Welding set/supply question.

[steveB1]

hi, wondered if anybody could clear these questions up for me.

1, have a welding set at work which on the plate says 415v, 114A supply current.

does this 114A refer to total amps, i.e it'l be 38 per phase? or is it 14A per phase?

2, with 3 phase is this how it works where the equipment will pull equal amps down each phase roughly? or is there any flow of current between phases?

3, the circuit supplying the socket to plug into is protected by a 60 amp circuit breakers with 6mm live's, isnt this cable a bit undersized?

 

[Steve]

1. would think 38A per phase.

2. 3 phase appliances pull approx. equal amps down each phase and return them on the neutral. the current on the neutral therefore is approx. zero. Pure motor loads may not need a neutral, since a motor can be taken to be a balanced load. If the motor has additional control panels, it may need a neutral, or the controls may be wired between 2 phases. This is how i understand it anyway. I'm not a 3 phase expert though.

3. yes it is undersized.

 

[Lectrician]

What is the rating of the socket??