Running PU 205 on 110volt

[worntorn]

I have a small job to do in a spot where there is only a 110 volt 15 amp wall plug.

I thought I would try out the capabilities of the machine on 110 before attempting the job.

First I had a good look at the Duty Cycle label on top the machine. It only showed ratings for 240 volt so I thought I had better double check that the machine is dual voltage. Alex said it was Dual Voltage when I bought it but I remembered that Duncan had some 240 volt only 205s at that time. I didn't want to damage the machine so I called the Everlast Tech line. I got Ray's voicemail and left a message there.

An hour or two later I was back in the house to check messages. There was a message from Ray to say that as long as there was a label showing 110/220 voltages where the power supply cord goes into the machine, then it is a dual voltage machine.

So much for all the claimed difficulty in reaching Everlast tech support or sales, there was my answer for me. Same thing with sales, called there a couple of days ago to order a PP256, got right thru to Alex then placed the order with Katya. It's very easy to spend money there!

I first tried some 3/32 7018 which burns OK at about 85 amps when the machine is on 220 volt. I switched to 110v / 15 amp wall supply and left the control knob in the same place. When powered up on 110volt the digital readout read the same 85 amps. The breaker popped after about 1/2" of weldbead.
I reduced my expectations a bit and tried some 1/16" 6013 . After a bit of fiddling I found that it burned quite nicely at 55 amps. I could burn a full rod and, if a bit of breaker cooling time is left between rods, keep right on going with the next rod.
Snapping a second rod in quickly and starting welding with no cooling time would make the breaker pop about 1/2 way thru the second rod.

It's best to work at a relaxed pace when on a 110 volt 15 amp breaker, but you can do small jobs this way!

The plasma cutting was similar, it would cut 1/4 quite nicely with the amp knob turned right down (readout says 20 amps), but prolonged cutting will snap out the breaker.
I found that it would cut off a 1/4x 4" flat bar very nicely on 110 volt. Again, if a few minutes of cooling time is left between the cuts, then you can keep right at it.

I think the machine could be used all day long for this light work on a 20 amp 110 volt circuit. On the typical 15 amp wall plug, it is a bit tricky but definitely will weld and cut reasonably light material like the 1/4" in small portions.

This is all the capacity that is needed for the job I have in mind.

Glen

[geezer]

Clearly a Supply and Demand problem, I agree about the 20 amp 110 breaker being the answer. I once had a Clarke 130en mig, it ran on 110, however the instructions said (in small print) that a 20 amp breaker was used to get it to preform, 15 amps just isn't quite enough.

[performance]

20 amps, if not 30.

The duty cycle is low, and as we have said, its a "will work" thing, though it isn't tuned for performance on 110V, favoring 220 operation. Don't expect the same level of performance out of it, OR the same duty cycle. Duty cycle is going to be right around 20% at 100 amps or so. And its probably going to max out around 26 amps or so on 110 on the plasma. Its been so long since I have used one that I don't remember if the out put is adjusted proportionately with the meter in 110 mode if it still reads at the 220 V setting, but out put is half...Seems like I remember something, though it may have been worked on since then.

[worntorn]

Hi Mark

After the tryout I don't expect too much out of it on 110.

I just have a few short welds to do on 110 and will leave lots of time between welds for cooling of the machine and breaker. I'm confident that it will do it.

Glen