Lincoln Electric IDEALARC R3R-300 - Manual (Page 10)

B-1 OPERATION B-1
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.
• Do not touch electrically live parts
or electrode with skin or wet cloth-
ing.
• Insulate yourself from work and ground.
• Always wear dry insulating gloves.
FUMES AND GASES can be danger-
ous.
• 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.
NOTE: The P.C. Board is protected by a moisture
resistant coating. When the welder is operated, this
coating will “bake off” of certain power resistors that
normally operate at high temperatures, emitting some
smoke and odor for a short time. These resistors and
the P.C. Board beneath them may become blackened.
This is a normal occurrence and does not damage the
component or affect the machine performance.
1. To Start the Welder, move the “Power” switch to
“On”. This starts the welder and lights the white pilot
light on the machine control panel. This light indi-
cates that the line contactor is energized).
2. Setting Welding Current
a. The “Current Control” dial on the front of the
machine indicates the output current at the
NEMA arc voltage.
On R3R-300, one dial covers the complete
range. On the R3R-400 and -500, two dials are
used, The “A” range controls the current over
about 1/2 of the range of the “B” range. A toggle
switch on the control panel allows selection of
the desired range. The output control can be
adjusted while welding.
b. Provisions for remote control are standard on
each power source. A current control switch on
the machine control panel labeled “Current
Control at R3R” or “Current Control Remote” is
provided for selecting the desired mode of oper-
ation, either at the machine or remote, Be certain
the machine remote switch is in the machine
position, unless a remote control is connected,
or the R3R is equipped with optional pocket
amptrol.
c. The “Arc Force Control”, located on the right side
of the front control panel, is calibrated from one
to ten. Lower settings will provide less short cir-
cuit current and a softer arc. A setting that is too
low may cause the electrode to stick in the pud-
dle. Higher settings will provide a higher short
circuit current, a more forceful arc, and possibly
more spatter. For most welding, the dial should
be set at approximately mid range (5 – 6).
Adjustment up or down can then be made
depending on the electrode, procedures, and
operator preference. For most TIG welding appli-
cations adjust this control to minimum for best
operating characteristics.
3. Pocket Amptrol (Optional)
The pocket amptrol option provides a remote cur-
rent control for the R3R welders. This “wireless”
control requires no control cable connection to the
welder.
a. On the R3R-400 and -500 the welder “Current
Control” switch must be in the “Remote” position
and the “Current Dial Selector” switch in the “B”
range. The R3R-300 has only one dial and no
selection switch. The R3R-300 does not have a
“Current Dial Selector” switch. With the “Current
Control” switch in the “Remote” position, the cur-
rent control potentiometer on the welder is
removed from the circuit and its setting has no
effect on the output. With the “Current Dial
Selector” switch in the “B” range position, the
pocket amptrol provides total control from NEMA
minimum to NEMA maximum output of the
welder.
b. Turn the welder power switch on.
c. Insert one end of the probe into the electrode
holder and hold the other end on the work for
approximately five seconds.
d. To change current, change the probe dial setting
and repeat the five second procedure of placing
the probe between electrode and work.
IDEALARC® R3R, -300, -400, -500
WARNING