freezing temps affecting welder?

burnttoast · Tue Jan 29, 2019 8:20 pm

Hello, I live in upstate N.Y and it's been pretty cold up here for the past few weeks. one day I decided to do some practice welding and when I turned the welder on it sounded as if the fan was struggling to come up to speed. My garage is unheated. Is this to be expected when it's real cold? I have a Lincoln 225 ac welder. I've seen pipeline welders welding in the cold on Youtube. another question, if it's real cold, do I really need the fan to keep the welder cool? Thanks

Homemade · Tue Jan 29, 2019 9:17 pm

I wouldn’t worry about it. It should generate enough heat to thaw out any freezing affects on the fan.

Mike Westbrook · Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:28 pm

You can always open it up blow out the dust and crud and I like to put a drop of air tool oil on fan and motor shafts occasionally

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clavius · Tue Jan 29, 2019 11:44 pm

Probably just any oil or lube in the fan bearings being thick from the cold. Once the fan gets going it will warm them up pretty quickly and be just fine. The one thing to watch is that it is not dragging so badly for so long that is overheats the fan motor. Not very likely with it being that cold, just something to look out for.

cj737 · Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:55 am

burnttoast wrote:Hello, I live in upstate N.Y and it's been pretty cold up here for the past few weeks. one day I decided to do some practice welding and when I turned the welder on it sounded as if the fan was struggling to come up to speed. My garage is unheated. Is this to be expected when it's real cold? I have a Lincoln 225 ac welder. I've seen pipeline welders welding in the cold on Youtube. another question, if it's real cold, do I really need the fan to keep the welder cool? Thanks

It may be an indication your box needs a solid internal cleaning, or is perhaps beginning to see it’s end. Pipeliners use engine driven welder, so the diesel generator is off and running long before they ever strike an arc. And those units are made to weatherproof standards.

Poland308 · Wed Jan 30, 2019 7:46 am

The old Lincon toomstone welders didn’t have a fan only the newer ones do.

burnttoast · Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:56 pm

Thanks, another question, anyone know the gauge size of the ground cable? have to redo it because some of the strands have broken off. thanks again.

Poland308 · Wed Jan 30, 2019 9:56 pm

I believe that number 4 wire is good up to 180 amps.

burnttoast · Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:46 pm

Poland308 wrote:I believe that number 4 wire is good up to 180 amps.

thank you.