Just 1 phase line?Clamp meter - it clips around one phase conductor at a time and will give you a pretty accurate reading of what it’s pulling. Ones marked “true rms” can give more accurate readings on non sinusoidal or distorted waveforms which you can get from inverter welders, not sure if that would affect the supply side of the machine or not though?![]()
peak hold and inrush current. yep clip it on one phaseThe more expensive clamp meters have a record function so you do the checks on your own.
3 phase confuses me.. machine manual says it pulls 18a maxed out.. so if i maxed out the machine would i actually get 18a reading on the clamp meter or do i need to do a bit of maths?peak hold and inrush current. yep clip it on one phase
Yes - if you clipped around all 3 phases the currents would cancel each other out, but generally in a 3 phase system it should be pretty balanced in what it takes from each phase (give or take, one phase may be powering the control circuits but it’s not going to be a massive difference unless there’s some problem). You can quickly unclip and put around another phase if someone else is doing the welding (obviously make sure it’s safe of course) to check all 3 if you wanted.Just 1 phase line?
Yes you should get a reading of around 18amp on all three of the phases.3 phase confuses me.. machine manual says it pulls 18a maxed out.. so if i maxed out the machine would i actually get 18a reading on the clamp meter or do i need to do a bit of maths?
they also measure single phase both over the live and neutralI have seen some fancy ones that will measure 3 phases at once but they are pretty specialised and not cheap.
right so all 3 should say 18a aye? if thats the case then i can use a calculator to work out how much power that is to size up a generator thenYes you should get a reading of around 18amp on all three of the phases.
just clamp one at a time, as if you clamp all 3 the current on one of the phases will be flowing in the opposite direction it will be subtracting.right so all 3 should say 18a aye? if thats the case then i can use a calculator to work out how much power that is to size up a generator then
I’d be careful going down that route - welder manufacturers usually spec the generator a fair bit higher than what the incoming power requirement is. There will be peaks and troughs which you might not see on a meter if you don’t know what you are looking for, undersize the generator and your welder could go bang (esp if it’s an inverter machine). If it’s a recent machine I’d be looking at what size generator the manufacturer recommends.right so all 3 should say 18a aye? if thats the case then i can use a calculator to work out how much power that is to size up a generator then
right so all 3 should say 18a aye? if thats the case then i can use a calculator to work out how much power that is to size up a generator