Flexible welding cable may be made with high-quality insulation to protect it against oil, gas, abrasion, and other physical and chemical stressors, but still, the level of care you exercise in maintaining and storing your equipment will prove a primary determinant in how long it lasts. 

This is no exception here. While flexible welding cable may be tough, cables that are inspected, carefully stored, and maintained will last longer and perform more reliably than cables that are just thrown loosely on a tray, shelf, or in a cart after use. 

That being said, here are some pointers for making sure your cables are properly maintained and stored so that they last longer. 

Keep Equipment Separated and Organized

One of the most important tips for welding cable and equipment storage is to keep everything separate by application so that it is organized. This will make it easier to find what you need when you need it and also ensure that things are all stored appropriately by their intended use. 

Inspect Before Storage 

Before you store flexible welding cable, you should inspect it thoroughly. Here are some things you should look for: 

• Insulation that is discolored, frayed, worn, torn, or which otherwise shows marks of deterioration as a result of exposure to chemicals, UV, or physical abrasion. 
• Leads that are damaged or corroded. 
• Exposed length of wire (near clamps, for example) that are corroded or discolored).

Minor wear may not indicate a serious issue, but if you find that a cable is excessively worn or damaged, it should be discarded and replaced rather than stowed, as damaged welding cable can produce a higher risk of shock, fire, and other dangers.

Hang on Racks or Store on a Cart (and Don’t Coil Too Tightly)

Two good ways to store flexible welding cable are to store them coiled on racks or on carts specially made for them. If you store the cable on a cart, you can potentially store your other welding equipment with the cables, which can help keep everything organized. 

If you hang your welding cable on racks or hooks, make sure to hang the cable in large, loose coils. Coiling the cable will help keep it organized, but don’t coil it too tightly or you might damage the insulation, impart memory, stress the cables, or make it harder to undo the cables later. 

Plus, avoid creasing cables sharply in any instance, as this can severely stress the conductors under the insulation. In some cases it might even break them, which will increase resistance, which will raise the temperature of the wire when in use, and can result in a higher risk of shock or fire.

The same goes for storage on a rack or cart. Coil the cable loosely, but don’t overwind it. While you do want to keep it organized, you don’t want to damage the cables. 

Don’t Leave Clamps Loose

At the ends of your welding cable, there may be alligator clips or other electrical clamps for securing the cable to electrodes. These need special care and attention on top of what you dedicate to the cable itself. 

Left free, these clips or clamps can get hooked on cable or wire and will result in tangles. Worse, if that happens and you force the cable, you might damage the connection which will in turn hasten the deterioration of the equipment and which can even increase the risk of shock.

Instead, clamp the clamps on a cart edge, the edge of a rack, or some other exposed metal tab, rather than allowing the clamps to swing free. This should secure them and prevent damage to your other cables and equipment.

Use Straps to Secure Everything

Coiling your flexible welding cable is a good start to keeping it organized, but there is more you can do. Get some velcro straps (or any straps that you can use) and wrap these around your coiled cables to keep them separated, well-organized, and to prevent them from unwinding. 

Keep Away from Environmental and Chemical Stressors

Lastly, choose a place for storage that is free of environmental stressors, both physical and chemical. Wherever you store your cart (or your rack is) make sure the cables will not be exposed to direct sunlight or to the weather. 

It should also be a location where the cables will not be subjected to chemical stressors like oil or gas (among others) and should be relatively stable in terms of temperature and humidity. Somewhere with consistent low humidity is best as humidity can exacerbate corrosion where connections are exposed. 

Here for Flexible Welding Cable or Other Specialty Electrical Wire or Cable?

Need a new wholesale electrical wire supplier for flexible welding cable or some other specialty grade of electrical wire or cable? Check out what we offer and get in touch with us at Sales@EWCSWire.com. We will be more than happy to help you out.