PT185 duty cycle

[K_phan]

Well I received my pt185 replacement a few weeks ago and have been getting better acquainted with the machine. It seems that I am only able to do a short bit of welding before the machine stops welding.
I had a few questions that if anyone could answer would be greatly appreciated.

1. How do I calculate a rough duty cycle at a given amp?
I did find the online owners manual and read that at max (185amp) its 35% duty cycle. The machine has a chart that says 100amps 100%? Lets say I'm welding at 75amps, what duty cycle should i follow?

2.Well i found my second answer regarding duty cycle in the online manual. "Should I leave the machine on to cool down?" According to the manual, I should leave it on to cool down then switch the machine off and on.

I have had the machine stop welding on me, producing arc but not actually welding but the overtemp/duty cycle light doesnt turn on.

[Tritium]

If 100A is 100% then anything less (75A) is also 100%.

Thurmond

[performance]

Duty cycle is based on a ten minute interval. Not a percentage of forever. Duty cycle is also theoretical. Many things can affect it. Even welding fairly consistently over 15-20 minutes can trigger the overtemp switch....A particularly hot garage or a small tight area can affect it as well. Welding today with my I mig 160, I hit the duty cycle....but it was 120 in there as well most likely. I had been welding over an hour when I hit it...welding at low heat settings without a break, did it eventually.


You only need to cycle it on and off if it remains on...It can reset by itself. What color is the light? A green light versus a red light means something different. If I remember right the green light indicates an over current condition....which can happen for several reasons.

[K_phan]

well i wanted to make sure 100% @100a wasnt for something else.

I do understand there are many factors to consider for the duty cycle. I also know that its based off a 10min interval. Today I welded roughly 5mins, rest 5mins, weld 5mins and then it stopped welding. No lights come on, green or red. It has a picture of a "!" next to it.

[performance]

Are you saying that a light comes on next to the "!" but it isn't green or red? After it cools does it resume welding or does it only reset after welding? What amps does this happen at? Or nothing comes on next to the "!" ? I have found that people often have a hard time gauging their actual welding time. When people actually put it to a watch they are really surprised, one way or the other.

How do you have the unit wired for 220?

[K_phan]

sorry for not being clear. the light does not come on.
it will not start welding unless i cycle the main switch on and off. It also does not weld for very long at this point before it will stop again.

i have been timing myself roughly 4mins or less welding; 6+mins resting with internal fan blowing.

i weld usually around 70 amps

the welder is hooked up to a universal dryer plug by matching the colors: black white green if i remember correctly. two hots and a neutral.

[performance]

Please read the manual thoroughly, as its pretty clear with the pictures. There is NO neutral. Only ground. Black and white wires on the welder are hot...But if you are using a "universal dryer" plug, then this is part of the problem. They 14-50 plug has four wires. The white and black on the receptacle side is usually hot and neutral. In a 14-50 you will have black, white, red, and green typically. Black and red will be used for the hot. White will be used as neutral, and green for ground. So you will hook black to black and white to red, and green to green when wiring your welder. You should be using a separately wired 6-50 plug with a three wire setup. And this should be confirmed with a test meter as well, or better yet handled by a licensed electrician. Again, no neutral when wiring a welder...any brand.