Welder Duty Cycle
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Welder Duty Cycle
I recently purchased a flux-core MIG welder. It's a cheap Harbor Freight welder, but it gets the job done for what I need it for. My only real complaint with it is the very weak duty cycle. Only 10-15% depending on what amperage I'm running. Is there any way I could modify the welder to extend the duty cycle? I was thinking of maybe installing a small cooling fan or something?
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From: Hendersonville, TN
Not really any way to increase the duty cycle, except to get a bigger welder. Even though the "cheapie" welders kinda bug me, even the name-brand 115volt migs don't have a very high duty cycle. An extra fan wouldn't hurt it any, so long as you keep the air flowing around the transformer and rectifier the way it's supposed to.
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Adding a fan may only improve the duty cycle by <50% making it ~15-20% duty cycle. Many times the problem is in the components themselves not in the airflow. The fan may make it last longer but I would not push it beyond the published ratings.
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From: East Flat Rock NC
I think you should check to see how many amp it needs to run proper
make sure you are using a good gage cord and not to long a cord .
All these things will help a small welder weld better!
P.S. I have a 120v miller 420 with 30 percent duty cycle it welds great, as
long as it gets the (Amps) thats required to run right.
make sure you are using a good gage cord and not to long a cord .
All these things will help a small welder weld better!
P.S. I have a 120v miller 420 with 30 percent duty cycle it welds great, as
long as it gets the (Amps) thats required to run right.
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Along these same lines...I've been looking around at the different types of MIG welding wire that's out there. My welder needs flux core wire. I can find that no problem. But I ran across some stuff called "gasless, fluxless" wire. How does this work? I thought you either needed flux or gas to weld?
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From: Hendersonville, TN
That's kinda misleading the way it's worded. It is actually flux-cored. They mean it requires no EXTERNAL flux. There are Sub-Arc welders that cover the weld area with powder flux from a hopper and then push the wire down through that to the weld. That's what they are referring to in that ad. This is the big stuff. 1/16", 5/64" etc. For large structural welds using several hundred amps. No 115V welder's gonna burn that stuff!
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The description gives away that this is not the stuff we are discussing on FTE: "This is a gasless, fluxless wire that meets the increased strength, impact and CTOD requirements of the E71T standard.
This wire can be used in all positions except vertical down.
This wire is excellent for on-site welding of bridges, buildings and ships, since high winds and extreme temperatures do not affect the weld."
This wire can be used in all positions except vertical down.
This wire is excellent for on-site welding of bridges, buildings and ships, since high winds and extreme temperatures do not affect the weld."
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