If this is a known behavior during 120 V operation, how about Everlast publishing a table of indicated vs. actual amperage.
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Actual output and amount off will depend upon the input line voltage. Testing in China is done with 110V, and not 120, and 220V, not 240V, according to my understanding.
Most welders this size with dual voltage have no meter , and this is why. The "offness" of the meter gradually increases as the amps are turned up. Welding in this range is more by feel than amps. Even in 220V operation, there can be some variation in amps, usually +/- 5% or so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz4q-...ayer_embedded#!
There's a thread on welding web talking about this issue.
My power arc 140st may be off, but not by much if it is. Today I used Inweld 7014 3/32, and I run them 84-88 amps depending on what I am doing. That's close enough to what their spec sheet to satisfy me. Even if it was off I would just adapt the machine settings to weld properly.
When I first started out welding I struggled when setting the machine. One day I watched a guy who set his machine while welding. Instead of going by the numbers he went by the feel or how well the machine was welding. Each machine has a different feel that you have to learn in order to set the machine.
It's killing me trying to do research on welding without a welder to practice what I (hope to) have learned .... Arghhhh! Well, having my initial purchase of a Harbor Freight inverter welder fail was a mixed blessing. I don't have anything to practice with but it did allow me to save my funds and find the Everlast series.
Anything to some people's comments that they can tell whether the weld is too cold or too hot by the sound? A lot of the videos I've seen on Youtube don't have very good sound so I can't tell the difference. I understand the theory around how too low or too high amps will affect the arc, puddle and splatter but that will need me to practice looking at the puddle. Given variances in electrodes and electronics, I won't be counting on be able to go strictly from the amp readout.
A rule of thumb if it sounds like bacon cooking your sorta in the ball park a smooth sound mig welding should be a nice smooth sound like bacon frying . tig like a smooth buzz , stick welding like a smooth crackle sound 6013 is a good practice rod http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4E-rvE1f7c