Welding connection

[David E]

This possibly be in the electrical forum but it is a tools question.

I have a 160A welder, and have been welding at 115A (only using 3.2mm electrodes), but the 13A fuze keeps blowing. Should I have a dedicated 16A circuit for this with a blue 16A socket?

 

[Hitachimad]

I gather its a mma welder, or stick welder, you maybe overloading the machine when you try to strike the arc, if the rod sticks, it will try drawing as much power as it can, resulting in a blown fuse. Have you tried 2.5mm rods, they wont draw as much current.

 

[coshhassessor]

Short answer, yes.

The rule of thumb (1A per thou of diameter or 40A per mm) puts you at the low end of the current range for 3.2's so you can't really gain the full benefits from an electrode that size. Get a dedicated supply with its own breaker at the CU (not less than 32A), connected with suitable cable, and you will get around this problem.

Even 2.5's really need to run at 100A, and the draw from the transformer at startup is really quite eye-watering.

If you're doing any significant amount of welding, you won't regret it.

 

[David E]

Right then off to the wholesaler for the blue plug & socket.

Many thanks

 

[coshhassessor]

David,

unless you have that blue plug on a proper, dedicated circuit with a decent sized breaker and decent sized cable, all you are doing is moving the problem. On top of that, the fuse is a safety device. Think carefully before simply replacing it with a bigger one.

 

[Hitachimad]

Your not supposed to do it yourself either, unless of course you are a proper sparky.
Might be woth getting a quick bit of advice from the electrical forum page.

 

[chappers]

have you got a cooker socket on a 40amp circuit you could use this provided your extension lead is up to the job.

 

[coshhassessor]

Please don't.

David, I strongly suggest you re-post this in the electrical forum.

 

[joe-90]

Are you saying that the 13 amp plug fuse keeps blowing?
If that is the case then you have an overcurrent problem with the welder.

Connecting to a beafier supply isn't going to stop that from happening.

I've used welders on many properties without any problem whatsoever.

Let's face it, they wouldn't manufacture them if they weren't, 'fit for the purpose'.



joe

 

[Adam_151]

Have an electrician install you a 32A SP ceeform, fed from preferably a C type breaker in the CU (the electrician will be able to calculate whether a type C can be used/design the circuit so type C can be used), and have a 32A SP ceeform plug fitted to the welder

 

[Spark123]

What does the information (plate?) on the welder say? Does the welder have its own inbuilt circuit breakers? I too am leaning towards saying to go for a 32A ceeform, but without this information this could be wrong.

 

[andy]

if it came with a standard plug then i would assume its designed to run from a 13A socket. so if you do change it, i would say it should be a 16A plug/socket on a C16/20

 

[Adam_151]

I would say that 16A is likely to be too small, if its taking out a 13A plug top fuse, chances are its taking more than 16A.

There is always the possibility that the macine is being overrun and its not supposed to take more than 13A tho, I suppose...

 

[andy]

I would say that 16A is likely to be too small, if its taking out a 13A plug top fuse, chances are its taking more than 16A.

then why would it be designed and sold with a 13A plug if its rated more

 

[kendor]

sounds to me like you are expecting too much out of your welder for the type of work you are doing, are you winding the adjuster too high to get it to weld properly? part of welding is to strike the balance between current needed and what the welder is capable of supplying.