Amperage check on a welding machine.

[AJerry]

How is an amperage check on a welding machine done (SMAW)? I clamped an amp meter on the lead and the amp meter showed lower than the set reading on the welding machine. This welder did have a remote but I thought that clamping it near the machine would be more accurate. This did cause some discussion with the welder.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Metalguy]

Transformer fields can give clamp-on readings that are way off. Better to measure far from them.

 

[SJones]

Was the welding machine calibrated? Was your ammeter calibrated?

Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer

http://www.pdo.co.om/pdo/

 

[AJerry]

The machine was calibrateded 8 months ago, the meter was one I pick-up from the shop.

 

[sayee1]

The best is to use a tong tester and use it close to the point of welding on the return cable (Earthing)

Thanks and regards
Sayee Prasad R CEng MWeldI MIOMMM


If it moves, train it...if it doesn't move, calibrate it...if it isn't written down, it never happened!

 

[TheBlacksmith]

How was the current path completed for this reading? The arc length could affect the amount of current flowing; a long arc would present more resistance, or if this is a MIG machine, the stickout and arc length would affect it.

 

[weldtek]

In my experience, tongs, hand held meters and the like will at best provide a close estimate of the amperage drawn. To get an accurate reading you need a well dampened meter to take out the high and low swings and give an average current. If you don't have access to a dampened meter watch the needle bounce around and take your best guess.