Welding cable is a very finely stranded single-core rubber flexible designed to carry the high currents of an arc welding set while being dragged across a workshop floor all day. The EPR insulation and CSP sheath resist spatter, heat and oil, and the fine stranding gives the cable the limpness needed to work around a job. The orange sheath is conventional for visibility; black is also supplied.
Key applications
- Electrode holder and return leads on arc welding sets
- Fabrication shops and assembly lines on continuous duty
- Site and mobile welding plant
- Shipyard and structural steel welding
- Extension leads between welding set and workpiece
- Battery and high-current d.c. links where a flexible lead is needed
Features and benefits
- Very fine stranding gives exceptional limpness and recovery
- EPR/CSP construction tolerates spatter, heat and oil
- Suitable for 100% duty cycle working
- Available in orange for visibility in a busy shop
Specification notes and limitations
The 100 V rating is the critical limitation: welding cable is intended for the low-voltage, high-current output side of a welding set and must never be used as a mains supply cable, for fixed wiring, or for anything at 230 V or 400 V. It is not rated for burial or for building into structure. Keep leads uncoiled while welding, as a coiled lead both overheats and acts as an inductor; derate for long runs and check the voltage drop, because undersized welding leads are a common cause of poor arc performance. Inspect for sheath burn-through at the business end before each shift, and avoid dragging the cable over sharp swarf or hot offcuts.
