3.2mm SIP E6013 Rods...

[BrokenBiker]

I measured 79.5V. I'll double check though. I remeasured it at 77V, but that maybe due to the slight variation is the mains voltage.

Does that figure change between mig and MMA mode?

 

[BrokenBiker]

He's from the other side of the pond. Americans usually don't know a lot about anything outside of the usa.

Fair comment...I tend to forget these things need explaining to some

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Does that figure change between mig and MMA mode?

I've just measured it and it's exactly the same.

 

[eddie49]

I've just measured it and it's exactly the same.

That is a good point - since Arc welders run about 50v or more, and MIG is 15 to 30v, how can that be?
The answer is here:

E

Post in thread 'Welding issues'

Oct 9, 2025

Checking the OCV of an inverter welder actually is not very meaningful. They typically show from about 60 volts upwards. This value applies to MIG welders as well as Arc ( MMA ) inverter welders, and of course traditional transformer-based MIG welders actually run at 15 to 30 volts. The output waveform of an inverter is not pure DC either, which will confuse a digital voltmeter. The only meaningful voltage tests would be under load, when the voltage or current feedback circuits are actively controlling the pulse-width modulated signals that drive the inverter power electronics.

I suspect...

• eddie49

• 

E

Post in thread 'Help Please, blackline mig 200'

Oct 30, 2023

The open-circuit voltage ( OCV ) on these low-end inverter welders is typically from 50 to 80 volts "DC" when checked with a digital voltmeter. However, it is in fact a complex pulse-width modulated waveform. See the oscilloscope trace in Post #9 of this thread:

MIG welder torch voltage - general question

I've been using my Uptime160 MIG for a while now and it's working fine (slightly erratic welds recently but solved with a new tip). After reading threads about voltage, amps and wire speed I decided to test the welder to see what the controls actually control and what the voltage is at the tip...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

So if you are seeing 60 volts before welding starts, that is normal.
As soon as an arc is struck, the voltage should reduce, and the on-load voltage should correspond to the setting of the "MIG Voltage" control knob on the front...

• eddie49

The 'scope trace in Post #8 ( not 9 ) is here:

Thread 'MIG welder torch voltage - general question'

Dec 8, 2020

I've been using my Uptime160 MIG for a while now and it's working fine (slightly erratic welds recently but solved with a new tip).

After reading threads about voltage, amps and wire speed I decided to test the welder to see what the controls actually control and what the voltage is at the tip.

Wire speed control, this actually controls the wire speed - "0 to 10" doesn't relate to real numbers but almost perfectly linear increase in speed as dial is turned up. Noted the mm/second in a spreadsheet.

Current Control, marked 0 to 10, changes current on display from 0 to 160. Goes from won't...

• dyno-tron
• Replies: 8
• forum: Welders and Welding Machines

• 

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Unfortunately, I don't have the facilities to measure the voltage on an oscilloscope. I'm guessing the the voltages would need to be attenuated before a scope could measure them?

 

[aesmith]

In terms of striking the arc surely it is exactly that open circuit voltage that's significant. Not the voltage a bit later once the arc is established.

 

[BrokenBiker]

In terms of striking the arc surely it is exactly that open circuit voltage that's significant. Not the voltage a bit later once the arc is established.

not on an inverter, it can be deceiving as multi meters dont always read the voltage correctly due to the wave form. or atleast thats my understanding...i only asked if it was the same in mig mode as ive had inverters before where the OCV in mig mode was 20v or so lower than with stick, and it turned out the lower voltage was the true OCV

 

[Turbo]

He's from the other side of the pond. Americans usually don't know a lot about anything outside of the usa.

It's not a 3m branded welder so he feels he must criticise it.

 

[BrokenBiker]

It's not a 3m branded welder so he feels he must criticise it.

oh dont, i cant deal with that all over again

 

[Muggins the Mug]

oh dont, i cant deal with that all over again

Do tell, as this is all new to me!

 

[BrokenBiker]

Do tell, as this is all new to me!

its a sore subject...youll find out if you ever want a reccomendation for a welding mask...

 

[Muggins the Mug]

its a sore subject...youll find out if you ever want a reccomendation for a welding mask...

I've got a Draper auto darkening one from Screwfix. I've nothing against Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I've got a Draper auto darkening one from Screwfix. I've nothing against Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing.

ooohhhhh i got halfway through a rant then and had to stop myself. nothing wrong with a draper mask, i think i may have had one at some point. i also liked the sip they sell, or possibly toolstation sells...only recently have i had a genuinely good mask and i will admit it is a game changer, but the post leading to me receiving that mask was...interesting...

not as good a speedglass though

 

[Muggins the Mug]

ooohhhhh i got halfway through a rant then and had to stop myself. nothing wrong with a draper mask, i think i may have had one at some point. i also liked the sip they sell, or possibly toolstation sells...only recently have i had a genuinely good mask and i will admit it is a game changer, but the post leading to me receiving that mask was...interesting...

not as good a speedglass though

I got some welder's chalk this week, but I can't really see the line with the mask darkened. I used to have just a flip mask, many years ago.

 

[Erie Fred]

I got some welder's chalk this week, but I can't really see the line with the mask darkened. I used to have just a flip mask, many years ago.

You are not alone with this problem.

Try sneeking the darkness adjust just a bit lighter, might be some happy medium between too bright
and just enough to see the lines.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

You are not alone with this problem.

Try sneeking the darkness adjust just a bit lighter, might be some happy medium between too bright
and just enough to see the lines.

Unfortunately, it's a fixed shade.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Unfortunately, it's a fixed shade.

Get a lamp above your welding area...if you don't have a fixed bench, get an led lamp with a clamp on the end so you can mount it anywhere...I've got a 60w lamp on my bench that I can position anywhere and it makes s a huge difference, even with a cheaper mask

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

As above...lighting really helps.

I found that moving to a true colour mask made a massive difference to what I could see. The par weld true colour mask I bought was pretty good...although prices have probably doubled!

 

[BrokenBiker]

As above...lighting really helps.

I found that moving to a true colour mask made a massive difference to what I could see. The par weld true colour mask I bought was pretty good...although prices have probably doubled!

my current mask is a true colour, the sip i had before claimed to be true colour but wasnt...although it was better than a generic ebay chinese mask

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Get a lamp above your welding area...if you don't have a fixed bench, get an led lamp with a clamp on the end so you can mount it anywhere...I've got a 60w lamp on my bench that I can position anywhere and it makes s a huge difference, even with a cheaper mask

I weld outside, in the daylight.