Dedicated outlet: What a Difference!

admin

Hi all,I'm a new guy here and new to the practice of welding as well (though as an engineer I've had lots and lots of stuff made incorporating welding).  I recentely decided to build a smoker, so on the recommendation of a friend (and a good deal on CL) I purchased one of these for $175:http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...2691_200332691Well, I've got about 15 feet of weld bead under my belt with the Northern Tool welder using FC. It's doing pretty darn good. I'm doing ok (after the first 6 feet or so of weld!) and getting better.I was feeling like I just wasn't getting good penetration, it was ok, but not great. When I ground back the welds I wasn't getting more than an 1/8" or so into the 1/4 plate and determined I needed better weld prep (bevelling, etc.). But one thing I couldn't figure out is why the welder never over heated. I'd weld and weld waiting for the thermal shut off to trip and it wouldn't - the thing kept chugging along as though it were an industrial duty cycle machine. I was (every 20 minutes or so) tripping the breaker in the garage, which was very annoying, so today I wired in a dedicated 20A outlet.WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! I had been getting a significant voltage drop along the circuit I had been using, but when I went right to the breaker panel on a 20A line with 10 gauge wire and a good 20A outlet, suddenly this welder was a new machine! It was like I turned up the welder another click on the dial! And the thermal shut off started kicking in right on schedule, indicating I was truly running more power through the machine than before.The lesson: To get the most out of your welder wire a dedicated outlet for it and use short, large gauge extension cords if you use an extension at all. Huge, huge difference. Almost makes up for all the little splatter burns on my arms!I'm sure this is old news to most of you, but perhaps there are some other newbies out there that feel their welder is marginal and could use the benefit of a bit more power.Matt
Reply:Congratulations on the new machine Matt and you've just proven and acknowledged one of the electrical basics that some never seem to grasp.  You obviously realized the problem from the breaker tripping all the time which is a clear indicator of the condition you solved.  Good job.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:As an engineer I'm sure you have a smoker in mind. This is an interesting post in a forum I think you'll find interesting as well. http://thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20771It's good to see an engineer doing a welding project, so many don't understand the practical aspects of projects. I've had many projects over the years that appeared to work "on paper" that didn't work in the shop or field. Enjoy the new welder, looks like your already "hooked!"Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Originally Posted by gizzardgutzAs an engineer I'm sure you have a smoker in mind. This is an interesting post in a forum I think you'll find interesting as well. http://thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20771It's good to see an engineer doing a welding project, so many don't understand the practical aspects of projects. I've had many projects over the years that appeared to work "on paper" that didn't work in the shop or field. Enjoy the new welder, looks like your already "hooked!"
Reply:Nes I’m not familiar with that model from Northern. I have a Century 170, 230V from northern, heavily modified. Look into Steve Biliels welding videos, lots of good info.The first thing I noted was on running long beads the ground cable was warmer then I’d like. I replaced the # 6 cable with # 4 and not only did the cable run cooler but the arc has more pep. If your unit has a cooling fan it should run continuously and the vent, holes in the case could be larger. I also added a drop of heat-sink grease under each diode in the rectifier. I found that the connections from the transformer to the rectifier were a loop around a stud and heeled in place by a nut. I replaced the loops with heavy gauge copper terminals. All made a significant improvement. Can’t say you can do the same.
Reply:Great!  All you need is a set of leather sleeves to ward off those spatter burns and you'll be all set!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Another thing that would help you improve your welds tremendously, if you have not done it yet is.If you are using the hand held shield that more than likely came with that machine, toss it in a corner and get a good helmet, auto dark or not, doesn't matter, to free up your other hand, and use that hand to help steady and guide your gun!The steadier your gun hand, the better your weld will be!#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!