[krl]

Not much of a welding project, but more of a welder project.

I dont know, if better welders have these hour meters from factory, or if anyone even needs these, but I wanted one.
I wanted a hour meter thet counts the time of actual welding, not the switched on(stand by) time of the welder.

I made a simple box that can be connected between the wall outlet and welders supply cable. Idealy would put it inside of the welder case.

Components needed:

Hour meter:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Time-Counter-D ... 2749.l2648

Current sensing switch(set to about 1amp):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Flameproof-Adj ... 2749.l2648

Light (not really needed):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Indicator- ... 2749.l2648

The live wire is ran through the current sensing switch, and when the welder draws more than 1Amp, it switches on the Hour meter and LED light(for indication).

[cj737]

Clever. Lots of hoods these days have built-in timers too

[krl]

Clever. Lots of hoods these days have built-in timers too

Havent heard about that. But yes. Thats even better soluton.

[tweake]

Clever. Lots of hoods these days have built-in timers too

so someone can up their "welding hours" by leaving it next to someone who is welding.

[BugHunter]

My TIG welder tracks active Arc time down to the second and also number of Arc starts.