"Ignoramus10476" <ignoramus10476@NOSPAM.10476.invalid> wrote in message
... cables and measure voltage drop,...

This is really good advise. I would get an analog voltmeter and measure the
voltage drop just across the work lead. ...

Easy, cheap, and accurate.

Tom M wrote:
"Ignoramus10476" <ignoramus10476@NOSPAM.10476.invalid> wrote in message
... cables and measure voltage drop,...

This is really good advise. I would get an analog voltmeter and measure
the voltage drop just across the work lead. ...

Easy, cheap, and accurate.

Cheap, for sure. Not as easy as an ammeter. Not very much accurate, I'd
say. You have unknown accuracy in the wire guage, unknown resistance in
the cable connections and in the clamps. Analog meters are hard to read
precisely and are only accurate to a couple of percent.

Bob

And don't start with "The OP doesn't need more accuracy than that". I'm
responding to the statement that it would be "accurate".

And a couple of percent isn't accurate enough for a stick welder?

How about the digital clamp on ammeter working with the high RF environment
of an arc?

Who said the measurement would be made beyond the connectors? You?

Four place resistance figures for the cable aren't accurate enough? Its
easy to see an analog meter and integrate out all the variations with an
unstable DC arc. Seems you have never tried to measure the current of a DC
welder.

Stop picking nits.

Really? Fry's Electronics
Big box store to the nerds?

Ill check there myself. Id like to have one.

Tom M wrote:
And a couple of percent isn't accurate enough for a stick welder?

How about the digital clamp on ammeter working with the high RF
environment of an arc?

Who said the measurement would be made beyond the connectors? You?

Four place resistance figures for the cable aren't accurate enough? Its
easy to see an analog meter and integrate out all the variations with an
unstable DC arc. Seems you have never tried to measure the current of a
DC welder.

Stop picking nits.

Jeez, calm down.

Tom M wrote:
"Ignoramus10476" <ignoramus10476@NOSPAM.10476.invalid> wrote in message
... cables and measure voltage drop,...

This is really good advise. I would get an analog voltmeter and measure the
voltage drop just across the work lead. ...

Easy, cheap, and accurate.

Cheap, for sure. Not as easy as an ammeter. Not very much accurate,
I'd say. You have unknown accuracy in the wire guage, unknown
resistance in the cable connections and in the clamps. Analog meters
are hard to read precisely and are only accurate to a couple of percent.

I'm picking up the radiator for the SA 200 Monday, and will be painting and
reassembling according to the wind speed over the next couple of weeks.
When I get the old gal running, I'd like to do a check on the output through
the leads.

Would I do this with a helper and an amp clamp? Set it up to weld, and then
weld with a helper watching an amp clamp on the lead? Is there another type
of tester I should use just on the main lugs off the machine? I'm just
trying to see if the output is good, and is within the range of the controls
indicate. I will be using 50' leads of #1 cable on each leg. I will be
using 7018 1/8" rod in the flat position, and making a dime size pool, and
trying to burn thirty seconds per setting. Stinger positive.

Does this sound like a plausible idea? Other suggestions, caveats, tips,
procedures or whatever appreciated.

Thanks.

Steve

SteveB wrote:
I'm picking up the radiator for the SA 200 Monday, and will be
painting and reassembling according to the wind speed over the next
couple of weeks. When I get the old gal running, I'd like to do a
check on the output through the leads.

Would I do this with a helper and an amp clamp? Set it up to weld,
and then weld with a helper watching an amp clamp on the lead? Is
there another type of tester I should use just on the main lugs off
the machine? I'm just trying to see if the output is good, and is
within the range of the controls indicate. I will be using 50' leads
of #1 cable on each leg. I will be using 7018 1/8" rod in the flat
position, and making a dime size pool, and trying to burn thirty
seconds per setting. Stinger positive.

Does this sound like a plausible idea? Other suggestions, caveats,
tips, procedures or whatever appreciated.

Thanks.

Steve


You need a clamp-on DC ammeter, else sure, have someone read the current.

Grant

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:29:57 -0600, "SteveB" <oldfart@flatulence.com
wrote:

I'm picking up the radiator for the SA 200 Monday, and will be painting and
reassembling according to the wind speed over the next couple of weeks.
When I get the old gal running, I'd like to do a check on the output through
the leads.

Would I do this with a helper and an amp clamp? Set it up to weld, and then
weld with a helper watching an amp clamp on the lead? Is there another type
of tester I should use just on the main lugs off the machine? I'm just
trying to see if the output is good, and is within the range of the controls
indicate. I will be using 50' leads of #1 cable on each leg. I will be
using 7018 1/8" rod in the flat position, and making a dime size pool, and
trying to burn thirty seconds per setting. Stinger positive.

Does this sound like a plausible idea? Other suggestions, caveats, tips,
procedures or whatever appreciated.

Thanks.

Steve

Unless you have a DC amp clamp..you cant do it. Most ammeters using
inductince to read current, are AC only. Your machine is DC only.

Put a volt meter across the leads, see what it says. Have your helper
read it while welding.

Frankly..I consider the dials on most welders to be only a a way to
figure out what the needle was pointing at the last time it worked
good. Then I use a grease pencil to make a mark for the size/type of
rod it worked well at.

Now there is "shunt ammeters" but I dont have a clue how to hook one
up for your rig.

Just wire wheel some of your scrap, grab a mixture of rod, and burn
it. Set it at what the dial says..then adjust up or down as needed for
each rod.



Gunner

Would I do this with a helper and an amp clamp?

SteveB writes:

Would I do this with a helper and an amp clamp?

Auto parts stores have an inexpensive DC ammeter you just hold over the
lead. Used for measuring starter current draws.

Steve, if the amperage dial is calibrated properly, you should have a
great time welding 1/8" 7018 at 125 amp setting, especially horizontal.

If that is the case, I would say, to hell with shunts and ammeters.

i

I have an Extech Ammeter that reads AC and DC amps.
It cost me $85 at Fry's Electronics.

It works great, and is fairly compact.

Since I'm getting replies all over the map on this one, I have decided to do
the following:

Get some of the rods of diameters I'm going to be welding with. 7018, 6010
and 6011, 1/8" and 3/32". Set the settings at the suggested amperage.
Weld, and see how they run. Then intentionally crank the settings up or
down from the accepted parameters, and see how they act.