Running a powerpro 256 without water

[haveissues]

Can I run the tig on a powerpro 256 at lower amperage without coolant until I can get a cooling unit? I know it will burn up the torch at higher amperage but is it save at lets say 150?

[nanoplane]

I've run mine at up to about 100A for short periods of time without issue. too much discoloration and warm fingers means you've gone too long :-)

[performance]

100 amps is about right. Higher than that and it will die. A water hose hooked to a faucet makes a good cooler in a pinch.

[Canada]

I noted in another post that I have not wrapped my head around the water cooled torch set up. That that just circulate through the multi use machine or is is a flow through idea? The optional cooler, does that actually chill the water or just provide a thermal mass?

[performance]

No water flows through ANY welder we sell.
It flows through the torch, to cool the torch, not the machine.
The cooler works just like a radiator system on a car.

[Wrenchtamer]

I also have not yet put down the big dollars for a real deal tig cooler. I have the 256 too so what I did is went to HD and got a nice size bird bath pump. I've used it at max amperage with that setup without the slightest hint of overheat. Oh and I use the pink RV coolant from NAPA.

[Canada]

Mark

The cooler part I understand. It was how the torch and water cooling worked. I have not found any diagram or picture that shows how these two items interact with each other. From some other post since there is talk about pool pumps, pails, etc. Am I correct to assume that the water lines are embedded in the torch and cord? From your reply would that suggest that there are two lines that come out near the end for a water hook up? A clearer picture would really help.

[performance]

The torch has separate lines for incoming water, and gas up to the torch head. The return water cools the power cable that is loose and bare inside the pvc hose that runs to the dinse connector.

[ducksface]

Is it pink RV coolant, or pink winterizing fluid for the potable water systems in RV's?.

[Jason]

When I spoke with Alex? on the phone and placed my order I also added in a Weld Craft torch and he told me it would be fine up to about 200A without a cooler. Is that still ok or should I not push it without a cooler? I do have some aluminum to weld corners on that I am not sure exact size yet but I think it may be either 3/16 or 1/4". Not my manifold but a picture of the same thing cut open.


Now I was also considering making my own manifolds for some turbo builds going on and they would use either 1/4 or even 3/8" for the flange. Is the PowerPro256 with the Weld Craft going to handle this without a cooler?

[jameswswanson]

If you get a high quality flexible water cooled torch they are way better to work with than the air ones. I used a CK200 and it's crazy how flexible the lines are. You do need a decent cooler though, and don't try using it without one. I contacted CK and they told me that there torches should have 50psi of coolant pressure (same as a house/ garden hose). I used a garden hose for a while, but that doesn't work so well in the winter. I built a decent cooler for $200 using a procon carbonator pump and motor with a bypass set at 50psi, and a stainless steel steamer pan and lid for a tank. I splurged for the good anti bacteria -20 coolant too. Just my thoughts.

[Wrenchtamer]

I have an air cooled 17v torch. I think weldcraft rated theirs at somewhere under 150 amps. The air cooled torch heats up slower, giving you time to take a break and let it cool. The water cooled torch can burn up before you know it if you arent running a cooler. I would think that 200 amps for any period of time is pushing it. I know there are som air cooled torches rated that high though. As for the manifold, I defer to mark but your duty cycle and max amperage are generally lowered in AC and depending on you r balance the torch heats up much quicker. I would suggest some method of preheat, for that the best thing would be a real oven. I have tried this, and the work will weld much nicer. If you must use a torch, perhaps clamp the item in an aluminum heat sink or copper and heat that instead of the work.

[haveissues]

Thanks for the replies. I'll probably do something simple like the birdbath pump to start out with. I can't hook it up to running water as I don't have water out in the garage and the garage is a fair way from the house. Running hoses down there is a pain.

[performance]

Unless I am misunderstanding something, we do not sell weldcraft. But the water cooled torch that is standard with the unit will not go to 200 amps without water very many times for very long before it has serious problems. The air cooled torch we do have available (26) will go to 200 amps for about 35% duty cycle.

[pvitor]

Out of curisity are the air cooled torches as relaible as the water cooled ones and do they have a triger or controlled via the pedal?

[Wrenchtamer]

everlast can sell you an air cooled torch that is made for your machine and looks just like the water cooled one. If you pick up a regular cheaper plain jane air cooled one, it will not have a switch and will need to use the footpedal. Also make sure you get a half inch dinse connector (dinse 50) if you have the 256.