Not sure why they fit that type of socket, was looking into that myself as there was a welder advertised that "comes with spot welder" which I was mainly intrested in. Did even lookup thoses plugs. Think it ties in with the spot welders that Sealey (and others?) do. See pic. You could try metering the socket it could be they only use two of the pins giving 240v unless the machine has jumpers for single and 3 phase. If you do find out what pins do what can you post back. (Quick look at back of socket will tell if just 240) Might req that the welder is switched to "spot"?
I think I've seen a welder like this before with a 3 phase socket to power a spot welder attachment - don't think it actually puts out 3 phase power, could be wrong though!
I too have seen Sealey hand held spot welders advertised with a timer control box and a 3 phase plug but no mention of them being single phase 240V nor as an accessory for a Sealey Mig. I overlooked these when looking for a spot welder as they were stated to be 3 phase, I am now wondering if they might be single phase with a 3 phase type plug to be used as an accessory from a Sealey Mig or a 16A 3 phase supply. The photo Mike posted shows two hand held units with what look like 3 phase plugs one larger than the other (32A & 16A) and the timer box looks to have a 16A 3 phase outlet socket with a 13A supply plug.
Looking at the Mig front panel there is a switch and a separate timer below the wire feed controller for spot weld control of the Mig torch ie puddle welds and a two position switch under the voltage selector that has symbols for Mig and spot welding positions. Does the 16A socket become live and the mig function disabled when this switch is in the spot weld position?
The switches, control knob type and layout are identical to my old Einhell SGA175 Mig dating from 1989 that I was told at the time of purchase to be made in Italy as per Cebora and Sealey. Then again, the salesman also told me it was copper wound when it clearly isn't! This machine was single phase supplied with a red 32A plug and socket attached so you could use the machine from a 3 phase supply on single phase.
I posted the pic of the two spot welders as an example. I can't find (if I have them) pics of the machines advertised on ebay One I am sure was a Sealey and I think the other may have been a Kempi or something similar. One did come with a spotwelder as per the type in the first pic I posted with plug on spotter and matching socket on welder, sure other one was much the same. It does make sense if you have a mig upto the work area to then also have effectly a socket to plug in your (red plug) spotwelder into, do the spotting then back to migging. As you say could be even though it's a 3 phase type plug if it is only using the 240 from the 3 avi phases the simple enough to just wire the socket on frount of welder to the 240. May be an ideal for any one with a tool they like to use next to the welder but don't want to trail a 2nd lead (1st being the welders!) I can see a blue socket appearing on the frount of some welders..
I'm wondering if some of the spot welders with a timer box advertised have been sat around unused because they are thought to be 3 phase due to the plug. I was not able to find any info on them back then or since.
The timer box has a 3 pin plug on top and it's the timer that feeds the spotter via red socket. So if it got seperated from the timer unit then as you say most would belive them to be 3 phase rarther than as we suspect red plug just using 240v ? Wounder what data plate on spotter says. May still say 3 phase (due to plug)
This thread has some photos, might have to get him to photo the dataplate on the timer. I wonder if the other 2 pins in the 5 pin socket are used for the handle switch ti fire the timer?
It might be one of thoses weard shaver sockets you get in hotels.
Also could be for the wife to plug her iron in so she can do some ironing while having a chat to you when you are welding. Top of welder doubles as an ironing board, no workshop should be without one.
good one mike wot about hair curlers but i think the spot welder prob plugs in the front to make use of the timer which is also usable on the mig side too its not there in the instructions that covers the 160 and 180 that i have with the mig i cant meter the socket cos i ran over that with the bug another story ive listed it on ebay for the now for the old boy thanks all for all the imput
I missed the link in my last post here, will sort that when sober. Can you gain access to the rear of the socket from the wire feed side of the cover to see what the connections are?
Don't think it's his box and it's on the bay so will get snaped up.
Still intrested in finding out how it's used. Bu**er all on Sealeys site (unless you are a regestered user)
Would like to know whats in the hand held spotters to justify the prices. Transformer, clamping mech, rectifier?, timer, and ??
check to see if the welder has a split input ie 240v single or 415 two phase, because if so they could be using the welders tranny to give 415v output when used on single ph.