Another welder

[OnlyStihl]

The ole Lincoln mailboxes were a helluva machine.


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I had been looking for one. To restore. Never pulled the trigger on the many that always seem to be available. The one I did buy it was just about timing. I'm still thinking about pulling the shell off and giving it a fine paint job like the one pictured. Couldn't be happier with the one I bought. It is above and beyond what I'll ever use it for, but the deal was to good to pass on.

 

[OnlyStihl]

Just watch what projects you take, frames on vehicles or even trailers can open you to liability on them so watch what you do because if an accident happens you may get to talk to the insurance company.

It is hard to find welding work, even when offering the work for FREE. Lots of people either can't read or have problems understanding (illiteracy?) that I am NOT giving away free welders.

I got this gem from a guy looking for, what apparently is a miracle. Wants me to "weld" this part in his Suburban. Can't weld rust, I told him. He's probably devastated or thinks I'm incompetent or too lazy to even try.

 

[OnlyStihl]

While welding yesterday the 60Amp breaker at the meter popped. This breaker might need replacing. Today I tested the welder set at 120 Amps. My highest setting so far with a couple of 7018 rods. With the deep freezer unplugged the welder did great, no breaker popped. At 120 amps the rod burned deep into the riding mower blade. Never seen that with a mower blade, nor experienced such heat from a welder. I could feel it on my hands and body. I doubt anybody is man enough to use this Lincoln Electric IdealArc at a higher setting. The 4 to 5 inch bead was intensely glowing the entire length. Wow!

 

[lehman live edge slab]

While welding yesterday the 60Amp breaker at the meter popped. This breaker might need replacing. Today I tested the welder set at 120 Amps. My highest setting so far with a couple of 7018 rods. With the deep freezer unplugged the welder did great, no breaker popped. At 120 amps the rod burned deep into the riding mower blade. Never seen that with a mower blade, nor experienced such heat from a welder. I could feel it on my hands and body. I doubt anybody is man enough to use this Lincoln Electric IdealArc at a higher setting. The 4 to 5 inch bead was intensely glowing the entire length. Wow!

The amperage is all dependent on type and size of rod. I’ve welded with large 7024 at 300-350 amps on thick plate flat. The rod travel and burn down were about the same at that amperage. I really am surprised the breaker popped may be weak, I realize you had a freezer plugged in but 120 amps on the welder shouldn’t draw that hard I wouldn’t think.

 

[OnlyStihl]

eeThe amperage is all dependent on type and size of rod. I’ve welded with large 7024 at 300-350 amps on thick plate flat. The rod travel and burn down were about the same at that amperage. I really am surprised the breaker popped may be weak, I realize you had a freezer plugged in but 120 amps on the welder shouldn’t draw that hard I wouldn’t think.

Something is off. That's why I ran some beads with the settings high. The freezer is very old and very large. It was free many years ago. I don't recognize the brand name.

 

[Bill G]

The amperage is all dependent on type and size of rod. I’ve welded with large 7024 at 300-350 amps on thick plate flat. The rod travel and burn down were about the same at that amperage. I really am surprised the breaker popped may be weak, I realize you had a freezer plugged in but 120 amps on the welder shouldn’t draw that hard I wouldn’t think.

Not at all. Something seems odd

 

[Bill G]

Something is off. That's why I ran some beads with the settings high. The freezer is very old and very large. It was free many years ago. I don't recognize the brand name.

No matter the age a freezer will not pull over 15 amps

 

[OnlyStihl]

No matter the age a freezer will not pull over 15 amps

If it happens again, I'm replacing the breaker.

 

[Al Smith]

That old machine might have something that came loose inside .My old Marqutte I have at my house,that came over on the Mayflower ,multi tap buzz box I run on a 40 amp breaker .The 250 amp 1940 ish Lincoln buzz box ,movable coil at my shop is on a 60 amp as is the 400 amp converted Westinghouse DC machine is also on that circuit .One man shop and I can't use both of them at the same time . I might add the original three phase DC being converted to single phase most likely puts out around 230 amps. Easy enough to figure out, 400 amps divided by 1.73 because the third( phase ) wire is missing .

 

[OnlyStihl]

That old machine might have something that came loose inside .My old Marqutte I have at my house,that came over on the Mayflower ,multi tap buzz box I run on a 40 amp breaker .The 250 amp 1940 ish Lincoln buzz box ,movable coil at my shop is on a 60 amp as is the 400 amp converted Westinghouse DC machine is also on that circuit .One man shop and I can't use both of them at the same time . I might add the original three phase DC being converted to single phase most likely puts out around 230 amps. Easy enough to figure out, 400 amps divided by 1.73 because the third( phase ) wire is missing .

I did pull the panels off and didn't see anything amiss. Something to look at again, but after I try lower hanging fruit. I do have a 60 Amp breaker that was going to replace the 50 in the garage. IF this happens again, I'll try the new 60 at the meter.

 

[Bill G]

I did pull the panels off and didn't see anything amiss. Something to look at again, but after I try lower hanging fruit. I do have a 60 Amp breaker that was going to replace the 50 in the garage. IF this happens again, I'll try the new 60 at the meter.

What size breaker is the welder connected to?

 

[OnlyStihl]

What size breaker is the welder connected to?

Dedicated 50 Amp for the welder in the garage. Garage has a 60 Amp from the metered box. So I've 10 Amps of juice surplus if the welder is at maximum draw. Freezer is old and startup surge is probably 3 or 4 times running average draw, and that is my 2nd theory on why the breaker popped. First being that the breaker needs replacing.

I'm on the fence whether or not to swap out the 60 with a 70 or 80 amp breaker in the metered box. I have sufficient gauge wire to handle up to 90 amps.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Dedicated 50 Amp for the welder in the garage. Garage has a 60 Amp from the metered box. So I've 10 Amps of juice surplus if the welder is at maximum draw. Freezer is old and startup is probably 3 or 4 times running average draw.

I'm on the fence whether or not to swap out the 60 with a 70 or 80 amp breaker in the metered box. I have sufficient gauge wire to handle up to 90 amps.

Why would you only put a 70-80 amp in if your wire is sized for 90? Makes no sense to not wire to capacity going into the garage, everything else should be on its own breaker from there that’s sized for application.

 

[Al Smith]

Welders come under slightly different rules under the national electric code . Article 630 covers it and if I'm not mistaken can be protected by a breaker not over 200 percent of the max load of the welder meaning in most home owner situations says you can use a 50 amp on number 10 wire .The reason is that welders are not considered a constant load .In theory they have a 70 percent duty cycle .

 

[Al Smith]

Now then that machine that blows the breaker .My old Marqette is as old as I am .As such the transfomer windings had bare conductors and a couple of cracked ceramic insulators . That pot licker could light you up on occasion .Took me a long time to find the components for a 75 year old machine using e-bay . The bare windings I sprayed with glyptal .It does just fine now . That old antique is all copper wound and weighes a ton .Doesn't even have a cooling fan .The original Lincoln "tomb stone" was a plug and play and it all copper also and no fan . Back then they were made to last forever and many have .

 

[OnlyStihl]

Welders come under slightly different rules under the national electric code . Article 630 covers it and if I'm not mistaken can be protected by a breaker not over 200 percent of the max load of the welder meaning in most home owner situations says you can use a 50 amp on number 10 wire .The reason is that welders are not considered a constant load .In theory they have a 70 percent duty cycle .

Is this a limiting factor? 50 amp welding plug 6-50p. What is the next step-up plug for Amps greater then 50?

 

[OnlyStihl]

Why would you only put a 70-80 amp in if your wire is sized for 90? Makes no sense to not wire to capacity going into the garage, everything else should be on its own breaker from there that’s sized for application.

I know. Just seems radical going from 60 to 90. But if the wire can handle it, then why not. BUT if all that being true why was the circuit originally wired for greater current, but only a 60 Amp breaker was installed? I'm no electrician, and think about this for a while before jumping.

 

[Al Smith]

As far as the plugs I've usually used range plugs which I think are 50-60 amps .However they do make plugs that are over100 amps but my word if you have to buy them they are like the national dept .Those are locking types used in industrial applications .My shop has two 100 amp recepticles on each side of the main shop.40 by 60 .Fed by number 4 thhn wire rated at 95 amps landed on range plugs . My main panal is the largest single phase unit I've ever seen rated at 400 amps .Full of bolt in breakers cost me all of a whole 40 dollars at an auction . Ordered for a school but never used .The guy I was bidding against was miffed .I told him the way to be a successful bidder was being the last bidder which made him snort .

 

[OnlyStihl]

As far as the plugs I've usually used range plugs which I think are 50-60 amps .However they do make plugs that are over100 amps but my word if you have to buy them they are like the national dept .Those are locking types used in industrial applications .My shop has two 100 amp recepticles on each side of the main shop.40 by 60 .Fed by number 4 thhn wire rated at 95 amps landed on range plugs . My main panal is the largest single phase unit I've ever seen rated at 400 amps .Full of bolt in breakers cost me all of a whole 40 dollars at an auction . Ordered for a school but never used .The guy I was bidding against was miffed .I told him the way to be a successful bidder was being the last bidder which made him snort .

Sounds wild. Is this it?

 

[OnlyStihl]

I ordered a 90 amp breaker for the metered box, and at the same time will install the 60Amp on the welder circuit in the garage. All existing wire will handle the upgrades. According to the input/output Lincoln plate on the back the welder will hum along fine at 200 Amps and all breakers/wire will handle the load. From my recent use and stress testing I will never get close to using so much power. 1/8 rod at 125 etching a deep bead in a mower blade is a forewarning that that is already enough.