problems

[nixboy13]

hi guys i got a welder for xmas and i just got my 1st chance to use it today
there is two settings 400v or 230! im just looking to find out witch should i put the setting to
today i couldnt get a steady weld why would this be? soon after this it stoped working im thinking its a fuse well i hope so im gona change the fuse what is the best size of fuse should i use i was told 30 amp is this correct?
thanks for an help you can give me
Sean

 

[rich r]

What are you connecting it to? A normal domestic socket, or an industrial connector?

If it's a normal socket, then you'll have to limit the welding current to around 100Amps maximum, as that'll correspond to about 13Amps from a 230V supply.

Any chance of you posting the make/model of this welder so we can see what it needs?

 

[nixboy13]

make is- Neilsen electric arc welding machine
Rated in put voltage-230/400v
No load voltage 48v
Current range-65-250A
Rated duty -10%
Input capacity-14KW
Class of insulation-H
Usable electrodes-2.5-5MM
Weight-25.5KG

Thats what is says on the side of the box. Im using a domestic
socket
i think the model is CT2230

 

[Wozzaaah]

Are you trying to run a 250A arc welder from a normal 3 pin plug?
You need to get a mahoosive supply put in by a sparky if you want to run it at anything other than idle.
Just out of interest, what are you intending to weld that made you want such a big machine?

 

[nixboy13]

just a few bits and bobs realy at the minute im building a canoe trailer
it was my girlfriend that bought me it for xmas
so i need to get a spark to do what exactly lol before i blow my house uplol

 

[Wozzaaah]

A sparky will need to install a bigger supply to enable you to run that welder. It won't run off a 13A supply without constantly blowing the fuse.
You'll probably need a 32A one, maybe more if you want to crank it up.
14Kw input power @ 240V = 58A!

 

[nixboy13]

when you say a bigger power supply were would he put that my house or my welder sorry for the questions im sort of new to all this
so i would need a 58 amp fuse in my plug plese correct me if im wrong
thanks for the help

 

[the snooper]

you would need a new supply from your fuse box to a dedicated 32 amp ceform type socket a standard house socket can only handle 13 amps max so the mains power sockets in you house are no good for the welder

 

[Wozzaaah]

You need to talk to a professional electrician.
It's not something you can do yourself if you're not competent and as you're asking such basic questions it's clear you don't have much experience when it comes to electrics. That's not meant to sound rude by the way.

 

[madkayaker]

Also you need the sparky to check if the house supply is up to it. I have heard of a few of the ireland supplies being very poor

 

[rich r]

That really is more of an industrial/commercial welder, not the sort of thing most people would use at home.

If you keep the output power down to under around 100A, you will probably get away with running it off a standard domestic socket. So stick to 2.5mm rods at around 80A. But expect to keep blowing 13A fuses occasionally. You almost certainly haven't blown the fuse in the welder.

But as others have said - it needs a dedicated power supply from your main consumer unit, and a big one at that, if you want to run it at anywhere near full capacity.

 

[nixboy13]

Thanks for al the info guys this sounds like a major job and as said not
for me to go anywer near it lol will have to get the local spark to come
and have a look and see if i can get something sorted out and thanks
again for all the help i now have a fair idea on whats going on

 

[decepticon]

that is a pretty serious piece of kit, unless you are considering using some 4-5mm electrodes then i would consider selling this and buying a 150amp inverter. alot better welder for 2.5-3.2mm electrodes than an ac machine (think that is what yours is) portable in as much it can generally be run off of an extension lead and when you add up the cost of a reasonably good one compared to what you might get for yours and the cost of a sparky to sort your electrics out and run a dedicated powerline to the national grid i think you may be a few pounds better off also.

 

[wheresmejumper]

most houses will have the mains wired in 16mm cable,not ideal as youd need the same again to cater for that setup.and thats not even considering voltage drop on a long run from the consumer unit!

 

[nixboy13]

well i had a spark look at the situation today he said that i can get a socket
put any were dedecated to a 35A just for the machine materials inc al for just
£75 think that sounds ok to me just hope he knows what hes up to
im thinking of buying a smaller machine aswell as the one that i have incase i
get any work that i have to travel to