Practical MIG Welding: Power Supply
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Power Supply
04.23
| 00:00 | It doesn't matter whether you're just starting out with MIG welding and want to learn the techniques of motorsport fabrication or you're upgrading from your old machine to improve the scope of work you can complete, there are a few aspects of your garage or workshop that need to be considered before you go any further. |
| 00:15 | The first thing we need to look at is the power supply for our welder. |
| 00:19 | If you're looking to purchase a second hand welder then it's particularly important to understand what the welder needs in terms of power input. |
| 00:26 | Older machines can be up to 4 times the size of newer inverter based welders and will most commonly run on 3 phase power. |
| 00:34 | You wouldn't usually have access to 3 phase power in normal domestic household garages and it can be very expensive to add it. |
| 00:41 | Fortunately these days 3 phase isn't common in the machines that we use for motorsport fabrication so it's become less of a problem. |
| 00:49 | Instead, the majority of modern MIG welding machines that suit our requirements will run on a single phase power supply that's designed for the country that it's sold in. |
| 00:57 | The larger machines have traditionally been powered internally by a transformer, but in recent years this has been swapped out for an inverter which can generate a very stable arc while having over twice the efficiency of the transformer type welders. |
| 01:11 | What this means is that the power we'll be using from our house or workshop will be halved on an inverter welder compared to a welder with the same capability that uses a transformer. |
| 01:20 | This efficiency and physical size means that a single phase household welder can now offer us the same weld penetration as large 3 phase machines did in the past while still being light and portable. |
| 01:33 | Single phase machines will still need to suit the power capabilities of our home garage or workshop space though. |
| 01:39 | Most of us won't have personally designed a power supply that's connected to our space so we must make sure that our welder is compatible with what's available. |
| 01:47 | Here in New Zealand, domestic single phase outlets are predominantly capped at a 10 amp current draw, however many single phase MIG welding machines that are around the 200 amp mark have a 15 amp requirement. |
| 02:00 | This 15 amp plug on our MIG welder won't physically fit into a 10 amp socket as the earth pin on a 15 amp plug is larger. |
| 02:07 | It's quite easy to get an electrician to fit a dedicated 15 amp socket into your workspace though in preparation for your new welder. |
| 02:15 | All the electrician will be doing is setting up a dedicated circuit for the 15 amp plug to give you trouble free welding without overloading the power circuit you're running on. |
| 02:25 | Keep in mind that while making a 15 amp extension lead with the earth pin ground down so that it fits inside a 10 amp socket may work, it's actually illegal. |
| 02:34 | In the US market, the domestic supply voltage is 120 volts however 240 volts can be an option for workshop use. |
| 02:41 | A lot of welders are designed to cope with both power supplies with adapters that allow you to plug into either wall socket. |
| 02:48 | The welders available in Europe also mirror the US power supply characteristics with combined 120 and 240 volt capabilities. |
| 02:56 | There does tend to be some limitations in the output of the welder in relation to the input though. |
| 03:01 | Most of the performance specifications in relation to duty cycle, which is a term we covered in the previous module, are referenced from the 240 volt input. |
| 03:10 | It's often difficult to find the actual capabilities of the welder when it's plugged into a 120 volt supply, but as an example, a 200 amp welder plugged into a 120 volt socket may only be capable of producing 150 amps. |
| 03:24 | This is something you'd definitely want to discuss in detail with your supplier when deciding on a machine, along with understanding if you'll need to get an electrician to alter your home garage or workshop's power supply. |
| 03:36 | Let's summarise what we've covered in this module. |
| 03:38 | It's very important to understand the power supply requirements of the welder, especially when buying a used machine. |
| 03:45 | This is because older welders may need three phase power which can be expensive and difficult to fit into a household garage. |
| 03:52 | Fortunately modern MIG welding machines typically run on single phase power suitable for domestic use thanks to the shift from transformer to a more efficient inverter welder operation. |
| 04:03 | However, it's essential to ensure that your spacer's power supply matches the welder's specifications. |
| 04:09 | In some instances an electrician may be needed to install a dedicated circuit. |
| 04:13 | It's always a good idea to discuss your exact requirements with your supplier before committing to any purchase. |
