Any MIG welders that run on 13amp?

[Muzzleloader]

Noobie question: are there any mig welders that run on a normal 13amp socket?

Sorry if this is a stoopid question

 

[Hitch]

Obviously it needs to be single phase, and 240v.... most machines under about the 180amp mark will run from a 13a plug, with the occasional fuse change.
A 220a would, but would probably blow the fuse staright away on full power. Turn it down a few and it will work.

Certain types, such as the Kemppi Miniarc will run full power without hassles, but transformer based models not so well.

 

[Furry Freak]

My Butters Weld Wizard runs 180 amps off a three pin plug - although I have changed it for a proper round plug and socket with a dedicated breaker.

FF

 

[Superbad]

I read that as meaning household mains,I do.

 

[Muzzleloader]

I read that as meaning household mains,I do.

Sorry for not being clear: I meant household mains


I told you I was new to all this!

 

[Pete.]

My Mig welder runs off a normal 13A plug, no problems.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Pete, your reply would be more helpful to the OP if you said what machine you have.

 

[gavuk]

my thermal arc 180amp runs fine on 13amp plug so far

 

[SirDick Diodenob esquire]

Most modern 13 amp plugs are crap , they just about comply with the BS standard but they can get very hot . For anything running a high current I use old( the ones before the insulating sleeve was added ) MK plugs and make sure they are being plugged into an old MK socket . The industry for wiring accessories has degenerated into rubbish and some of the plugs and sockets being sold in certain pound shops are dangerous and would have no chance of carrying 13 amps for an extended period and some unscrupulous people are re wiring houses and putting it into new builds , the market for mcbs and consumer units is even worse they all rely on 95% of plugs and sockets only carrying 5 amps or less . At the consumer unit I fitted a type C breaker instead of the type B in one dedicated spur which gives a better characteristic for a welder but unfortunately this moves the characteristic closer to that of the main house service cut out fuse risking losing discrimination , if yours is a 100amp then you should be ok but there are still a lot of houses fitted with a 60 or 80 amp fuse and this will blow when you turn up the amps especially if you have nasty mcbs fitted in the consumer unit , then you need to get the utility to replace the fuse .

 

[Muzzleloader]

So, is that a 'No'?

......or 'Yes'?

 

[brightspark]

Most modern 13 amp plugs are crap , they just about comply with the BS standard but they can get very hot . For anything running a high current I use old( the ones before the insulating sleeve was added ) MK plugs and make sure they are being plugged into an old MK socket . The industry for wiring accessories has degenerated into rubbish and some of the plugs and sockets being sold in certain pound shops are dangerous and would have no chance of carrying 13 amps for an extended period and some unscrupulous people are re wiring houses and putting it into new builds , the market for mcbs and consumer units is even worse they all rely on 95% of plugs and sockets only carrying 5 amps or less . At the consumer unit I fitted a type C breaker instead of the type B in one dedicated spur which gives a better characteristic for a welder but unfortunately this moves the characteristic closer to that of the main house service cut out fuse risking losing discrimination , if yours is a 100amp then you should be ok but there are still a lot of houses fitted with a 60 or 80 amp fuse and this will blow when you turn up the amps especially if you have nasty mcbs fitted in the consumer unit , then you need to get the utility to replace the fuse .

can u tell me what the current rating is of your welder ??input amps current draw. also can u tell me the current draw of other apliances u are running at the same time total the lot up and u will be able to calculate what size board cutout fuse will be required

 

[wyn]

So, is that a 'No'?

......or 'Yes'?

Definately a yes.

As a few of the others have said most hobby mig welders up to about 150 -180 amps welding current will run off a 13 amp plug.

 

[malcolm]

Probably it's a yes.

Decent MIG welders ought to run on about 150 amps output from a 13 amp plug. A 180 amp welder might blow the fuses on the top setting but should still be OK to use on the lower settings. The really cheap and nasty sets might still blow the fuses on lower settings.

There was a comment from Brightspark on another recent thread (on a similar topic) that suggested you ought to try to use decent quality plugs and sockets if you want to push them anywhere near 13 amps. Cheap plugs and sockets are a bit rubbish in the UK and both can start smelling like train sets after a year or two due to poor contacts. I try to use decent plugs and sockets in my workshop and tend to change the welder plug every couple of years.

I've also changed the socket as mine was cheap and nasty and started smelling like a train set.

 

[Smashy]

My Clarke 160TM runs perfectly from a 13amp supply

 

[SirDick Diodenob esquire]

Brightspark , I threw a wobbler about a month ago and when I discovered this forum , it made me want to get back into welding ( I used to be reasonable with a Portapak when I was a lad and still have the kit minus the bottles ) and I need something to keep me occupied other than a job which I dont want at the moment , so I went on ebay and starting bidding on various welders , all of them advertised as defunct so at least I knew what I was getting ( a load of scrap metal) . I puchased two Murex welders one is 145amp TIG and the other a 135amp DC MMA , one Sealey 150 Mig ( missing the wire feeder) but still stikes up , a couple of 450amp three phase TIG sets which I just couldnt resist because they have some really nice diodes and thyristors inside which is why I bought them but dont know what I will do with the rest of the machines , the three phase transformers and chokes are very heavy , in fact at the moment I cant get anyone to help me lift out one of transformers from the back of my car so its been going back and forward to ASDA with me along with the shopping until I find a way to get it out without a crane which is how it got in there . Also got a 180amp Thermal ARC machine , not working but powers up on a 13 amp plug ( not my dedicated spur ) without tripping a 20amp standard type b mcb and the ones in my consumer unit are crap brand . As luck would have it the 135amp Murex welder works fine , this one pulls 800mA on tickover which is the transformer and fan together no load but when you strike an arc my AVO model 8 only goes to 10amps so its obviously pulling a lot more . Switching the Murex on and off four times or more in quick succession causes the 20 amp mcb to trip even without striking an arc due to the transformer inrush current which could be 100 amps or more for a few mS but again the only clue to the inrush current is the AVO needle flicking off scale for a fraction of a second . I am happy about the other loads on the board adding up to not much , although if the immersion heater tumble drier and electric kettle all went on at the same time I am welding then we are goosed . I know nothing about welders or electric welding so am looking forward to getting getting advice from everyone on the forum about how to fix these machines and learn how to electric weld and if I cant then they can go back on ebay eventually. Muzzleloader , the answer is yes , sorry I do tend to ramble on and then go off at a tangent , I think thats why they got rid of me at my last job.

 

[Andy Smith]

Clarke 185t turbo mig has anyone ran it on a 13amp plug

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Thermal arc fabricator 211i runs 180A before blowing fuse, but normally mcb will trip before I blow a fuse. If you intend on welding 8mm and above get yourself a mma unit, or multiprocess.