explain please....

admin

As a newbie who plays around with my fancy ProWave185 and MM135....I have a few questions.....Why do people insist on saying a 110v mig welder isnt sufficient to weld .120" wall tubing when it will probably only take 125 amps (from what I have read)?....125amp output through 110v or 220v should be the same.....And if one were welding the EXACT same steel....using mig and tig.....should they be set at the same output? or does one take less amperage to weld the same thickness steel?...Just curious.Tiggly!TA 185 Pro WaveTD cutmaster 52Millermatic 135Dewalt chopsawHarbour junk bandsaw
Reply:the duty cycle of the machine has alot to do with it. most 110's have a real low duty cycle and .120 tube is on the max end of what the machine could do so you'd be stopping alot because of the duty cycle.I like to party!
Reply:When you weld with wire (mig or fluxcore) you're setting the voltage output of the machine.  When you weld with stick or tig, you're setting the current (amperage) output.  So, no, you don't use the same settings, but, yes, the different processes do take about the same heat to weld the same joint.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:So what you are saying is that on a 110v mig, to increase your output you increase your voltage.....isnt 1 watt=1V1A?....So on a mig welder the current remains the same and to change the output you increase the voltage?....Wouldnt it be more appropriate to rate MIG welders in Watts then?Or am I missing something?...(probably am)TigglyTA 185 Pro WaveTD cutmaster 52Millermatic 135Dewalt chopsawHarbour junk bandsaw
Reply:The input amps on a 220v machine will be about 1/2 of a 110v machine. This means if your 110v machine draws 15amps a similar 220v machine would draw only 7.5amps. All that input amps on the smaller machine = more heat in the machine which will limit your duty cycle.Also most 110v welders are rated at max power on a 20amp input not a 15amp thats standard in most home breakers. That means that your 110v machine will not run at full power any ways. I'm looking at millers 140 in their catalouge. 20% dutycycle is 90amps at 18vdc output with 20amp 115v input. this drops to 20% dutycycle, 63 amps at 21v dc on a 15amp 115v input.
Reply:Originally Posted by TigglyMigglySo what you are saying is that on a 110v mig, to increase your output you increase your voltage.....isnt 1 watt=1V1A?....So on a mig welder the current remains the same and to change the output you increase the voltage?....Wouldnt it be more appropriate to rate MIG welders in Watts then?Or am I missing something?...(probably am)Tiggly
Reply:I have a Lincoln 100 Weldpac. That is the 110V machine and I bought it about 10 years ago. It will weld the heck out of .125 wall material. It just won't weld much of it before it pops that white button on the side and then you have to wait while it cools off. At least it has a breaker to protect the machine if you get carried away and weld too long at one time. If you want to weld in a hurry you need a larger machine plus it will give you the capability to weld thicker metal. Which again will bring the duty cycle into play.
Reply:Just some quick info for you also......any 110 volt machine....Miller, Hobart, Lincolin etc. even if it is a 135 140 etc will only put out the max 140 /135 for a very very short time....so to get 125 amps out of one on even a 20 amp breaker is asking alot.....look at the volt curves of say the HH140 under load it will only put out 17 volts @ 125 amps (tap 4) vs my HH210 it will put out 24 volts @ 125 amps (tap7) the HH210 will match the HH140's top end out put on tap #3 and on paper the HH210 will hit 125 amps on tap #2..... with solid 0.030 wire on tap #2 I can weld sheet metal.....yes it is only puting out 15 volts.....
Reply:Just MY opinion.  Most or all 110 volt MIG welders will only put out 100 amps AT WELDING VOLTAGE.  Yeah, you can get 140 amps at maybe 10 volts which won't run a bead.  If you do the math, you get 2200 watts from a 20 amp circuit.  Figure in efficiency and 100 amps is pretty good.  Flux core wire will get a little more out of the machine.Those 110 migs are awesome for the intended use, but try to stretch it.......David
Reply:Well I think you should read through this post to learn about 110 mig welders. This was a very long but awesome read. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...10+mig+weldersMiller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Originally Posted by TigglyMigglyAs a newbie who plays around with my fancy ProWave185 and MM135....I have a few questions.....Why do people insist on saying a 110v mig welder isnt sufficient to weld .120" wall tubing when it will probably only take 125 amps (from what I have read)?....125amp output through 110v or 220v should be the same.....And if one were welding the EXACT same steel....using mig and tig.....should they be set at the same output? or does one take less amperage to weld the same thickness steel?...Just curious.Tiggly!
Reply:Just go ahead and get a 220v 180 (Miller or Lincoln) as it will weld .120 wall all day long and never overheat and you have the extra power available when you need it.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.