When You Plasma Cut: DO YOU Blow All Your Fuses?
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- Generally speaking, all of us home welders also have plasma cutters in our garages or workshops and that means having an air compressor by its side. And you know that our plasma cutters can’t go without air compressors. However, based on my experience, having an old compressor and a powerful plasma cutter has its cons especially if your garage current has a limited amperage.
And in my case, I only have 15 amps running in my garage . But when powerful machines work at the same time, my electrical fuse and the plasma cutter tripping breaker do its job by tripping out when a large supply of electricity gets sucked up at the same time.
On the other hand, our machines also have their fuses and the work of the plasma cutter fuse is to protect the motor of the machine from electrical surges that can cause blowout or burning. So if your plasma cutter has no power, this can be caused by the plasma cutter tripping breaker tripping out due to the huge amount of electricity that is getting sucked up by your machines. So do we need to do some plasma cutter troubleshooting when this happens?
That’s when I realized, this tripping out is caused by the use of my old compressor which is huge and at the same time the use of my plasma cutter which I switched on to 55 amps.
Then when I switched to my smaller compressor, I did not have an issue with a plasma cutter tripping breaker anymore. So the goal of this video is to let you know that if regular breaker tripping happens to you while you work, The cause of the problem is the same as mine.
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I only use 10A for my welder, but I do know if my two 2 hp aircompressors start at the same time, my 15A will trigger and switch off, all the best to you and your loved ones
Cool mate
Sounds like compressor and plasma cutter are on the same circuit. I can only access 10 A at 2:40 V in my garage so I run the compressor from the garage circuit and use a long 15 amp capable extension cord off a 10 amp PowerPoint on the House circuit. While I do get some fluctuations in the lights in the house I am yet to blow a circuit breaker. I use the same machine as you have, which in Australia comes with a 10 amp 240 V Plug
correct both same circuit
you have a total of 3600 watts usable in that circuit or line. If your combined plasma cutter and compressor exceed this then the fuse blows. There is a unit out there in the market place that is called a soft starter this will allow your compressor to start up slowly which will not allow it to make a huge drain on the power at start up and blow your fuse. Hope this helps.
Thanks for tip
If the big compressor is getting on in years- it could be the capacitor inside is drying out and changing its value (which will change the startup current)- its usually in that box on the top of the motor with the power cords going into it (not the air pressure switch box- the one attached to the motor itself) Much cheaper to replace than the whole motor and is a known issue (electrolytic capacitors dry out as they age) just make sure you get one with the right value (the important one is the capacitance- it will be a number followed by a uF or MFD- has to be the same number on the new one (they come in a whole range of values for different jobs)- and make sure that the voltage rating is the same too!!!
Yea mate i think the caps are buggered
Thanks Pete, you are the coolest gay on the YT. 👍 I use to different circuit. A 10amp breaker for compressor and a 16amp for the multiwelder/cutter. It`s nice to have the compresser in an another room, so it not so annoying to liste to.
Great idea
Just an idea mate. Get one of those watt or volt readers. Not those thingies that have the red and black tester spikes but this thing you plug into your main power source and then plug your compressor into it. Turn your compressor on and you can see what power the compressor is pulling. This gadget has settings on it so you can set it for watts or volts. I would try this but watch the digital counter at the point it cuts out. The compressor could be spiking which is like a power surge. We had an old generator years ago that use to kill your stereo if you plugged it in. Was ok with drills grinders ect but no radios or anything like that. Use to blow them up. Me step dad seem to think it was what they call dirty power. I would sell that old girl and buy a new one dude.
Great idea thanks
I have the same problem Pete, I have the same plasma cutter here in Oz. What are the specs of the smaller compressor? and can it supply 60psi continuously to the cutter?
its only a cheap 2hp direct drive thing .only good for small cuts
Hey Pete, where is the best place to get a new PT 31 torch from? Mine has burnt out., we are in ChCh NZ. Cheers Rob
Hi rob ,www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/business-farming-industry/industrial/manufacturing-metalwork/other/listing/3909064200?archive=1&bof=tTQ50UJ5
Hey Pete I would just replace the motor with a new one. It's a lot cheaper that way.
Good idea thanks
i have same problem i got a sparky out he said i need 16 amp separate fused socket to run compressor and do not use a extension cable on plasma cutter
Yea i have 15 amp in my garage
Yeah not sure mate. Sounds like your old compressor causing it dude.
Yea need new 1