18
SECTION 3 GETTING STARTED
FRQWLQXHGAdjust the flow meter per manufacturer’s
recommendations. Generally, the flow
should be set around 15-25 CFH indoor for
Argon. Helium settings are usually at least
twice the flow rate of Argon. You will have
to increase the flow of gas if weld porosity,
sootiness, or weld discoloration is encoun-
tered. If a draft is present or welding is
done outdoor, additional flow may be
needed. Increase flow meter output until
symptoms disappear.
3.6. Machine set up .
1. Power Plug installation. Due to the lack
of standards concerning 220V plug con-
figurations, Everlast chooses to ship
most of our units without a plug for ser-
vice. We recommend a license electrician
be consulted to connect your welder for
service to ensure all codes are followed.
The following is provided as a general
guide only. Determine the plug prong pat-
tern of the existing 220V outlets in your
shop or garage. Make sure both plug and
receptacle match perfectly. We recom-
mend the standard 50 A NEMA welder
plug. Higher amperage units require twist
lock type connections. Do not force plugs
to mate . The green wire is used as the
ground and the black and white wires are
“hot” 110 V wires. To make a 220V circuit
work, two “hot” wires must be used from
separate phase 110V wires from the panel.
Do not attempt to wire the unit from the
same phase 110 V leg of the panel. Iden-
tify your green ground wire first and prop-
erly attach the wire to the ground prong.
The remaining black and white wires are
your 110V “hot” wires. Attach the two re-
maining wires to the remaining two
prongs. Multi phase/Three phase units
have a third red wire designed to be con-
nected to the third “hot” leg/wire of a three
phase system. Typically, it is recom-
mended for use in a 240V Delta 3 phase
system. 208 Y balanced leg system may be
used, but performance will be reduced
slightly. The ground bolt on the rear of
the machine is designed to help eliminate
High Frequency interference from the ma-
chine. Ground the case bolt to a separate
wire connected to a metal ground rod out-
side of the facility that is in moist soil
. Occasionally multiple ground points are
required.
Do not ground back to electrical circuit
ground as harmful HF feedback can occur.
If you notice significant computer interrup-
tions or other electronic device issues,
consult your electrician immediately for
proper HF grounding and shielding tech-
niques.
Image 3.7a Painted Tips
3.7 Tungsten Electrode Se-
lection. Currently there
are many choices available
for tungstens. Tungstens
are generally referred to by
a colored band painted on the end of each
electrode. Each color represents a certain
alloying element that is present with the
tungsten that helps to extend tungsten life.
Sizes also vary. Each size tungsten is ca-
pable of handling a certain current range.
Not all tungstens are alike. Pure tungsten
(Green) is not recommended for use in any
Everlast PowerTig machine. Pure tungsten
is not capable of handling the heat and
stress placed upon it by an inverter based
welder. Although pure Tungsten is the
most affordable, it forms a large ball that
makes the arc erratic and difficult to con-
trol in inverter based machines. Old style
transformer welders are better suited for
pure tungsten. The most widely used tung-
sten is thoriated (Red). It withstands the
heat of inverter based welding quite well
and retains its shape without over-melting.
Red (thoriated) tungsten may pose a health
risk as it is slightly radioactive. Inhalation
of the grinding dust or microscopic parti-
cles is possible. Although it is suited for
welding use in an Everlast machine, many
people choose not to risk their health. Red
tungsten has been available for a long time
and is the standard tungsten in the industry
today. However, as concerns rise, more
companies are looking for alternatives.
The most favored alternatives have be-
come either a Ceriated (Orange) tungsten
or Lanthanated (Gold) tungsten. Both are
suitable for use in an Everlast PowerTig
unit. Costs for these electrodes are con-
siderably higher than thoriated types of
tungsten. Many welders experiment with
several types, eventually finding one that
they favor in all situations.