Installation, Electrode and work cable connections, Negative electrode polarity – Lincoln Electric POWER WAVE SVM173-A User Manual
Page 13: Caution
When these parameters are identical, the pulsing fre-
quency will be the same, helping to stabilize the arcs.
Every welding gun requires a separate shielding gas
regulator for proper flow rate and shielding gas cover-
age.
Do not attempt to supply shielding gas for two or more
guns from only one regulator.
If an anti-spatter system is in use, each gun must have
its own anti-spatter system. See Figure A.2.
ELECTRODE AND WORK CABLE
CONNECTIONS
Connect a work lead of sufficient size and length (per
Table A.1) between the proper output terminal on the
power source and the work. Be sure the connection to
the work makes tight metal-to-metal electrical contact.
To avoid interference problems with other equipment
and to achieve the best possible operation, route all
cables directly to the work or wire feeder. Avoid exces-
sive lengths and do not coil excess cable. Do not tight-
ly bundle the electrode and work cables together.
Use K1796 coaxial welding cables wherever possible.
Minimum work and electrode cables sizes are as
follows:
TABLE A.1
(Current (60% Duty Cycle)
MINIMUM COPPER
WORK CABLE SIZE AWG
Up To 100 Ft. Length (30 m)
400 Amps
2/0 (67 mm
2
)
500 Amps
3/0 (85 mm
2
)
600 Amps
3/0 (85 mm
2
)
When using an inverter type power source like the
Power Wave, use the largest welding (electrode and
ground) cables that are practical. At least 2/0 copper
wire - even if the average output current would not nor-
mally require it.
When pulsing, the pulse current can reach very high
levels. Voltage drops can become excessive, leading
to poor welding characteristics, if undersized welding
cables are used.
Most welding applications run with the electrode being
positive (+). For those applications, connect one end of
the electrode cable to the positive (+) output terminal
on the power source (located beneath the spring
loaded output cover near the bottom of the case front).
Connect the other end of the electrode cable to the
wire drive feed plate using the stud, lockwasher, and
nut provided on the wire drive feed plate. The electrode
cable lug must be against the feed plate. Be sure the
connection to the feed plate makes tight metal-to-metal
electrical contact. The electrode cable should be sized
according to the specifications given in Table A.1.
Connect a work lead from the negative (-) power
source output terminal to the work piece. The work
piece connection must be firm and secure, especially if
pulse welding is planned.
Excessive voltage drops caused by poor work piece
connections often result in unsatisfactory welding per-
formance.
When welding with the STT process, use the positive
output connection labeled (STT) for STT welding. (If
desired, other welding modes can be used on this ter-
minal; however, their average output current will be lim-
ited to 325 amps.) For non-STT processes, use the
positive output connection labeled (Power Wave), so
that the full output range of the machine is available.
Do not connect the STT and Power Wave terminals
together. Paralleling the terminals will bypass STT cir-
cuitry and severely deteriorate STT welding perfor-
mance.
NEGATIVE ELECTRODE POLARITY
When negative electrode polarity is required, such as
in some Innershield applications, reverse the output
connections at the power source (electrode cable to
the negative (-) terminal, and work cable to the positive
(+) terminal).
When operating with electrode polarity negative, the
Dip switch 7 must be set to ON on the Wire Feed Head
PC Board. The default setting of the switch is OFF to
represent positive electrode polarity.
To set the Negative Polarity switch on Wire Feed Head
PC board, refer to the section DIP SWITCH SETTINGS
AND LOCATIONS.
A-7
A-7
INSTALLATION
POWER WAVE 455M/MSTT
CAUTION
CAUTION
CAUTION