One of the regularly used larger welding cables is the 250 MCM welding cable wire. The 250 MCM size refers to the cable’s diameter and the amount of copper or conductivity it contains. Welding cable sizes then generally range from 6 AWG to 500 MCM. Most electric suppliers feature such large-sized wires as 4/0 AWG, 250 MCM and 350 MCM cables in their featured line-up.
The 250 MCM Welding Cable 600 Volt – “Sizing Up the Wire”
The standard measure for a welding cable is AWG, which means American Wire Gauge. This designation is utilized for a broad range of sizes, represented as 6 AWG, 4 AWG, 2 AWG, 1/0 AWG, 2/0 AWG, 3/0 AWG and 4/0 AWG. The “MCM” designation for the 250 welding cable size means thousands of circular mils – a term that was a once commonly used designation for cable size.
A 250 MCM welding cable equals ¼ inch when 250 mils are converted to inches. Both the 250 MCM premium extra flexible welding cable 600 volt and 350 MCM cable wire are large connectors that contain more copper than their AWG sized counterparts.
Other Applications for the 250 MCM Welding Cable and Similar AWG and MCM Wires
While a welding cable, such as the 250 MCM welding cable, can be used in other applications besides welding, cable makers recommend that an electrician be consulted in this respect. Alternative uses for cables, such as the 250 MCM welding cable, include applications where cables are needed for stage lighting or solar installations for business or home. Review the various cabling solutions online for your specific cabling needs.
Because a welding cable, such as the 4/0 AWG cable or the 250 MCM wire, is as strong as it is flexible, it is tempting to use the power source in a number of non-welding activities. However, that being said, most welding cable products are not listed and endorsed by a National Recognized Testing Laboratory or NRTL.
As a result, cables of this type have not obtained approval for use as a transportable cord or fixed cabling. Unless the welding cable carries an extra listing, it is usually not considered safe to use for other kinds of power applications.
Other cable solutions that can be used alternatively might include the use of diesel locomotive cable (DLO) or Type W mining cable. Insulation thicknesses and the number of strands both factor into the type of cabling you may need for a project or installation.
Besides welding cable, companies, such as Electric Wire and Cable Specialists, also sell other kinds of cables for specific applications. Some of these wires include coaxial cables and security cables for alarm systems and synced electronics. Review the site to get a better idea as to cable features, designs, sizes and purposes for use.