Power supply

[swedge]

Picked myself up a pickhill bantam oil cooled stick welder

It came with a standard 3 pin 13amp plug which it dosnt seem to like

In my unit there is a 3 phase power supply to the 4 post lift

Is it possible tap Into that feed and fit a socket onto it so I can use that supply for the welder?

We don't have access to the fuse box without having the owner come down which is a pain so I don't want it tripping the switch all the time

Thanks

 

[bigegg]

What power is it?
It should (!) run ok off a 13a socket at lower power - unless it is a 3-phase machine someone has put the wrong plug on.

If it "doesn't like" the 13a plug, that would suggest to me that there's a fault in the welder.
I wouldn't start connecting to a different supply (especially at more than 13a / unfused) until you investigate *why* it doesn't like the plug that's on it.

 

[swedge]

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/stick-welder.76726/page-2#post-1068419

This is another thread I have where the power supply has been mentioned

 

[swedge]

The machine was on 90amps

 

[brightspark]

the pickhill is dual voltage it really needs to run on a 30 amp single phase supply it will run on 3 phase 440 with a new 3 core and earth lead or if your 3 phase sockets are 30amp 5 pin u can still run it as single phase using one phase and the neutral in the socket @240 volt . just don't get them mixed up in plug

 

[swedge]

Cheers just wanted to make sure it was possible before I hassle the sparks at work lol

 

[frank horton]

Swedge,
Be careful, That 3phase supply to the car lift will prob NOT have a NEUTRAL.....most three phase machine like that don't need a neutral......u need a neutral to run anything single phase tho...as well as an earth/ground wire....

If it's poss to run ur new welder on 3phase I'd def go that route......all the smaller oil cooled welders I have found really need a heavy supply on 240v /single phase, I always found a way for a 30amp supply from the board.....
U should have ur own access to ur fuse board if not for convenience BUT ur SAFETY.......
Spose u could take the welder home and try it out there ......
Also, these oiled cooled welders don't really like to be handled much, mine are on a 4 wheeled trolley but spend most of their time under the bench........
BUT please be sure in what ur doing, U Only come this way once......
Frank

 

[Turbo]

If I remember correctly a Pickhill welder uses 2 phases of a 3 phase supply & an earth, not sure about a neutral. The circuit for the car lift may not like only 2 phases being used so you might need a dedicated circuit for your welder.

It should run ok off a 13A plug on the lower settings, better on a 16A blue plug but best on a 32A supply. Mine is currently fed off a 32A circuit & a 15A plug & it works fine. Take off the square cover where the cable goes into the welder & have a look what terminals are used. If you're confused post a pic & someone might be able to help.