but it also had a 10% duty cycle so I bumped it lots of times. <font color="blue"> </font color> <font color="black"> </font color> I've done a fair amount of welding over the years but not paid alot of attencion to the welders, when you say bumped it do you mean it shuts itself down or what. ?? I normally don't do alot of welding but this winter I built a caddigger and that was alot of welding used almost 50lbs of 6011. most machines I have used were 100 percent as was my last one. wire inside rubbed and shorted out the winding big time. It may well cost more that it is worth to repair . machine is about 25 years old and was used when I bought it . Airco 225 wasp engine driven. I'm just trying to figure out what I might replace it with, and duty cycles seems to be a question that needs to be answered. thanks again for all your comments.
</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
do you mean it shuts itself down
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Yep, it would just shut down except for the cooling fan still running. I'd just have to wait 5 to 10 minutes for it to reset. That certainly would not be acceptable in a commercial environment, and was even a bit annoying for me, but for home use, and in no hurry, it just gave me time to have another cup of coffee. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
I've tripped it on my little wire welder. Welding full power on a long bead, and both times it was a hot day (90's). On the lower settings, I've never managed to weld long enough to trip it. I believe it's something like a 20% cycle.
Duty cycle is much more of a consideration on the "strictly-hobby" class of buzzbox welders. Anything that runs on 120V has limititations that you would never reach in a 220V lincoln "tombstone" for example. The circuit feeding it the 120V machine is also a limiting factor. [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Last Fall I welded a new floor in a grain wagon using a 120V wire welding machine that a farmer friend of ours owns, and not only did I have to end up putting in a new circuit in his machine shed to keep myself in primary power, but I did trip out the overheat mechanism in the welder a couple of times. [img]/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]
I have a question that I haven't really had answered.
I have a 30 amp curcuit using 10/3 electrical wiring.
I plan on welding 1/4" steel and 1/8" aluminum (maybe if a mig), but definately the 1/4" steel... What do I need to look for in a welder ? What size should I consider as a weekend welder ? What would be your suggestion ?
Well,somebody else will have to answer the wiring thing,but since you want to weld both al. and steel and its all light duty stuff,you can get by with just a m.i.g. machine.m.i.g. is what you probably will want to weld the al. with and you change wire and gas to weld the steel.Now if you have 220/230 volts available,you want to get that in a machine.If you have to stay with 115 volt,then you are going to be limited,in the amount of current output as well as duty cycle. Shelding gas used for steel would probably be co2,for al.,argon.You will also need areulator and flow meter as well asgas hose,these will probably come with the machine,also a different type of drive rollers for al.MILLER/HOBART,AND LINCOLN would be good choices.As far as money,get as much power as you can afford.For a 220/230 input one,which is what I would recomend,you might get one for around 700 to 800 dollars.On the other hand if all you are planning on doing with it is just fix something that has broken or play around with,a 115 volt input might suit you,just keep in mind that that 115 volt won't get any more powerfull or the duty cycle won't increase as you get to wanting to do more,and a good one of those will cost you maybe 400 dollars. RICHARD GAUTHIER
RG has given you the advice that you need. My advice regarding the input power supply is that the 10/3 is adequate; BUT....you should open the boxes and the plug and TIGHTEN every connection, BEFORE they are cooked by prolonged overheating. That is the cheapest and best insurance policy you could possibly buy against a power supply failure. Retorque the breaker screws, AND the plug terminals....good n' tight....use your best 75 AMP [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] screwdriver
I have a Hobart 175 which would work well with your situation. According to Hobart, this particular 220V MIG welder will do up to 1/4" stock in a single pass and can be operated on a 30 amp circuit and 10/2 wire (two shielded plus your ground), which is probably what you have.
I don't doubt that there are many other brands and models of welders out there which will do what you want. I mention this one because I happen to own one and did the research on the very questions you asked and wired for it using a 30 amp, 220V breaker and 10/2 wire.
Good luck with whatever you decide to get. I hope this helps. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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