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| Subject - I bought a 3 phase commercial welder | |
| Barry Sanford |
I was told by the seller that it'd be no problem to hook up to single phase; just reroute the jumper connections and everything will be fine. Well, as it turns out, the diagram for the jumper configurations are 208, 230 and 460 and from what I've been told, those are all 3 phase options...so, after putting alot of time and energy into this heavy old mother, I'd like to get her up and running so's I can start on my aluminum welding project. It seems I can't convert a 3 phase to single phase but I can convert the other way and would be to my advantage to do so. I did notice when dismantling the plug that there were two hots and the ground went to an unconnected post...from reading your material on this web site I guess it means that this industrial welder was hooked up to run on 460v (from the jumper configuration diagram) with a delta connection (no ground). This welder was made by Westronics; it must weigh 3 or 400 lbs.It's an AC/DC welder with lots of bells and histles...Westronics sent me an instructional pamphlet on how to use it, no indication of horsepower rating, however...I'll have to check the specs plate... Does anyone have any input on a good way to get this unit up and running on 3 phase? |
| Scott Vickrey | The fastest and sometimes only way to get 3 phase power is to purchase a phase converter otherwise you'll be in limbo with this project forever. My uncle bought a three phase air compressor and refuses to buy a phase converter. It was one of those "good deals". So, now it is sitting there taking up space in the garage like an exspensive piece of industial art. Do you think you could scan and send me this diagram at my email address? Have you since talked to the seller? Was he a dealer? Or, Should he have known what he was talking about? It might be possible to wire this to a single phase source. You can't tell just by the listed voltages. |
| JimmyDee | Do what Scott has asked you to do because it has been my experience that most welders can be hooked from 3 phase to single. Even though the voltages you quote have 3 phase configurations, they can also be single phase. I'm sure Scott will be able to show you what to do. Jim |
| Scott Vickrey | If I recieve it I'll post the diagram here for all to have a crack at it. |
| Scott Vickrey | Barry said that he'll be sending the diagram soon. He has sent these photos.  I think it is looking positive that this will connect to single phase power. Right? |
| JimmyDee | Yes, it will connect without any problems. Probably just buss type jumpers that can be changed by removing a few nuts and moving the jumpers. Jim |
| Barry Sanford | Hey, thanks for the input, guys...I was talking to a local power company guy today who thought I might be able to go single phase without any problem...I think the fact that it's only got 2 hot wires and no ground running means that it'll make the change to single phase...here's the jumper diagram |
| Barry Sanford | How do I attach a picture? |
| JimmyDee | Going to try here. Here are the instructions. Images: Enclose the address with one of the following: {img]http://www.electricalknowledge.com/images/P4210004.jpg[/img} {img=right] and [/img=right} {img=left] and [/img=left} I replaced the [ with a { so it would show the HTML code instead of the picture. Here is the way the top line of code looks with the { or } replaced with [ or ].  Post your picture where ever, home web page, e-mail here, community picture web site, etc., then follow the instructrons above. Hope this helps Jim |
| Barry Sanford | Thanks for the info Jim; lets see if I can do it... 
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| Scott Vickrey | Barry, I edited your post to make it work You can edit it to see the imag tags in action. Jim, I found that this forum supports relative addressing. This is the prefered method since it can be moved and still work. Instead of http://www.electricalknowledge.com/images/P4210005.jpg Use {img}../images/P4210005.jpg{/img} This weekend I will be moving this forum from electricalknowledge.com to electricalknowledge.com/forum to make room for a new default page that will aid in navigating the rest of the site. |
| Barry Sanford | Jim, our single phase voltages are 120 and 240 here in Humboldt County California. Should I use the jumper configuration for 230 volts? Should I leave the ground wire disabled as it was in the 460 configuration? Thanks. Barry |
| JimmyDee | quote: Reconfigure for 230 volts and a case ground is always necessary. Jim |
| JimmyDee | This will set up your welder for 240 volts single phase. After looking at the labels and diagrams, it looks like it only has a single phase option and never was 3 phase. OK, you have 2 sets of bolts coming out of the insulation board. We'll start with the top or the small set. You now have the #2 & #3 bolts jumpered. there should be 2 copper bar jumpers. Remove the nuts and place one jumper from #1 to #2 and one from #3 to #4. This part is done. You will basically do the same thing to the larger ones. Remove the jumpers from #3 to #4 and move one to jumper #1 to #2 and the other to #3 to #4. You are done with this part. Now hook up the 2 hot feeds (240 volts). One hot lead to L1 and the other one to L2. Hook the ground wire to the terminal that is marked GND. Turn on and weld.  Jim |
| Barry Sanford | hey, Scott and Jim thanks for all the help! I'm headed on over to the shop right now and we'll see how things go! This welder was made by Western Arctronics; it's a Fourney model#435. I'll let you know how things go.Barry |
| Barry Sanford | Scott; I see from your edit layout how it's configured; I don't understand how to get the actual image attached, though...Barry |
| JimmyDee | Glad we could help. Let us know how it goes. Jim |
| Barry Sanford | yes, sir...she works! I did the jumper pattern as Jim suggested and the plug with 2 hots and a ground...started her up as an AC welder and laid down a beautiful bead on 3/8 th's plate...very smooth and hot; the machine's rated to weld up to a 350 amp current...can't imagine what you'd be welding using heat like that. Then I tried a stick weld with eight inch rod on half inch aluminum using the welder in straight and reverse polarity DC modes... could have used a little more heat but it laid down pretty well too...my first aluminum welding I've ever attempted! Now I now longer own an industrial art object but rather something I can make industrial art with...thanks for all the help. Barry |
| JimmyDee | Sure am glad it works good. Don't forget that the value on resale for you some day will be that orange print of the hookup. I would make a copy and have it laminated and stuff inside somewhere. Don't loose it. Happy welding.  Jim |
| Scott Vickrey | Glad to help. Good luck with the welding. |