Just been given this welder.. max-arc

[james.c]

Hello

I was given this welder last night by my neighbour who is moving house. Its really heavy and quite big, looks to be quite industrial. It has some sort of heavy duty plug on it, is this able to be changed to an ordinary 3 pin plug? im guessing not and i'lll need some sort of inverter type box of tricks to plug it into?

Just wondering if anybody has one/ knows much about it...

pics

 

[harry69koi]

Not 100% m8ty but that looks like a 3 phase machine

 

[Endacy]

It looks like it can run on normal household 220-240 voltage, the plate under the plug in the photo seems to tell you how or what to connect up, there are possibly terminals inside that need changing. Assuming it is OK to run on 240v single phase then you'll want to get an industrial 16A blue socket wired to your fusebox. It's not as hard as it sounds, you can get them from B&Q for reasonable money.

 

[james.c]

hmm yeah will have to look into that.

On the plate in the second photo i have just noticed there is a 'phase' symbol by the look of it. From just the pic looks like it says 3.0 next to it.

Its in the shed again at the moment will go have a better look after dinner

 

[eil]

Have a read through this
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=12751&highlight=maxarc

 

[eil]

you need a 16amp plug really as has been said but you will be able to connect a three pin plug and weld with a 2.5 rod with it will blow the fuse if you go any bigger i imagine.

 

[KTMMICK]

If you look at the plate in the last photo I believe it tells you how to connect it up for 240 volts. And of course it is an Arc welder.......you knew that?

 

[james.c]

Ok cheers for the info chaps.

These 16amp plugs... so i just need a 16 amp plug? i can then plug that into any normal socket?

sorry for the questions but i'm not really too clued up on the whole electrics thing. I already have a welder and loads of gear but i just plug it in and go

 

[eil]

If you have a 16amp socket yes, them are the blue ones by the way.

 

[james.c]

ahh right i get you now. Not got a 16amp socket at the moment will try to get one of those sorted out then.

Just thought though, we do have a big plug very similar (in that it screws in like the welder one) in the grain store on the farm. Its used for powering the grain auger. Maybe give that a try if its the same plug fitting.

 

[eil]

There was one of them on fleabay last week went for £175

 

[james.c]

blimey! i know what to do with this if i can't get on very well with it

 

[GeorgeB]

These 16amp plugs... so i just need a 16 amp plug? i can then plug that into any normal socket? ... but i just plug it in and go

I suggest you should remove the single domed nut on top of the connection box and remove the top plate. Under there will be various connections. Perhaps you could post a photo. At a guess, they'll be for 400v+, 230v+, neutral for either, and earth. If the present 3 phase plug is connected to 400v, then you need to move the +ve wire over to 230V.

Then you can simply stick a normal 13A plug on the end and plug it in anywhere, to run a test. As long as you start on minimum amps, it shouldn't blow the 13A fuse. Amps up to 100 or more should be OK on 13A, 230V

You'll only need a 16A supply (or greater) of you need to run the welder on maximum output. Nice machine - good luck.

 

[wyn]

We used to have one of those in work .....I think it was wired up to run off two phases of a three phase supply......I'm not too sure of all the in's and out's of the wireing side of things.

It was ok, but didn't like lo-hydrogen rods, (probably ocv and that sort of thing)

 

[james.c]

Right took a couple more pics.

This is under the box with the domed nut-

And a clearer one of what it says on top of that box-

From what i can see and work out it looks like it is already on 240AC??? am i correct

EDIT: just seen i think i need to connect it differently using the copper strips

 

[eil]

There is two tapings to connect for your ocv one is 55v and the other is 80v for your rods that need a higher ocv. The link I gave earlier will show you exactly how to wire it up just by re-arranging the little buzz bars.

 

[james.c]

Yeah i have seen where it is connected wrong. I couldnt see it for myself while looking at the machine but in the pictures i can see it standing out a mile now

just need to swap the copper strips around like how they are in the link you posted.. Thanks for that! the wonders of a forum