GarageGrouch
New Member
- Messages
- 18
- Location
- Sheffield UK
Hi everyone, I've only recently found this forum and there's loads of great information on here, I wish I'd found it sooner as it would have saved me some frustration.
I live in a rented house with a detached garage, which is where I've been welding. The garage has its own fuse board but it has been disconnected from the consumer unit in the house and connected to a junction box, out of which comes some thick flex with a 13amp plug on the end. There's a convenient socket below the consumer unit on a 16amp mcb. Presumably at some point in the past a sparky wouldn't sign off on the garage electrics but the homeowner wanted power down there and this is the compromise? The cable doesn't look to be armoured so I don't think any electrian would reconnect it and replacing that would be cost prohibitive so I think I'm stuck with it.
I bought a little 100amp draper gasless MIG a few months back and I've been running that with no problems (with the electrics anyway) but my latest project requires welding 4mm thick steel so I naively bought a cheap 90-250a transformer stick welder. I knew I couldn't run it at full power but I can barely switch it on without it tripping the mcb or blowing fuses. I've done some research and read that inverter machines are a lot more forgiving on domestic supplies but I've learnt my lesson and I'd like some advice off more knowledgeable people than myself.
I think the stick welder has to go but to be honest I've not been very happy with the draper and I thinking of getting rid of both and replacing them with something like this;
So I guess my questions are;
1. Is an inverter machine better suited to a 13amp supply?
2. Is it possible to weld 4mm steel off a 13amp supply?
3. Will I see an improvement in the quality of the welds on that machine compared to my little Draper or should I save up for something better
I should add that although I'm a complete novice (in case you couldn't tell) I have persevered with it but despite trying different wires, anti-spatter sprays, good prep and lighting etc. I don't think it's just that I'm crap at welding
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any replies.
James
I live in a rented house with a detached garage, which is where I've been welding. The garage has its own fuse board but it has been disconnected from the consumer unit in the house and connected to a junction box, out of which comes some thick flex with a 13amp plug on the end. There's a convenient socket below the consumer unit on a 16amp mcb. Presumably at some point in the past a sparky wouldn't sign off on the garage electrics but the homeowner wanted power down there and this is the compromise? The cable doesn't look to be armoured so I don't think any electrian would reconnect it and replacing that would be cost prohibitive so I think I'm stuck with it.
I bought a little 100amp draper gasless MIG a few months back and I've been running that with no problems (with the electrics anyway) but my latest project requires welding 4mm thick steel so I naively bought a cheap 90-250a transformer stick welder. I knew I couldn't run it at full power but I can barely switch it on without it tripping the mcb or blowing fuses. I've done some research and read that inverter machines are a lot more forgiving on domestic supplies but I've learnt my lesson and I'd like some advice off more knowledgeable people than myself.
I think the stick welder has to go but to be honest I've not been very happy with the draper and I thinking of getting rid of both and replacing them with something like this;
MIG 200A INVERTER DC WELDER 3in1 MMA TIG GAS GASLESS ARC MAG WELDING MACHINE KIT | eBay
Gas and gasless (flux core) dual MIG operation. - 3in1 multi-function MIG, MMA & TIG lift operation. MIG200 INVERTER WELDER 3IN1. - Duty cycle: 100% @110A, 30% @200A. - Suitable for loading up to 5kg MIG wire reel.
www.ebay.co.uk
So I guess my questions are;
1. Is an inverter machine better suited to a 13amp supply?
2. Is it possible to weld 4mm steel off a 13amp supply?
3. Will I see an improvement in the quality of the welds on that machine compared to my little Draper or should I save up for something better
I should add that although I'm a complete novice (in case you couldn't tell) I have persevered with it but despite trying different wires, anti-spatter sprays, good prep and lighting etc. I don't think it's just that I'm crap at welding
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any replies.
James