I have a welder has started tripping the breaker about 30% of the time time I strike the arc. The breaker and circuit are big enough for the welder, in theory, so I assume that either the breaker or the welder are wearing out.
I would like to get an ammeter to measure how much current is being pulled by the welder when the breaker pops. Will those energy-saver gadgets from Home Depot work? Or maybe one of those clamp things that electricians have on their multimeters?
>>999563
is the breaker new? i'd try putting in a new one.
'energy saver gadget' like a kill-a-watt should give you a max reading but someone will have to be watching it on amps display mode when you strike the arc ( at least on mine ) because it doesn't save that info.
http://www.amazon.com/TS-836A-Energy-Voltage-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B00E945SJG
- remembers peak usage (allegedly) - $15 = maybe 5% -/+ accurate tho, but, be enough for this. Whats the welder rated at, breaker can/should have a little headroom, but normal breakers (non GFCI, etc.) dont usually start wandering in their trip rating either.
a kill-a-watt type device might be destroyed, or at least damaged, if you try to use it in a case like this. a better idea is a clamp probe with a ''surge'' or ''inrush'' setting. which is not gonna be cheap, i dont think.
more info here: http://en-us.fluke.com/training/training-library/test-tools/clamp-meters/how-and-why-to-measure-inrush-current.html
what i would do personally is to use an old broken clamp meter i have, and just connect the pick-p coil to the audio card on the computer, while running a software scope.
>>999634
>http://en-us.fluke.com/training/training-library/test-tools/clamp-meters/how-and-why-to-measure-inrush-current.html
Thanks. I may be able to rent one.
Typically the breaker goes first. Post make/model/serial of welding machine on the Weldingweb forums with your question if your problem isn't wiring.
>>999563
Are you using your welder in your house?
Does your breaker have the correct curve for an inductive load?
Normal breakers are type b
Machinery with high inrush is usually on a type c
A breaker is more complicated than its current rating
>>999624
>is the breaker new? i'd try putting in a new one.
This. I have a wall plug in my garage the the previous owner fully admitted to never using for anything, ever. Any time I tried to do something more complicated then charge something, the breaker went because it was old and not used to the power going through it.
>>999563
are you 110 and your welder is 220?
>>1001923
Betting on this.
Breakers are cheap, so I'll just replace the one I have, and if that solves the problem, great.
>>1001923
It is a dual 220/400v model and I'm running it off 220. AFAIK it was used on 220 for many years without incident, but I'll get a 400v cable and try it with that before I give up.
