HOT Torch Handle

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I was welding yesterday with my new Lincoln Pro Mig 180 and after about 5 to 10 minutes I noticed that the torch handle and about the first foot of the cable from the torch handle warmed up nicely. It wasn't so hot that you could not touch it, just the fact it got hot. Is this normal? Is the Torch defective? Do other machines do the same and do they require a  cool down time after this short of a welding time? ThanksWhitey
Reply:Originally Posted by WhiteyminI was welding yesterday with my new Lincoln Pro Mig 180 and after about 5 to 10 minutes I noticed that the torch handle and about the first foot of the cable from the torch handle warmed up nicely. It wasn't so hot that you could not touch it, just the fact it got hot. Is this normal? Is the Torch defective? Do other machines do the same and do they require a  cool down time after this short of a welding time? ThanksWhitey
Reply:I think the heating of the handle is resistance heating from the current flow.  Probably very little arc heat is being conducted back into the cable.
Reply:Just as the machine has a duty-cycle and current limits, so does the torch.It's normal.
Reply:That happened to me once with my arc - it's just a 240A Clarke.  It turned out I had pulled the cable (which obviously wasn't screwed in well enough to start with) slightly out of the housing while I was working.  You know what it's like just trying to get that foot longer weld before moving the machine - it had actually started to melt the plastic handle before I noticed.  At least I had been taught well and always wore my gloves - could have been a bit sore!www.abou27.com