Clarke Plasma King 30Si Plasma Cutter

[ATGNI]

Clarke Plasma King 30Si Plasma Cutter

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-plasma-king-30si-plasma-cutter

I am thinking about buy this plasma cutter from Machine mart and wondered if anyone has experience using this machine. I have a limited electrical supply in the garage and I assume being inverter based I can turn the power down more than a tradition tranformer based unit. Its cheaper to buy from lawsons, but easier to be returned to machine mart if I have a problem with it.

Is the clarke plasma likely to be any more reliable then the very cheep ebay plasma cutter from china or the R-Tech.

Chris.

 

[Mikey D]

Hi well to be honest i wouldnt buy from machine mart purely because they claim it will cut 10 mm aluminium (It would be 5mm max on ali )

someones avin a larf

cheers mike

 

[ATGNI]

Well I agree. I read the manual for the air powered punch / edge setter I bought from them today. Its obvious the manuals are badly translated by non technical people. I assume the 10 mm is a honest if perhaps stupid mistake.

found this info on another site where the machines a whole lot more expensive.

Plasma King 30 Si Plasma Cutter
This 230v 1Ph plasma cutter is ideal for autobody repairs and slices cleanly through mild/stainless steel, aluminium and copper. With a pilot arc torch, cutting is instant, even on painted surfaces. Includes professional on/off torch, earth lead and air filter/regulator.

* 12A Minimum 28A maximum
* Maximum cutting thickness 10mm on mild steel
* 230v 1Ph, 310v open circuit
* Max power consumption 21A
* Dimensions LxWxH (mm) 430x155x315
* Weight: 9.6KG

Model No: PLASMA KING 30SI

Part No: 6016010

 

[ATGNI]

I bought the Clarke Plasma cutter and first impressions are really good. It is very very lite and I can pick it up with my little finger "really". The only problem is that the manual states it requires a 30 Amp plug and that's not exactly domestic. The manual gives the maximum current consumption of 21 amps and states a 13A plug must not be fitted.

I have access to specialist measurement equipment and I will do some current measurements next week. I have run the unit off a 13A plug with the plasma turned down to minimum setting and it did cut some 1.5mm easily without blowing the fuse. Unfortunately I think that the plasma cutter and compressor would be a bridge to far as my garage is fed via 13A fused spur.

I am only going to be cutting up to 1 mm and when I have measured the actual supply current I will have to consider the electrical supply issue more fully. I am not advocating running this machine from a domestic plug and socket but it may be ok on mimimum setting.

I Think Machine-Mart could make the supply requirements clearer in the advertising or there is going to many unhappy or unsafe customers.

Thumbs up looks a good little machine, could be great for site use.

Regards Chris.

 

[ATGNI]

I did a quick test today with the plasma on minimum setting. It draws between 8.5 and 12.5 amps and this depends on the cutting style. The current goes up when the torch is not in contact with the metal.

I guess you may just get away with the the plasma cutter on a domestic supply for automotive steel on min setting. But if you add in 10 amps for the 8 cfm compressor your going to have problems. I guess if your determined most modern consumer unit have a 23 amp output for power showers and a electrician could install an industrial connector if this can be hidden before the wife catches sight of it.

Dont run this off a domestic supply - not a good idea.

Still great little machine.

Chris

 

[chunkolini]

I ran my Hobart 125 plasma cutter and compressor off my garage spur for years with not a single fuse blowing, and my 180amp mig welder. All of them on bog standard 13amp plugs, and I was using them heavily at high power.

Just to add to the confusion.

Chunko'.

 

[ATGNI]

Well I did not say it would not work. Just not a great idea to put a 22 amp load on a 13Amp circuit. Some people will get away with it some won't and if your really unlucky, better not tell the insurance company......

Chris.

 

[Ragnarok]

hello all, i know this is an old thread but i was looking at the posts about plasma cutters (just invested in a hypertherm powermax 30) and came across this, i was just wondering why it would be so surprising if a clarke 30amp plasma could cut 10mm aluminium? i tried my plasma cutter on 10mm aluminium just cause i happened to have some around that i had been making controle levers for a machine out of, it did pretty well i think bit ragged but it did just fall off.. i'd say it's in the severance category of the 30amp hyperthem for sure...