Stick Welding Tips, Certification tests, machines, projects
Post Reply
sambo1985
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:35 pm
  • Location:
    North Carolina

Hello I just recently bought a Lincoln 305G EFI. Make question is can someone please explain he fine setting dial. Its 1 through 10 and I am just having trouble grasping the idea on the dial and what increments do each number represent.

Thank You
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

As an example, my bobcat 225nt has its lowest coarse setting of 50-100 amps.

At zero on the fine, 50 amps
10 on fine, 100 amps.

100 - 50 = 50 amps.

This means that every number on the fine is 5 amps added from the bottom number.

My mid-range is 70-150 amps

150-70 = 80 amps.

So each number on the fine is 8 amps more.

0,70
1,78
2,86
3,94
4,102
5,110
6,118
7,126
8,134
9,142
10,150
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Poleframer
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:47 am

Use the right coarse current setting for the rod you're using, it's a range of amps, then fine tune it for what you're doing. It adjusts the amperage within the range of the course current setting. Run some beads with different rods, and play with it till you are comfortable with it's function.
A welder is like a girlfriend,gotta rub them the right way, each one is different :D
noddybrian
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:13 pm

If your 305 G EFI is a Ranger I think we may be misunderstanding the question - old school Lincolns made for mostly pipeline / site work had fine & course ( like SA 200 / 300 etc )- we had a Ranger 305 ( Kubota diesel powered ) & that is an inverter welder - the main amps are marked in a rough 1 > 10 around the control knob but it displays actual current on an LED display next to it accurate to 1amp - the smaller knob which is covered by a drop down flap marked 0 > 10 is arc force the same as a mains powered inverter machine often has ( sometimes in a menu or hidden menu on all digital display models )
sambo1985
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:35 pm
  • Location:
    North Carolina

Noddy ryan youbare right. I ment to mention a bobcat 225 that had fine setting or any other machine that I might weld with in the future. And i just need a correct answer in the future
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:40 pm
  • Location:
    Near New Orleans

I'll comment that it's wise to set your course dial so your desired setting will be in the top half of the fine adjustment. This gives you the finest adjustment. If you look at Dave's explanation, you'll see if you're looking for, say, 90A, you can get that with either the lowest coarse setting, or the next one up. In the lowest setting, your 90A is near the top of the range, and the sweep of the "fine" knob covers a smaller range of total amps available at the knob. This gives you more precise control. If you go to the next range up, the same turn of the "fine" dial covers a larger range of amps, so less sensitive and less control.

Steve
noddybrian
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:13 pm

I never seen a Bobcat welder over here so can't comment on that model but many engine drives I've seen / used have a fine / course control combination which is not quite as simple as just amps - one has an effect on arc voltage so the combination of which range / fine setting will effect the nature of the puddle width & freeze time ( generally on ones I've used the fine control if used near it's upper end will give higher arc voltages which can be useful but not always ) - think you have to get used to & get dialed in on the machine you are using - we used to have some good welders made locally by " Petbow " that had separate amps & volts controls - these were great once you got the hang of them as the current markings need some interpreting .
ttreb4
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:00 am
  • Location:
    Utah

I have a Miller Bobcat 225G. I have watched fieldRes youtube video explaining the amperage/voltage. I understand that he is using the Lincoln SA. Is the Bobcat the same in that the fine dial is adjusting voltage and not amperage? I would be better off running the large adjustment nob at the top end of the range and then running a lower fine setting to reduce the amount of voltage in the weld?
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

ttreb4 wrote:I have a Miller Bobcat 225G. I have watched fieldRes youtube video explaining the amperage/voltage. I understand that he is using the Lincoln SA. Is the Bobcat the same in that the fine dial is adjusting voltage and not amperage? I would be better off running the large adjustment nob at the top end of the range and then running a lower fine setting to reduce the amount of voltage in the weld?
It's a combination.
To get the same amperage, a low coarse setting lets you be in the upper part of the fine range. Higher arc voltage.
For the same amperage while using a higher coarse setting you'll be in the lower part of the fine range. Lower arc voltage.

High arc voltage is great for 7018 in my opinion.
Lower arc voltage is often considered desirable for 6010 vertical up.

I tend to set amps with a low coarse, high fine, because I like high arc voltage - others may differ.

My bobcat 225nt works good with the fine in the upper half of the fine range, as Steve noted.
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
olek
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:07 pm
  • Location:
    France

I am curious , on many inverters, the voltage have no regulation or display.

But , is not the arc force function raising the voltage ? The "dig" function have a role or is it only when volts go low as arc shorten
Too much ( if I am not wrong) ?

Regards
Pianos , restorer and tuner
Dedicated to learn welding since april
slowly learning ;) not complaining of doing beads and beads
pro inverter PROGYS 200 FV PFC CEL+tig lift
OA Oxyflam 1000 cutting and welding gas torch
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

olek wrote:I am curious , on many inverters, the voltage have no regulation or display.

But , is not the arc force function raising the voltage ? The "dig" function have a role or is it only when amp go low ?

Regards
Dig or arc force raises the amperage when the machine senses the voltage getting low - which means your arc length is getting shorter because you moved the rod in closer.

Google pictures of this from Lincoln and Miller and you'll see an amp chart that shows this increase.
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
olek
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:07 pm
  • Location:
    France

MinnesotaDave wrote:
olek wrote:I am curious , on many inverters, the voltage have no regulation or display.

But , is not the arc force function raising the voltage ? The "dig" function have a role or is it only when amp go low ?

Regards
Dig or arc force raises the amperage when the machine senses the voltage getting low - which means your arc length is getting shorter because you moved the rod in closer.

Google pictures of this from Lincoln and Miller and you'll see an amp chart that shows this increase.
Thanks I will check. I think I did understand from a sketch for my welder, that voltage is raised a fixed amount together with amp, or the opposite, amp a certain amount and voltage more or less ) . I may have misunderstood

They say the arc is more "tense" or rigid when arc force is high .
Pianos , restorer and tuner
Dedicated to learn welding since april
slowly learning ;) not complaining of doing beads and beads
pro inverter PROGYS 200 FV PFC CEL+tig lift
OA Oxyflam 1000 cutting and welding gas torch
ttreb4
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:00 am
  • Location:
    Utah

MinnesotaDave wrote:
ttreb4 wrote:I have a Miller Bobcat 225G. I have watched fieldRes youtube video explaining the amperage/voltage. I understand that he is using the Lincoln SA. Is the Bobcat the same in that the fine dial is adjusting voltage and not amperage? I would be better off running the large adjustment nob at the top end of the range and then running a lower fine setting to reduce the amount of voltage in the weld?
It's a combination.
To get the same amperage, a low coarse setting lets you be in the upper part of the fine range. Higher arc voltage.
For the same amperage while using a higher coarse setting you'll be in the lower part of the fine range. Lower arc voltage.

High arc voltage is great for 7018 in my opinion.
Lower arc voltage is often considered desirable for 6010 vertical up.

I tend to set amps with a low coarse, high fine, because I like high arc voltage - others may differ.

My bobcat 225nt works good with the fine in the upper half of the fine range, as Steve noted.

Thanks, I have been running it with a lower coarse setting and higher fine setting and I have been running 1/8 7018. My problem is when running vertical up my slag tends to run a lot and i'm getting a lot of undercut on the sides. If i try and hold my toes a little longer then it seems to get worse as my puddle doesn't seem to solidify. I was going to try the higher coarse setting and turn down my fine setting and see if that doesn't work better.
olek
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:07 pm
  • Location:
    France

hello.

here are the graphs I had from my provider

seem like arc force add a given fixed number of volts, but also more or less amp depending of the regulation

Please can you tell me if I read that correctly ?

Thank you, sorry for the OT (not totally)
Attachments
graph hot start and arc force
graph hot start and arc force
hotstart&arcforce.jpg (28.51 KiB) Viewed 6347 times
Pianos , restorer and tuner
Dedicated to learn welding since april
slowly learning ;) not complaining of doing beads and beads
pro inverter PROGYS 200 FV PFC CEL+tig lift
OA Oxyflam 1000 cutting and welding gas torch
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

olek wrote:hello.

here are the graphs I had from my provider

seem like arc force add a given fixed number of volts, but also more or less amp depending of the regulation

Please can you tell me if I read that correctly ?

Thank you, sorry for the OT (not totally)
You are not reading the graph correctly.

Volts (V) are the vertical, current (amps) are the horizontal.

As volts goes down (arc length decrease), amps increases (goes to the right).
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

ttreb4 wrote:
MinnesotaDave wrote:
ttreb4 wrote:I have a Miller Bobcat 225G. I have watched fieldRes youtube video explaining the amperage/voltage. I understand that he is using the Lincoln SA. Is the Bobcat the same in that the fine dial is adjusting voltage and not amperage? I would be better off running the large adjustment nob at the top end of the range and then running a lower fine setting to reduce the amount of voltage in the weld?
It's a combination.
To get the same amperage, a low coarse setting lets you be in the upper part of the fine range. Higher arc voltage.
For the same amperage while using a higher coarse setting you'll be in the lower part of the fine range. Lower arc voltage.

High arc voltage is great for 7018 in my opinion.
Lower arc voltage is often considered desirable for 6010 vertical up.

I tend to set amps with a low coarse, high fine, because I like high arc voltage - others may differ.

My bobcat 225nt works good with the fine in the upper half of the fine range, as Steve noted.

Thanks, I have been running it with a lower coarse setting and higher fine setting and I have been running 1/8 7018. My problem is when running vertical up my slag tends to run a lot and i'm getting a lot of undercut on the sides. If i try and hold my toes a little longer then it seems to get worse as my puddle doesn't seem to solidify. I was going to try the higher coarse setting and turn down my fine setting and see if that doesn't work better.
Slag running is normal, just don't spill the puddle. When done the slag often looks just terrible vertical up - looks like random drips.

Undercut vertical can be caused by several things. Pointing the rod up instead of 90 degrees to the plate can be one.

Reducing amps a little can help. When running a 3/32" 7018 I may lower it to 80 amps if undercut is a problem vertical up.

In other situations I run that rod as high as 100 amps.

Travel speed is critical, too slow or too fast are both a problem. As the toes wet in continue at a steady pace while watching to ensure they are continuing to fill.
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
noddybrian
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:13 pm

I would say that running higher arc voltages gives easier starts & less sticking which is great most of the time - it does though tend to give a wider more fluid puddle which on vertical makes things harder - not saying it can't be done but requires more skill - on the old " Petbow " sets here where amps & volts are separate controls there is an area that can be used without keep altering settings that has enough volts for ease of use yet not so high it challenges too much on vertical - not sure what your sets will do but these things would go up to about 120volts set at max & that's way high for normal use - it took a while to get a setting dialed in without a remote - it was always fun watching new guys change rods once someone turned the volts to max !
olek
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:07 pm
  • Location:
    France

MinnesotaDave wrote:
olek wrote:hello.

here are the graphs I had from my provider

seem like arc force add a given fixed number of volts, but also more or less amp depending of the regulation

Please can you tell me if I read that correctly ?

Thank you, sorry for the OT (not totally)
You are not reading the graph correctly.

Volts (V) are the vertical, current (amps) are the horizontal.

As volts goes down (arc length decrease), amps increases (goes to the right).


Thank you, so arc force make it impossible to go to 0V (shortage ?) but, when arc force begins, it add some volts or only amps (?)
on the hot start sketch amp and V are inverted
Pianos , restorer and tuner
Dedicated to learn welding since april
slowly learning ;) not complaining of doing beads and beads
pro inverter PROGYS 200 FV PFC CEL+tig lift
OA Oxyflam 1000 cutting and welding gas torch
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

olek wrote:
MinnesotaDave wrote:
olek wrote:hello.

here are the graphs I had from my provider

seem like arc force add a given fixed number of volts, but also more or less amp depending of the regulation

Please can you tell me if I read that correctly ?

Thank you, sorry for the OT (not totally)
You are not reading the graph correctly.

Volts (V) are the vertical, current (amps) are the horizontal.

As volts goes down (arc length decrease), amps increases (goes to the right).


Thank you, so arc force make it impossible to go to 0V (shortage ?) but, when arc force begins, it add some volts or only amps (?)
on the hot start sketch amp and V are inverted
No, you can still stick a rod on many machines.
No, the hot start graph clearly labels amps and time - it gives no information on arc voltage.
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
olek
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:07 pm
  • Location:
    France

Thank you Dave, I really misunderstood that one (thinking T was "tension" )

Regards
Pianos , restorer and tuner
Dedicated to learn welding since april
slowly learning ;) not complaining of doing beads and beads
pro inverter PROGYS 200 FV PFC CEL+tig lift
OA Oxyflam 1000 cutting and welding gas torch
Post Reply