Help! Learning to weld

[dsparks1024]

I just want to start out by saying that I have never welded before in my life and would like to learn how. That being said, I have a possibly dumb question... I have a Lincoln AC/DC225/125 arc welder and I can not seem to get it to turn on.

I checked the outlet and it has 245V being supplied to it. When I plug the welder in and flip the switch to on, nothing happens.. I'd assume I should hear the transformer humming or a fan or something. I tried to strike an arc regardless with no luck. I assumed something must have been broken in the welder because it has not been used in several years.

I took it to a welding shop to have it looked at and they told me it fired right up and worked fine. What am I missing???

I see on the welder that it says input: single phase 230V 50A.. I am unsure if my garage is single phase our dual phase, could this be an issue?

Any feedback would be great!
Thanks!

 

[murphy1244]

Are you using the ground clamp?

 

[dsparks1024]

Yes the ground clap is attached to the stock I am trying to practice on. Shouldn't the welder be making some sort of noise?

 

[Shield Arc]

I've read where about the only thing that ever goes wrong with those welding machines is the on / off switch. Just wonder if that might be the problem. :confused3:

 

[CNC Dan]

Can you post a pic of the plug on the welder, and the outlet you are connecting to. That would help a lot. Could be your outlet is wired wrong.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yes it should. It is single phase so you have the right power. Do you have an ohm meter? Taking the plug out, measuring between the two 110V prongs you should get some resistance (fairly low) with the welder power switch turned on. Maybe the switch is faulty.

Not sure, but is there a lever that one engages to change the settings? Maybe this has to be in the weld, not the adjust position. Just a thought.

 

[grsthegreat]

who wired the plug

make sure the flat blades have power and the round outlet is the ground.

and yes, you should hear loud hum even if welding leads arnt plugged in.

my bet is on the outlet in the shop. especially if it works in other shop

 

[dsparks1024]

I checked the resistance across the two prongs on the welder cord, it's an open when the switch is off and a few ohms when the switch is on which seems to be right. I took the face plate off the the outlet and took a picture, maybe that might give you some more insight.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I am completely stumped, because the repair shop told me it worked fine..

 

[murphy1244]

Check voltage to ground on each leg.

 

[dsparks1024]

Each leg to ground is showing 123V, so it seems that is okay. I don't know what else to check

 

[grsthegreat]

. you have both 110 attached to one circuit. For 240 to work you have to have to have 2 separate 120 S+ a ground you need three wires going to box

 

[murphy1244]

. you have both 110 attached to one circuit. For 240 to work you have to have to have 2 separate 120 S+ a ground you need three wires going to box

Ahhh he maybe on the same leg?

 

[grsthegreat]

yes he has both positive legs attached to one incoming wire. he only has 120 volts

 

[Industrial Toys]

That has to be it. You checked each leg to ground, but they were the same leg. Was there 240 between them? The resistance you checked on the welder makes the unit seem OK!

 

[grsthegreat]

if you put your meter between both hots and do not touch the ground you're going to find there's no power

 

[dsparks1024]

I checked this as well, I was reading 245V across the two hots.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe someone just doesn't want you to weld! It's the only thing I can think of!

Could it be a really quiet welder? Is there a fan in it? Maybe you were reading the resistance of the fan, and maybe the fan is seized up.

 

[grsthegreat]

well I see both hot wires from the outlet connecting to a single incoming wire. In other words there's two outlets connected on with one incoming wire so is three wires under one wire nut. There's no way in the world you can have 240 that way I'm not sure how you're reading it. is this connected to a 2 pole or doublr breaker or a single breaker. maybe there's something in that picture I'm not seen

 

[Industrial Toys]

What does the 225/125 in the model number stand for? I have never heard of a 220 Volt welder requiring a neutral. A typical welding plug has two hots and a ground. The ground is only for safety.

And sorry, I re-read your posts to see that you did say you had 240 something.

Is the receptacle wired right into your panel? Not that somehow one or both of your supply lines is going through some load, meaning you would still read 240 on your meter.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yeah, that marrette is just for the ground.
Kind of grasping at straws here. Turn off the power, (make sure) ,disconnect the receptacle, plug the welder into this receptacle and recheck your resistance measurements through the welder. Maybe the plug/receptacle isn't making connection. Sometimes contacts can get burned.

Can you post a picture of the welder, front panel?