Mig welder power supply

[Netherfield]

Might be suffering volt drop if the wiring isn't up to scratch.

 

[MontyK]

I run mine through a 13a plug with a, erm, slightly bigger fuse in it . Never trips the rcd though. I’d try try a a different rcd if you’ve got one.

Cut down nail

 

[milkloss]

Try a type D trip. It’s not really cricket but they trip at 10-20xfull load current whereas the type C is 5-10. They absorb the spikes better (rather they don’t trip as easily with spikes) than a type C but should still save a life.

 

[dave mountain]

Try a type D trip. It’s not really cricket but they trip at 10-20xfull load current whereas the type C is 5-10. They absorb the spikes better (rather they don’t trip as easily with spikes) than a type C but should still save a life.

could work but if its tripping at half power its surely better to just get a 32a b/c type mcb and some 4mm cable? otherwise the other half of the welder is pretty pointless

 

[Phil P]

Cut down nail

I like to refer to them as a “Noncompliant Amperage Integrated limiting System” or “nails” for short.

 

[Exfarmer]

Is it possible to run a single phase off the 3 phase socket?

It may be possible even on a 4 pin socket. You must consult a competent electrician

 

[dave mountain]

It may be possible even on a 4 pin socket. You must consult a competent electrician

it is not. no neutral on 4 pin.
edit: @Exfarmer you see below it says 3P + earth, on 5 pin it would say 3P + N + earth

 

[tr250]

@dave mountain

 

[dave mountain]

thats 4 pin 3 phase so no good, and its only 16A anyway, (guessing its the one labelled compressor?)
best bet just get a C32 MCB, some 4mm t+e, and a 32A socket, and get an electrician to fit it.

Hager NCN132A 32a 10ka SP Type C MCB

Buy online Hager NCN132A 32a 10ka SP Type C MCB with 24 hour delivery from Edwardes

www.edwardes.co.uk

 

[milkloss]

thats 4 pin 3 phase so no good, and its only 16A anyway, (guessing its the one labelled compressor?)
best bet just get a C32 MCB, some 4mm t+e, and a 32A socket, and get an electrician to fit it.

Hager NCN132A 32a 10ka SP Type C MCB

Buy online Hager NCN132A 32a 10ka SP Type C MCB with 24 hour delivery from Edwardes

www.edwardes.co.uk

You are right.

Just read the spec. r Tech list it as a 32a input machine so that’s what it needs to run at full capacity. Do a proper job with the wiring and use at least a type c trip on it.

 

[tr250]

thats 4 pin 3 phase so no good, and its only 16A anyway, (guessing its the one labelled compressor?)
best bet just get a C32 MCB, some 4mm t+e, and a 32A socket, and get an electrician to fit it.

Hager NCN132A 32a 10ka SP Type C MCB

Buy online Hager NCN132A 32a 10ka SP Type C MCB with 24 hour delivery from Edwardes

www.edwardes.co.uk

Thankyou yes sounds like I’ll have to get electrician in the new year

 

[dave mountain]

thats what you need to do it right. t+e not the best for farm buildings. Plus some 13mm clips or some cable tray and cable ties

 

[nosmokenopoke]

Try a type D trip. It’s not really cricket but they trip at 10-20xfull load current whereas the type C is 5-10. They absorb the spikes better (rather they don’t trip as easily with spikes) than a type C but should still save a life.

This has always worked for me!

 

[Exfarmer]

it is not. no neutral on 4 pin.
edit: @Exfarmer you see below it says 3P + earth, on 5 pin it would say 3P + N + earth

If you note I posted that it needs a competent electrician , without a close knowledge of the machine I cannot say if it could run off a 3 phase supply, but trust me many older machines can and did, as they are not specific about voltage. A lot of later machines only actually need the neutral to run the motor drive for the wire. Obviously if it is one of these it must have the neutral

 

[Exfarmer]

There is a lot of confusion about the power required to run a welder.
A 200 amp welder can draw more power than a 300 amp welder
This is because different welders run at different voltages
So 50 volt welder running at 200 amps will pull 42 amps from a socket at full tilt 50/240 x 200
Whereas the 300 amp machine would only pull 25
This is an extreme case of course.
If possible always run them off the 3 phase as it nearly halves the amperage pull from the mains
Most “ 3 phase” welders actually only run on two and as Posted above many can run on one or two, certainly the higher end machines.
Please do not attempt to change the wiring on any machine if you are not competent

 

[Pistonbroke]

Maybe talk to Rtech. They have a great reputation for backup and would rather help advise than you turn out disappointed with the machine.

 

[startinghandle]

110 cte is safer, from a genset it wont be cte anyway so not much safer. 110 is not compulsory on construction sites any more since the advent of rcds. Can use 240 with an rcd instead. You should be using a lot more than 140a on 4mm rods or you won't be getting any penetration.

i wouldnt really say having a 110 outlet on a generator is an advantage, if you have 110 tools then you will have a transformer anyway, which will give you proper 110 CTE, and if you plug the transformer into the generator it will be able to produce significantly more power than if running straight from the 110v socket on the genny, as well as being CTE. this is why i always use a transformer on the genny rather than the 110v socket

Welder set at 130 amps is more than adequate for 4mm rods to get good penetration and 90 for 3.25 rods , never had any problems

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Just a general observation not aimed at any one but It’s a bit frightening reading through threads like this that so nany don’t understand the differences between RCDs, MCBs and RCBOs etc yet are more than happy to play about with electrics and ‘bigger fuses’!!! If your circuit has a 16 anp breaker then if wired by a sparky it will have wiring deemed and calculated for a 16 amp supply over its run. Usually 2.5 or 4mm depending on cable run. Upping the trip to 32 is not an option as it will then overload the wiring.

Then there’s discussions of wiring single phase off 5 pin plugs which a lot of sparkies won’t do but you can buy professionally made adapters for the job anyhow. I take it that everyone that has three phase supply knows that a 415v kick will fry you not just whack you across the room if you happen to touch or connect with something you shouldn’t!!!

 

[dave mountain]

Welder set at 130 amps is more than adequate for 4mm rods to get good penetration and 90 for 3.25 rods , never had any problems

Should be 115-165 on 3.2, 150-220 on 4.0 (assuming you are using standard 7018) 7018 is the only one that will give you any hope of getting penetration without cleaning but will still make it weaker, especially if you aren't even burning the rods extra hot to get through the crap, which you definitely aren't if you are running 4.0 at 140. I usually run 130 on 3.2 as my default setting then tweak from there.

 

[Pistonbroke]

Most farmers have never heard of 7018 rods.( I have never had any because I haven't got any where to store them) Local farm supplies shops will have a couple of boxes of 6013 and ,unless it's for very thick section, your amperages look very high. Photo is 8mm angle on the side of a solid trailer axle,one pass with 4 mm on a parweld inverter at 135 amps on a fifty metre extension lead. It ain't coming off soon.