Operation, Safety instructions, General description – Lincoln Electric POWER-ARC IM871-A User Manual
Page 16: Recommended applications, Operational features and controls, Welding capability, Warning
B-1
OPERATION
B-1
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read and understand this entire section before oper-
ating your POWER-ARC 5500.
Do n
not a
attem pt tto u
use tthis e
equipment u
until y
you
have tthoroughly rread a
all tthe o
operation a
and m
main-
tenance m
m anu als s
supplied w
w ith y
you r m
m ach ine.
T h e y ii n c l u de ii m p o r t a n t s
s a f e t y p
pr e c a u t i o n s ;
detailed e
engine s
starting, o
operating, a
and m
mainte-
nance iinstructions; a
and p
parts llists.
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.
• D
Do n
not ttouch e
electrically llive p
parts
or e
electrodes w
with y
your s
skin o
or w
wet
clothing.
• IInsulate y
yourself ffrom tthe w
work a
and g
ground.
• A
Always w
wear d
dry iinsulating g
gloves.
FUMES AND GASES can be
dangerous.
• K
Keep y
your h
head o
out o
of ffumes.
• U
Us e v
v e n t i l a t i o n o
o r e
e xh a u s t tt o
remove ffumes ffrom b
breathing z
zone.
WELDING SPARKS can cause
fire or explosion.
• K
Keep fflammable m
material a
away.
• D
Do n
not w
weld o
on c
containers tthat h
have
held c
combustibles.
ARC RAYS can burn.
• W
Wear e
eye, e
ear, a
and b
body p
protection.
ENGINE EXHAUST can kill.
• U
Use iin o
open, w
well v
ventilated a
areas o
or
vent e
exhaust tto tthe o
outside.
• D
Do n
not s
stack a
anything o
on o
or n
near tthe
engine.
MOVING PARTS can injure.
• D
Do n
not o
operate tthis e
equipment w
with
any o
of iits d
doors o
open o
or g
guards o
off.
• S
Stop tthe e
engine b
before s
servicing iit.
• K
Keep a
away ffrom m
moving p
parts.
Only q
qualified p
personnel s
should iinstall, u
use, o
or s
ser-
vice tthis e
equipment.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The POWER-ARC 5500 is a generator/welder designed
for home use and other non-commercial applications.
As a generator 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 elec-
trodes. A single dial provides continuous adjustment of
welding output. The machine is lightweight, portable,
and can be lifted by two people.
The Lincoln warranty covers the Power-Arc 5500
(excluding the engine) for 3 years from the date of pur-
chase. The engine is covered by the engine manufactur-
er’s warranty policy.
RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
GENERATOR
The POWER-ARC 5500 gives AC generator output for
medium use, non-commercial demands. For more
details on operating the generator, see GENERATOR
OPERATION in the OPERATION section of this manual.
WELDER
The POWER-ARC 5500 provides excellent constant cur-
rent 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 POWER-ARC 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 welding use. For welding, the same dial selects con-
tinuous current output over the machine’s 70 to 125
amp range.
The gasoline engine controls include a recoil starter,
choke, and rotary stop switch. See ENGINE OPERA-
TION in the OPERATION section of this manual and the
engine owner’s manual for details about starting, run-
ning, stopping, and breaking in the gasoline engine.
WELDING CAPABILITY
The POWER-ARC 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 POWER-ARC 5500 can weld with all
3/32 and most 1/8 inch diameter Lincoln AC elec-
trodes.
POWER-ARC 5500
WARNING