make the welder operate more effectively.

Regards

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Dave K.
1979 Moke Californian + 1981 'Coke' Moke

I should let you know as a still licensed sparky, that anyone who makes such a lead will be in contravention of Australian Electrical Standards AS3000.
It is illegal, but do people continue to make these conversion plugs..well yes they do...

If it is that important, you can change the fuse for the socket/s to a higher rating and change the GPO out for a 15 amp outlet. All up costs less than 30 bucks in parts if you know a sparky. It adds to the value of your house as well if you think of it in that sense.

I would reccomend whatever you do that you keep the use of extension leads to a bare minimum to prevent voltage sag. Voltage sag is caused by the copper resistive losses in the leads and the wiring in your house. Bring the work and welder to the socket. Not the other way around.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I have an extention lead that is rated at 30amp but is plugged as a standard 10amp lead. It has a soft rubbery moulded socket that will take a 15amp earth pin with a good push

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

it's still not mini chat..

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But it is for his mini

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

From memory you are only allowed 1 X 15A outlet on a 2.5mmsq cabled circuit so it is not just a matter of uprating the fuse/cb and whacking a 15A outlet on you would have to remove all the other points