Arc welding and blowing fuses

[109party]

Right i was welding up a trailer yesterday and was using thicker rods than usual because i dint have any electrodes inbertween not a problem for the welder which wasn't running very hard its quite a old machine like few turns past half way,
i had to warm tip up abit before welding obv, then once it was started i would do about 4 inches of good weld then fuses started going i blew 6 fuses doing 3-4 inches at a time, before just to finish the job i stuck a nail in, its running off a 13amp plug

heres the machine and the rods, i put in a clarke rod to show rough scale if you want any more info just say heres the pics

 

[madkayaker]

Its not unusaul to blow fuses in the plug when useing big rods

 

[109party]

its the way its blowing them, thats the problem there seems to be no way other than a nail wondered how you guys do it should it rearlly be on 16amp plug

 

[wyn]

Interesting to see the rod sizes on the welder marked up in "swg" as well as mm's..How old do you reckon the welder is ?

 

[brightspark]

its the way its blowing them, thats the problem there seems to be no way other than a nail wondered how you guys do it should it rearlly be on 16amp plug

it would be preferable to run a 16 amp supply to it if u are using it often at the higher amperage

 

[109party]

Interesting to see the rod sizes on the welder marked up in "swg" as well as mm's..How old do you reckon the welder is ?

its my old mans welder and has had it at least probly 30 years, but i donno if im honest.

 

[Wozzaaah]

its the way its blowing them, thats the problem there seems to be no way other than a nail wondered how you guys do it should it rearlly be on 16amp plug

With all the useful info available on this forum I can't believe you can post a statement like that!

 

[109party]

ok im sorry Woz thats why i was asking, because blowing a fuse every 4 inches, makes it rather difficult to weld

 

[madkayaker]

you need a bigger supply the welder is pulling 4KW e.g. 17.6A so to comply with all relevant regulations 32A socket plug and supply. You would get away with a 16A plug, socket and supply

 

[Dusty]

I hope your not welding in bare feet!!!!!!!!

 

[mr migwire]

I hope your not welding in bare feet!!!!!!!!

hahahaha, pmsl, sorry that was just too funny and it caught me off guard.

 

[Welderpaul]

i stuck a nail in, its running off a 13amp plug

Not a good idea

 

[busastars]

Sorry I couldent resist:

 

[brightspark]

Sorry I couldent resist:

wheres the cigarette aluminium foil

 

[Debs.]

Does a coarse thread on the bolt increase the amperage capacity?

 

[Robotstar5]

Does a coarse thread on the bolt increase the amperage capacity?

I think the pitch affects the slow blow time - coarser pitch gives better heat radiation = longer delay

 

[brightspark]

Does a coarse thread on the bolt increase the amperage capacity?

no a fine thread carries more capacity more surface aeria contact