Duty Cycle - Thermal Arc Fabricator 181i Operating Manual

2.08 Duty Cycle

The rated duty cycle of a Welding Power Source, is a statement of the time it may be operated at its rated weld-
ing current output without exceeding the temperature limits of the insulation of the component parts. To explain
the 10 minute duty cycle period the following example is used. Suppose a Welding Power Source is designed to
operate at a 20% duty cycle, 180 amperes at 23 volts. This means that it has been designed and built to provide
the rated amperage (180 A) for 2 minutes, i.e. arc welding time, out of every 10 minute period (20% of 10 minutes
is 2 minutes). During the other 8 minutes of the 10 minute period the Welding Power Source must idle and be
allowed to cool.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Manual 0-51
91
Safe
Operating
Region
0
0 20 40 60
Welding Current (amps)
Figure 2-1: Fabricator 181i Duty Cycle
TIG (GTAW)
MIG (GMAW/FCAW)
STICK (SMAW)
80 100 120 140
2-3
Fabricator 181i
160 180
A-10352
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