How to Figure the Duty Cycle of a Welder

All welders are not created equal

Having the right welder can mean the difference between getting a job done on time or wasting time waiting for your unit to rest between welds. The duty cycle is the key. A duty cycle of 30% means that particular welding unit can weld for three minutes out of 10. A business owner might not like those numbers. Using basic information on your welding unit, you can calculate the duty cycle.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Calculator
• Welding unit manual/instructions

Instructions

Calculating Duty Cycle

1. Find the following basic information on the welding unit in the manual and record:
   A= Adjusted duty cycle, which is usually expressed as a percentage.
   S= Specified current at the rated duty cycle. This will be in amps.
   I= Desired (or actual) welding current, expressed in amps.
   R= Rated duty cycle, expressed in a percentage

2. Plug these numbers into the following equation: A = (S/I)* X R. (* means squared) If your calculator is a more basic model, consider dividing S/I and squaring that first.

3. The solution, A, will tell you how long you can run your welding unit before it needs a break. Some might not need a break, which to an employer is great. If you have not made the purchase of your welding unit yet, this is a great tool to use when making your selection.

References

• Welding Web: Duty cycle of welders