help wanted info about welder

[M1CDQ]

ive just got hold of some old welding gear.One of the items looks like a part home made arc welder.I have added a link to a pic its big
http://m1cdq.co.uk/pics/arcwelder.jpg

looking at the wiring
the live goes to the variable transformer then to the big transformer
the Netural goes to the big trandformer as doe the earth

but the 2 terminals that lead off to to the welding connectors show

45V 10A on both pairs

now is this a totally home made arc welder and im not to use or do you think it might have been re-cased.It does come with some heafty welding leads
is it worth giving it a clean up and replacing the mains lead.also it i can weld with it i wonder whats its max amp is
at moment it has a 13amp mains plug on it

the case its in is totally home made

 

[rtbcomp]

It's looks homemade to me! I would say the max current is 20 amps (2 x 10 amps in parallel) it won't do any heavy welding but I'd be tempted to dry it. Plug it in via an RCD at least.

 

[M1CDQ]

i wonder what the max size rods id need as it came with a load of large rods which are about 3mm+ in size
the bonus was is came with an oxy/ace welding gear ie 2 bottles and regs hoses and torch plus loads of gas welding wire

 

[M1CDQ]

ive just had a go using some screwfix 2.5mm rods i normally use on my clarke
it seems to be ok. but what i did notice is the rod receeds inside the flux on the rod .so when i stop the flux sticks out further than the metal inside. but i dont get this on the clarke i get i tiny bit of rod sticking out from the flux

 

[rtbcomp]

..... but what i did notice is the rod receeds inside the flux on the rod .so when i stop the flux sticks out further than the metal inside. .....

That's a symptom of too much current, try the next size rod up.

 

[M1CDQ]

That's a symptom of too much current, try the next size rod up.

then at a guess its more than 20 amps as if i am correct 2.5mm is min 60 amp.but could be wrong

 

[madkayaker]

that looks very home made. If the case is metal make sure there is a good earth conection to it.

 

[M1CDQ]

ive just been running it via a rcd on a 13 amp socket. i did check the earth was good.i am going to replace the mains cable with something a bit bigger and fit a 16amp plug .Also i am going to fit an on off switch to the front and replace the panels

 

[madkayaker]

sound like a good start. Worth putting an earth strap between the case and the lid if its a bolt fix just to make sure that it stays earthed

 

[TechnicAl]

quite common actually

 

[M1CDQ]

sound like a good start. Worth putting an earth strap between the case and the lid if its a bolt fix just to make sure that it stays earthed

good idea will do that.going to get some new sheet steel to replace the sides and top make it look nice.prob replace the connectors if i knew where to get them from.Also prut a fan on it as well dont think it needs one but it wont hurt to put one on

 

[madkayaker]

you could use dinze connections (ebay is good place to start). Al is that the new Lincoln

 

[TechnicAl]

you could use dinze connections (ebay is good place to start). Al is that the new Lincoln

Lorch I think

 

[M1CDQ]

i have found the dinse connectors for the cable.But i will need some chassis mount ones as well for the welder these i cant find

 

[madkayaker]

this seller will supply a mix of bits e.g. two panel mounts and three plugs etc etc found them very helpfully with technical advice they make welders!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/35-50-DINSE-T...14&_trkparms=72:1683|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

 

[M1CDQ]

cheers for that

 

[runnach]

Lorch I think

Maybe Matt running a welding course during his India trip

 

[madkayaker]

i wounded where george was