Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] TIG Welders

Hi Woody;
I pondered the same things when I bought a Lincoln square wave TIG-355 a few
years back. The high idle current requirements are due (in my case) to
three big capacitors on the input side of the welder. Seems power companies
don't like all the inductive loads that welders impose on their grid and
have thus convinced Lincoln to put capacitors in to balance the load.

The idle current on my welder was 65A. This is reactive current (or
whatever ya callit) so it doesn't show up on the meter. However, the lines
have to be capable of taking it.

My solution was to run 4ga wire from a 100A breaker and remove one of the
capacitors. I ran it for awhile on a 70A breaker with no problems. Since
mine is rated at 400A output and I have run it well over 300A several times,
you should have no problem with the 175A rig.

By the way - the Lincoln square wave TIG machines are unbelievably good
welders. They help make up for the crappy torches everybody sells. (No
matter how much money I spend on a TIG torch, they all shake as soon as I
pick them up. Crappy I say!)

Doug

----- Original Message -----
From: Woody <gggwood@...>
To: CAD <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2001 10:34 AM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] TIG Welders


> OK, I know this isn't quit the correct forum for this question
> but I've seen similar topics bandied about here before so
> I'll go ahead & ask.
>
> At some point in my future I'm going to buy a welder. My
> main concern is Aluminum welding so AC is a must.
> From the list, it seems the welder to have is the Lincoln
> Squarewave 175. Seems reasonable.
>
> The problem I'm having is the spec'ed input and out put
> ratings. The manual says the service feed must be 65A
> breakered at 125A on a 230V line.
>
> This seems like allot for a 150A welder. The output of
> 14.8V at the rated 150A is about 2.2KW. The input
> requirements of 230V @ 65A is almost 15KW.
>
> That means almost 13KW dissipation in the welder.
> Now, I'll admit I've probably got VA, Watts, RMS and
> the like all screwed up, but 13 KILOWATTS?
>
> The manual ALSO says this thing can be run on
> 8AWG Cu wire and a 50A plug.
>
> Come on!!! Somebody help me out here.
> What am I doing wrong...
>
> Has somebody actually got one of these things and
> if so what service are they using, what's it breakered
> at and is working with out setting anything on fire?
>
> -G
>
>
> Welcome to CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@...,an unmoderated list for the
discussion of shop built systems, for CAD, CAM, EDM, and DRO.
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com
> Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@egroups.com
> Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@egroups.com, wanliker@...
> Moderator: jmelson@... [Moderator]
> URL to this page: http://www.egroups.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> bill,
> List Manager
>