amperage question

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If im welding at 90amps on my machine (220V), how many amps is that pulling from the plug/wall/ect. Reason being, i wanted to open a small booth at a local flea market for welding. They said my power limit is 16 amps, because it will pop the breakers. If i knew a limit of amerpage i could weld at without popping a breaker, i might be able to persuade them into letting my open the booth...Lincoln Square Wave 175 TIGLincoln 110v flux core welder (my 1st)Clarke 180EN MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by sen2twoIf im welding at 90amps on my machine (220V), how many amps is that pulling from the plug/wall/ect. Reason being, i wanted to open a small booth at a local flea market for welding. They said my power limit is 16 amps, because it will pop the breakers. If i knew a limit of amerpage i could weld at without popping a breaker, i might be able to persuade them into letting my open the booth...
Reply:The info plate somewhere on the welder will tell you input volts/amps.It may not draw peak amps all the time, but it has the capability of drawing those amps at higher settings.Also, you can weld with the thing while a buddy watches amperage draw with a clamp on multimeter like electricians use.  Clamp it around the input power cord."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:A clamp ammeter will only work if clamped around one lead.  When clamped around two leads (power cord), the magnetic field of one lead cancels out the magnetic field of the other lead and the ammeter will read Zero.
Reply:Wow, you’re going to be welding at a flea market!!! Didn’t anyone pickup on this after reading the Flash and Sunburn posts? How do you plain on protecting the passersby from the flash? Do you have screens?
Reply:Volts times amps = watts * about 65% efficency.   You will draw more than 16 amps.Welding volts about 27 give or take 5.   Amps = 90  2430 welding watts 2430/220 = 11 amps * 1.65% = About 18 amps, give or take.  It takes a couple more to start the weld, so you are kind of out of luck.Mig would take a little less and so would an inverter.I am not exactly right on, but close enough.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:ohms law of electricity. It's a wonderful thing.Your machine should have all the electric specs on the label plate.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720