Lincoln Electric BULLDOG IM10074 - Manual (Page 15)

B-1 OPERATION B-1
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read and understand this entire section before operating
your BULLDOG™ 5500.
Do not attempt to use this equipment until you have
thoroughly read all the operation and maintenance
manuals supplied with your machine. They include
important safety precautions; detailed engine starting,
operating, and maintenance instructions; and parts
lists.
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.
• Do not touch electrically live parts or
electrodes with your skin or wet cloth-
ing.
• Insulate yourself from the work and ground.
• Always wear dry insulating gloves.
FUMES AND GASES can be dan-
gerous.
• Keep your head out of fumes.
• Use ventilation or exhaust to remove
fumes from breathing zone.
WELDING SPARKS can cause fire
or explosion.
• Keep flammable material away.
• Do not weld on containers that have
held combustibles.
ARC RAYS can burn.
• Wear eye, ear, and body protection.
ENGINE EXHAUST can kill.
• Use in open, well ventilated areas or vent
exhaust to the outside.
• Do not stack anything on or near the
engine.
MOVING PARTS can injure.
• Do not operate this equipment with any
of its doors open or guards off.
• Stop the engine before servicing it.
• Keep away from moving parts.
Only qualified personnel should install, use, or service
this equipment.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The BULLDOG™ 5500 is a generator/welder designed for
home use and other non-commercial applications. As a gen-
erator it can supply up to 4,000 continuous watts (or 5,500
surge watts) of 120/240 volt, single-phase AC power. As a
welder it provides 125 amps of AC constant current for
welding with AC stick electrodes. A single dial provides con-
tinuous adjustment of welding output. The machine is light-
weight, portable, and can be lifted by two people.
The Lincoln warranty covers the BULLDOG™ 5500 (exclud-
ing the engine) for 3 years from the date of purchase. The
engine is covered by the engine manufacturerʼs warranty
policy.
RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
GENERATOR
The BULLDOG™ 5500 gives AC generator output for medi-
um use, non-commercial demands. For more details on
operating the generator, see GENERATOR OPERATION in
the OPERATION section of this manual.
WELDER
The BULLDOG™ 5500 provides excellent constant current
AC welding output for stick (SMAW) welding. For more
details on using the machine as a welder, see WELDING
OPERATION in the OPERATION section of this manual.
OPERATIONAL FEATURES AND
CONTROLS
The BULLDOG™ 5500 was designed for simplicity.
Therefore, it has very few operating controls. A single dial
on the control panel lets you select either generator or weld-
ing use. For welding, the same dial selects continuous cur-
rent output over the machineʼs 70 to 125 amp range.
The gasoline engine controls include a recoil starter, choke,
and rotary stop switch. See ENGINE OPERATION in the
OPERATION section of this manual and the engine ownerʼs
manual for details about starting, running, stopping, and
breaking in the gasoline engine.
WELDING CAPABILITY
The BULLDOG™ 5500 is rated 125 amps, 20 volts at 30%
duty cycle on a ten-minute basis. This means that you can
load the welder to 125 amps for three minutes out of every
ten-minute period. The machine is also capable of higher
duty cycles at lower output currents. You can load the
welder to 100 amps for six minutes out of ten for a 60% duty
cycle.
The current is continuously variable from 70 to 125 amps
AC. The BULLDOG™ 5500 can weld with all 3/32 and
most 1/8 inch diameter Lincoln AC electrodes.
BULLDOG™ 5500
WARNING