steve wrote:
It seems all the big welders are 15amp so i'd have to get a 15 amp point installed and that sounds too hard. These welders cost from $1200 up to $3000.
The smaller 10amp ones seem to be gas/gasless.
Do the 10amp gas/gasless ones do welds as good as the bigger 15amp ones when using gas ?
I currently have a gasless and the welds look ok most of the time, but when using a nice big gas mig the welds look soo much better.
The smaller 10amp ones seem to be gas/gasless.
Do the 10amp gas/gasless ones do welds as good as the bigger 15amp ones when using gas ?
I currently have a gasless and the welds look ok most of the time, but when using a nice big gas mig the welds look soo much better.
Hi Steve
Genereally speaking, the larger machines have 15A plugs because they have larger internal transofmers. These give longer duty cycles and more consistant welds. You CAN run a 15A machine on 10A supply, but it really restricts the power supply and can reduce your duty cycle and welding amps.
As you know my machine is a 255 single phase lincoln. I have been running it on a dedictaed 20A supply for a while ( 2.5mm wire) and recently I have been doing some HEAVY welding. Consequently I have been tripping the 20A RCD on the board after half an hour or so of welding. I had a mate come and check it out, and at full power, the mig was drawing over 34A
So now I am having to run 6mm cable with 32A plug and RCD.
If you do buy a bigger machine, it would be worth the money to put the coirrect power supply in. Otherwise you will have nothing but problems in the future.