New owner of a Cutmaster 52

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I just picked up the Cutmaster 52,   Now I better gtt on some of the projects that I have been telling myself I "need" a plasma cutter to do.   A new hitch mount for the torn one on my my ATV.  finish a rifle Bench rest.  make some do dads for my ATV, and my motorcycle. a snow plow for the atv ( already have the barrel that I will use for the blade) just need to get some flat stock for the mount and turntable and some stock for the push tubes I have not used it yet but this machine looks nice.   Not like the 2 northern tool machines I had tried in the past.   and I got this one for only a few 100 more that the northern one. The gun on this one if like 2 times the size and the machine just seems to be built a lot better.  I can not wait to give it a try.   But I will be reading the manual to make sure that I am doing things correctly.
Reply:Well looks like I will not get to use the New Cutmaster 52 for a little bit.   Just realized that the circuit i was going to run the plasma on is only 30 amps, the book suggests 50 amps  for single phase 230.  I was going to upgrade the service in my house anyway.  Since I have an old  Federal Pacific load center, that is pretty much a fire waiting to happen from what I understand,  and I have had issues with it in the past.  had a 110 volt  outlet in the house  pretty much melt down ( with nothing connected to it ) and  the Breaker never tripped.
Reply:I suggest you follow through with the power upgrade but that Cutmaster will operate on that 30 amp circuit - just not up to full capacity.As for that 110 volt outlet melt down, it had to start with a load attached compromising the recepticle in order for it to fail with nothing plugged in.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Duanethanks for the info,  I thought I could use the Cutmaster on the lower end on the 30 amp circuit.  But I want to be able to use all the power  so I am going to get the power upgraded. I do not remember ever having anything plugged into that 110 outlet. It was behind an old china cabinet most of the time.    I think the issue is that the house has aluminimum wire in it and they seem to get loose over time. and I could not get to that outlet easy to check it once in a while Like I try to do with the other outlets.
Reply:Originally Posted by bigmike6970Duanethanks for the info,  I thought I could use the Cutmaster on the lower end on the 30 amp circuit.  But I want to be able to use all the power  so I am going to get the power upgraded. I do not remember ever having anything plugged into that 110 outlet. It was behind an old china cabinet most of the time.    I think the issue is that the house has aluminimum wire in it and they seem to get loose over time. and I could not get to that outlet easy to check it once in a while Like I try to do with the other outlets.
Reply:That probably made your day"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Aluminum wire tends to corrode under humid conditions, and cause galvanic action when connected to other metals. You might have had a bad connection there due to the wire, and the load was farther along in the circuit. It might be a good idea to test the new machine somewhere else, if you have friends with the proper circuit. Replacing the circuit box and checking/replacing all the wire would be a big and long job, I'd think.
Reply:Could have been a mouse I guess I have not seen one of them in the house for  years,  the cats normally keep them at bay.  In fact I do not remember the last time I even found a mouse nest or seen a mouse outside in years. With no mice the cats, over the years had to start going after birds.  How would you like to find that on your porch in the morning.  The circuit that I would be running the cutter on is right behind the load center. Only about 3ft of cable at the most. nothing else on that circuit, it was put in by my dad for his welder when he owned the house.  I will check that wire also to make sure that it is up to spec and it not it will get replaced should not be too bad since it is only a  few feet if I need new wire.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2Aluminum wire tends to corrode under humid conditions, and cause galvanic action when connected to other metals. You might have had a bad connection there due to the wire, and the load was farther along in the circuit. It might be a good idea to test the new machine somewhere else, if you have friends with the proper circuit. Replacing the circuit box and checking/replacing all the wire would be a big and long job, I'd think.