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dwdw
11-17-2009, 10:41 PM
What is the stick welding current? the 205 is 5-200 but the brochure states 5-160 amp, is it 60% duty cycle? what is the length of the cables? the plasma torch is of my most concern. The Tig is water cooled about what is the max current for short welds?
I should have asked Mark at the FabTec show Sunday but I guess I didn't have all the questions necessary.
Thank You
dwdw

everlastsupport
11-18-2009, 06:19 PM
What is the stick welding current? the 205 is 5-200 but the brochure states 5-160 amp, is it 60% duty cycle? what is the length of the cables? the plasma torch is of my most concern. The Tig is water cooled about what is the max current for short welds?
I should have asked Mark at the FabTec show Sunday but I guess I didn't have all the questions necessary.
Thank You
dwdw

Did you post this elsewhere? On Pirate? I am sure I responded to this. Will let you know the lengths when the units are back from the show. Today is the last day. On the MMA, I would think that is a typo. The brochures were looked over, but sometimes a little thing will slip through.

performance
11-20-2009, 06:10 AM
dwdw,

The 205 is only 160 amps stick. The 256 is 200 amps stick. 205 is 200 amps tig and 256 is 250 amps tig. 205 is 50 amps plasma. 256 is 60 amps plasma. All at 60% duty cycle. The stick leads are about 9-10 feet long. You can add to them if you like. I believe the plasma is about 15 feet when you do the meter conversion.

dwdw
11-21-2009, 08:20 PM
Since the PM-256 is about 20-60 amp on the plasma cutting
Would it be better for a long run of the thinner 24 to 8 gauge,to buy a 40 amp plasma torch than use the higher 80~amp torch which I remember is being shipped with the new PM-256?
Just a thought doesn't running a plasma torch at the low end waste the consumable or does it matter?
Would a smaller plasma torch like a 40 amp fit? The fitting in the picture looks the same.
Sorry for all the questions
I just want to order what I need at one time.

Thank You
dwdw

performance
11-21-2009, 08:34 PM
dwdw,

When we met at the show, I remember telling you that it came with an 80 amp torch. I wasn't thinking clearly...After you just posted it, I remember what I said and it was wrong. It comes with a 60 amp torch. The 80 amp torch had been moved from the table when we were setting up and placed on the cart, not intending to mislead anyone, but that is where it stayed...for the show. We originally intended to put the 80 amp Plasma on a cart by itself, but due to time and space restrictions it was abandoned and placed on the table and the PowerMaster was showcased on the cart planned for the 80. Sorry for the confusion. The 60 torch is a little smaller, but a very reliable torch, similar in consumable design.

But to answer your question, I think you will be fine for the thin materials, since 20 amps will manage thin gauge material quite well with out too much kerf loss. Running a torch at the low range should not really waste any extra consumables. It is running the unit at higher than needed amperage that wastes the consumables. 20 amps is about as small as you can get in any serious plasma machine. You will be fine with the 256 as far as plasma cutting goes.

everlastsupport
11-21-2009, 08:53 PM
Your logic is good, and we have tested the theory. We did not see a big difference, like Mark said. We used the S45 on the Power Plasma 70.

The problem is if you were to use the smaller torch a lot, leave it connected out of habit and went for a higher amp cut and forget about the torch. That will kill some consumables and could kill the smaller torch.

dwdw
11-23-2009, 02:05 PM
Thank You for the replies and
I'll be ordering the PM-256 this
morning.
dwdw