lincoln ac/cd buzz box question

[brianpgriset]

does the lincoln ac/dc 225/125 have thermal overload protection, or will it just "fry" if it is run too long.

if it does "fry" what exactly happens?

if it has thermal overload, what do you have to do to reset it?

[brianpgriset]

and one more thing.... alot of the parts i see inside welders are coverd with a brown/copperish colored "film". what is that stuff and what does it do?

[ventureline]

does the lincoln ac/dc 225/125 have thermal overload protection, or will it just "fry" if it is run too long.

if it does "fry" what exactly happens?

if it has thermal overload, what do you have to do to reset it?

Unit is too cheap to have a thermal. Make sure your breaker is sized corectly for the unit so that it'll blow before the machine does.

You'll see smoke and smell burning varnish if you "fry" the welder

[TOMWELDS]

And they'll smoke for years!...That's dielectric paint on the wires.

[brianpgriset]

so exceeding the machine's duty cycle will throw the breaker?

[Weldman1223]

i dont think so

the breaker will trip if there is a short...normally that will start in the heart of the welder, the transformer...

as the heat builds up the magnet wire in the transformer will burn and all the paper in the transformer as well and then the primary and secondary will join. when that happens you have a good chance of feeding 120V and 23/30A through the welders output and if you are leaning on the metal while trying to weld it you get shocked

[hankj]

Brian,

I wouldn't worry about it. Those things are **** near bulletproof. If you can exceed the duty cycle long enough to have an effect on the welder, you're a better man than I! Stick machines have a built-in "mini" rest period - the time it take to drop the stub and put in a new stick!

Hank

[KB Fabrications]

so exceeding the machine's duty cycle will throw the breaker?

No. You could size down the breaker 10 amps if you were really worried but you would limit your output and get nuisance tripping of your breaker. Hank really said it best and if people had problems like you are concerned about, you could bet someone would be talking about it.

[TOMWELDS]

Ive been beating the **** outta my buzz box for 30 years...still runs like a champ

[sawmill welder]

I ran a lincoln 225 AC buzz box with 50 ft. leads and a 25 ft. ext. cord off a 50 amp
breaker for 20 plus years. We replaced an amp selector, a couple of switches and cooling
fans over the years, all the while doing maintenance welding and heavy duty fabrication,
and mill rebuilding. On those heavy days, we'd throw the breakers countless times.
That unit was still in use when the mill burned and would still be working except for the
fire. Also, in high school vo-ag, we had several of these that ran heavy for years and trained many welders in our area.

[brianpgriset]

thanks a ton guys...

reason i ask is i was welding up a few things (including my new welder cart for my new buzzbox, thread to come soon), and all the sudden it shut down out of nowhere.

i just got the darn tootin thing too!

needless to say i was slightly worried.

anyways, im letting it cool down now, will give it a run in the morning and hope for the best. i will let yall know if something comes up. otherwise, wait for my thread on my two new welding outfits! (if you couldnt tell i am excited about them)


signing off and sleeping peacefully now...

brian

[Weldman1223]

wouldnt those thermal cutouts reset in about 10-15 minutes?

[brianpgriset]

probably.... its like 12:30am here (columbus) and i just got back from 2 hours of ice skating, so i am beat!

[brianpgriset]

well i went downstairs to try to fire up the buzzbox, and i am not pleased to say that it still wont turn on.

i check the power cable, it looks tight and well secured, it isnt the breaker, and i was only running it on a dryer plug (30 amp) and while i was welding last night it just shut down.

any ideas? sounds like im gonna have to take this thing to a repair shop monday

[hankj]

Brian,

What are the symptoms? Do you have any test gear, like a voltmeter? There are a few things you can do to narrow it down. Lincoln states in their manuals "No preventative maintenance is necessary", and they don't even include a schematic, the machines are so basic.

If the fan runs, but there is no output, it could be a range switch or something like that. Check all of the front panel controls to make sure none are midway between settings, etc. If the fan does not run, AC is not getting to the welder for some reason. Did the dryer work after you unplugged the welder? Check the dryer outlet for proper voltage as a start, then chase the juice down the cord and find out where you loose it. Be careful.

Hank

Hank