New Welder

kilk

Hi guys I'm looking to buy one of these

https://wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=831_69_649&product_id=1948

Anybody have one? Also would I need to put in a heavy wire to my shed to use it?
Thanks for any replies

CJhaughey

Usually the max is 160 amps before you need to uprate to a 16amp connection.

kilk

CJhaughey wrote: »

Usually the max is 160 amps before you need to uprate to a 16amp connection.

Thanks for your reply.

On a related topic a neighbour gave me his old welder, it's a transformer type, very heavy to lift with one hand. It's approx 40 - 50 years old. Works great but it dims / flickers the lights / tv etc in the house and neighbouring houses also, even when using 2.5 rods. Any suggestions?

tedimc

kilk wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

On a related topic a neighbour gave me his old welder, it's a transformer type, very heavy to lift with one hand. It's approx 40 - 50 years old. Works great but it dims / flickers the lights / tv etc in the house and neighbouring houses also, even when using 2.5 rods. Any suggestions?

It sounds like the local transformer can't handle it. Any idea of the power rating of the welder?

I would be cautious over using something like this if it is drawing that much power. Also - it may not be good for some other devices in your home (or neighbors) if you are welding for a while.

Is your house an older house, with your neighbors all fed from the same pole/transformer? i'm not sure there is much you can do yourself apart from using a smaller welder.

kilk

tedimc wrote: »

It sounds like the local transformer can't handle it. Any idea of the power rating of the welder?

I would be cautious over using something like this if it is drawing that much power. Also - it may not be good for some other devices in your home (or neighbors) if you are welding for a while.

Is your house an older house, with your neighbors all fed from the same pole/transformer? i'm not sure there is much you can do yourself apart from using a smaller welder.

I think I'll dump it, not sure what make or anything else is on it apart from a lot of surface rust. I can just make out two readings, one either side of a switch, 220 to the left and 350 to the right. I opened the plug to discover a cut off gutter bolt instead of a fuse! Neighbour didn't put it there, not sure where he got it from. It's a great little welder though all the same.

tedimc

What rating circuit have you got it plugged into? Has it ever tripped an MCB?

I would be wary of it, but if you have the proper protections in place - like a fuse ;-) ,it should still be ok.

If it is run off a normal socket circuit and your MCBs are functioning correctly, it would be worth getting onto the ESB to get them to look into it.

jack of all

kilk wrote: »

I opened the plug to discover a cut off gutter bolt instead of a fuse!

Sorry, don't mean to derail your thread but that reminds me of when my father got some steel fabricators in to do so work for him years ago. They were a couple of old boys, real old school. I was looking at their set up and I knew it was a powerful welder by the size of it yet was fitted with a standard 13 amp plug. I asked them what kind of a fuse was in it- the answer I got was "gutter bolt"! Thanks for sharing!