Welding amps

[bigrab]

Hi all.
Is there any simple way I can tell what Amps are being put out by my Clarke 150TE? I was doing pretty good practice welding on 2 and 3 mm metal and yesterday cut the amps right down by settings set at Min - 1 -wire speed 4/5 but couldnt weld more than 1/2" on 0.85mm mild steel plate before the metal fell away from where I was welding, I upped my weld speed but the weld wasn't so good then and the metal around it was glowing red hot for a fair bit around it.

Bigrab.

 

[brightspark]

Hi all.
Is there any simple way I can tell what Amps are being put out by my Clarke 150TE? I was doing pretty good practice welding on 2 and 3 mm metal and yesterday cut the amps right down by settings set at Min - 1 -wire speed 4/5 but couldnt weld more than 1/2" on 0.85mm mild steel plate before the metal fell away from where I was welding, I upped my weld speed but the weld wasn't so good then and the metal around it was glowing red hot for a fair bit around it.

Bigrab.

one way buy a cheap clamp on ameter and test whilst using

 

[rtbcomp]

one way buy a cheap clamp on ameter and test whilst using

Buy an expensive one instead - the cheap ones only measure AC current.

If you measure the resistance of the earth lead from one end to the other and then measure the voltage accross the same two points whilst welding you could claculate the current. Not sure what sort of values you'd expect for the resistance though, it should be very low.

 

[brightspark]

Buy an expensive one instead - the cheap ones only measure AC current.

If you measure the resistance of the earth lead from one end to the other and then measure the voltage accross the same two points whilst welding you could claculate the current. Not sure what sort of values you'd expect for the resistance though, it should be very low.

yep buy the one i have its a fluke true rms 250 quid more than the welder cost

 

[Drains]

Bigrab, just so's you know, the switch controls on your machine change the voltage, not the amps. Amps are adjusted automatically by the machine, according to wire speed, wire stickout etc, done as you're welding, and constantly variable.
You can test your voltage by turning the wire speed to zero, putting a voltmeter between the torch and ground and turning the machine on. Try it on the different settings to see what voltages you're getting. The voltmater won't blow as no current will pass.

Unfortunately, knowing either your volts or amps isn't going to solve your problem, which is down to technique. If you've not already, look at the tutorials on this site, which should help out.

 

[bigrab]

Thanks for the advice. I haven't been in the shed trying the welder since I had the problem. It probabley is my poor technique but an electrical engineer buddy is going to come by and run an ampmeter on it while I'm running a weld or two. I was sure I was running some fairly decent welds earlier on the thin steel, not perfect, but getting on for passable, but we will see next week.

Bigrab.

 

[bigrab]

For the last few days I have been setting out the welding area in the shed with a new bench top, Timber backing wall with several hooks for tools and a special support for my co2 extinguisher bottle.
I then tried the welder on it's lowest setting and it worked perfect!!! I set it higher and the weld was blowing through just like last time but on the lowest setting, turned it down again and again perfect, well as perfect as I can do!
So what could have happened? Sticking switch?

Bigrab.