Re: [TCML] How to use an arc welder as a ballast?

[Yurtle Turtle <yurtle_t@xxxxxxxxx>]

You may also want to run a separate feed for the 120 volt fan inside the welder. If you are using a variac to reduce the voltage, and you are running the welder in series with a pig, the fan will be starved and will not run very fast.

Adam


--- On Sun, 5/4/08, bunnykiller <bunnikillr@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: bunnykiller <bunnikillr@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [TCML] How to use an arc welder as a ballast?
> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Sunday, May 4, 2008, 9:08 PM
> Hey Marcus...
> 
> First and foremost you must consider the size and capacity
> of the welder 
> to be used "as a ballast". second thing to
> consider is the type of wire 
> used in the welder itself, aluminum wiring wont last too
> long, copper 
> wiring on the welders transformer primary will have a
> better life span.
> as for the wiring technique, the 2(3) leads that power the
> welder will 
> be the ones used to "ballast" the piggie. General
> concensus calls for 
> wiring the welder as such....
> 
> the ground lead(green)of the welder goes to ground of the
> receptical on 
> the source, the black lead ( hot wire from the
> source/recepticle) 
> attaches to the black lead of the welder, the red ( most
> commonly used 
> in 240VAC ,,, the other half of the dual 120vac) of the
> welder attaches 
> to one of the inputs of the piggie, the other input of the
> piggie 
> attaches to the red output of the source/recepticle.
> Basically the 
> welder primary is in series with the input to the piggie.
> 
> short out the secondary side of the welder ( in other words
> stick a 
> short length of welding lead between the welders ground and
> welding lead 
> output)
> 
> start with the welder set on minimal current setting and
> slowly work 
> your way up to higher current levels via the current
> control on the 
> welder to increase current thru the piggie. WATCH for
> glowing inside the 
> welder, smoke, or rather obnoxious humming noises, if it
> begins to throw 
> sparks, shut it down and begin looking for another welder
> or a really 
> big transformer core to wind your own ballast.
> 
> IF you have the welders original paperwork, see what the
> DUTY CYCLE 
> is...  this is a rating as to how long the welder can
> remain on for a 
> maximim amount of time before it needs a cool down period.
> When a welder 
> is used as a ballast, the welder "thinks" it is
> in its welding status 
> since the welding leads are shorted ( in welding mode)
> If you can, find a scrap yard or such that will have a 10 -
> 20 KVA rated 
> step down transformer ( 480 to 240) you will have a great
> core to rewind 
> for a ballast. Usually they are a bit heavy but can handle
> the 
> requirements of ballasting a piggie...
> 
> Scot D
> 
> 
> 
> marcus masencup wrote:
> 
> >I am stepping up to pole pigs after years of using
> NST's. I have read
> >everything I can find online and for me it seems that
> an arc welder is the
> >easiest way to add the current limiting and ballast I
> need to run the 10kva
> >pole pig I have. What I can't find is how I need to
> wire the arc welder up
> >with the pole pig? Any help on how to wire this would
> be great, thanks!
> >_______________________________________________
> >Tesla mailing list
> >Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
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