No prizes for guessing what I'm up to today...

[Jim Davey]

I've never had a need to go that big and I may never do. I think a 10 is plenty for most of my clients jobs. I'd hate to think of the mess a 13 makes.

 

[davidjohnperry]

this is awesome mate

 

[8ob]

Just think of us cutting these off the tree muncher rotor with OA the next time you spark up your fancy kit

Bob

 

[Jim Davey]

I get the 'new to me' Miller 500 tomorrow, so I can swap out my Heath Robinson gouge lash-up.

 

[Jim Davey]

There she be, 500 amps of blue pulsating loveliness.
Things are bout to get awfully physical round heyah!

 

[WorkshopChris]

Is that a 63a plug fitted, hard to scale from image. I guess its right on the limit of a 32a supply flat out? Have not used an inverter that big so just interested. Guessing around about half the load of a transformer based unit.

 

[Jim Davey]

No it's a 32, it's not that big a machine. I think it draws 43 amps flat out. I'll change the plug tomorrow.

 

[Jim Davey]

First I need to find a half inch nut for the stud terminals on the front, one is missing. Then I need to test it, then I need to prep a stud welder with 20,000 pins for a lagging job on a ship, then quote a replacement for an Oil cooled 180 Oxford, then get to Andover with a 3 phase MIG for hire, then replace a cable on a Miller pedal, then visit a client with a burned out Tech Arc TIG, then...

I thought Brexit was supposed to make things go quiet!?

 

[magnet]

Jim i was wondering, whats the procedure for linking those sets? Do they both have to be the same or can any two similar sets be linked like that? ..............Just curious ................Cheers

 

[Jim Davey]

I'd be uncomfortable linking sets that weren't identical but I guess it could work just fine. As long as the OCV wasn't so high on one machine it damaged the other.
The negative and positive terminals of each machine get leads connected that run to a box that simply connects the two negative and two positive cables to a pair of female sockets. This is where you connect the gun and earth cables. Set your desired current level, eg 2x150A =300A then off you go.
Just don't make a mistake with the connections and put a dead short on the terminals, unless you want to find out how long it takes to melt the rubber covering off a 50mm2 cable.

 

[magnet]

I'd be uncomfortable linking sets that weren't identical but I guess it could work just fine. As long as the OCV wasn't so high on one machine it damaged the other.
The negative and positive terminals of each machine get leads connected that run to a box that simply connects the two negative and two positive cables to a pair of female sockets. This is where you connect the gun and earth cables. Set your desired current level, eg 2x150A =300A then off you go.
Just don't make a mistake with the connections and put a dead short on the terminals, unless you want to find out how long it takes to melt the rubber covering off a 50mm2 cable.

Cheers Jim i won't be trying that anytime soon but always handy to know. Cheers for the info atb

 

[Jim Davey]

Well, that's the 4 different weld pin collets all set to the correct depths locked off, marked and tested. I'm off in search of a hot dinner and a well earned beer. Rinse and repeat tomorrow...

 

[rory1]

Jim, i notice that your stud welder earth has two cables, I have an old stud welder that I use from time to time and mine also has two cables, why is this? It's puzzled me for a while!

 

[Jim Davey]

The earthing is really important, bad earth = studs failing to adhere to the base metal, so two gives a better earth than one. Also placement of the clamps has an effect on the result too. Ideally they are to be placed 6-8 inches either side if the area where the stud/pin is to be welded.

 

[Jim Davey]

My mind is full of useless information.

 

[tinman123]

Cheers Al, I'm just demonstrating before handing it over, its rental kit after all.

what is one of them cc/cv 350 sets worth secondhand jim?
i have one of them here, i use it for arc gouging and an odd bit of stick welding now and again, it has serious power, 400amps at its ease.

i do like the gouging when i do a bit, you can leave little work for the grinder after one when your good at it.
its about the most violent metal process i have here.

 

[Jim Davey]

Depends on age, I pick them up in tatty nick for between £3-500. Often a little less if there are a lot of them. Once done up, with new fans (a weak point) new caps, powder coat, decals, new mains lead and dinze terminals and a 12 month warranty they can fetch up to £1,200 on the right day.

 

[Richard.]

Ain't they the sub arc power sources al? Cv only?
Not the best for arc air IMO.

 

[tinman123]

Depends on age, I pick them up in tatty nick for between £3-500. Often a little less if there are a lot of them. Once done up, with new fans (a weak point) new caps, powder coat, decals, new mains lead and dinze terminals and a 12 month warranty they can fetch up to £1,200 on the right day.

this one i have here id be what you'd class as mint i suppose, as welders go.
i dont think its ever done much but i dont know for sure.
some day id like to buy an AC tig welder with a few other options on it maybe so the miller could get the road if that was the case.

 

[Jim Davey]

When I was at the Hardfacing firm we used Lincoln DC1000s which can be picked up quite cheaply but they are heavy and very inefficient

Typical Yank Tank stuff. Will outlast me and my kids though I expect