Strata ADVANCEMIG 250 User manual

ADVANCEMIG 250
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
MULTI-PROCESS MIG WELDER
www.strata.co.nz
230V 50HZ
SINGLE
PHASE
IGBT
INVERTER
TECHNOLOGY
DIRECT
CURRENT
OUTPUT
CONSTANT
CURRENT/
VOLTAGE
LIFT TIG
(OPTIONAL
TORCH)
SPOOL GUN
CAPABLE
POWER
FACTOR
CORRECTION
SPIKE/
GENERATOR
SAFE
LCD
SCREEN
VOLTAGE
REDUCTION
DEVICE
INTELLIGENT
PROTECTION
SYSTEM
IP23 CORROSION
& SALT SPRAY
RESISTANT
SYNERGIC
OPERATION
MULTI-VOLTAGE
INPUT POWER

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Congratulations on your new Strata product!
The Strata range from Euroquip uses latest technology design and engineering to produce
welding products that combine market leading value and features with durability. Designed
for discerning operators who seek professional results and product quality without the price
tag of a full professional setup. Design emphasis is placed on simple, functional design
and operation. Strata product is subject to stringent quality control and designed and
manufactured to NZ & Australian standards.
Common use of Strata products include:
 • LightEngineering
 • Automotive
 • Home/hobbyEngineering
 • Farming
 • IndustrialMaintenance&Repairs
Forindustrialweldingsolutions,checkouttheStratarangefromEuroquip:
www.strata.co.nz
Euroquip is a market leading provider of innovative power equipment solutions to a wide
range of industries across New Zealand and Australia. Key product categories are; welding
equipment, air compressors, power generators and cleaning equipment.
Euroquip’s slogan is ‘empowering industries’, find out more about the advantage Euroquip
brings at www.euroquip.co.nz.
Providing exceptional product support is a key component of Euroquip’s market leading
customer advantage focus. As part of this program, it is required for all products to be
registered with Euroquip to qualify for product support. Products not registered with Euroquip
are supported by a base 12 month warranty only. Spare parts and technical support will not
beavailableforanunregisteredproductoutsideofthisbasewarrantyperiod.IfaEuroquip
dealer has not already registered your product, please register it online at www.euroquip.
co.nz. To request a physical registration form, please download one at www.euroquip.co.nz
under the ‘Contact Us’ tab.

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Contents
KnowYourMachine...........................................................5
Quick Start Guide...............................................................9
Accessories & Spare Parts...............................................13
WiringDiagram................................................................15
Care&Maintenance.........................................................16
Safety..............................................................................17
Warranty........................................................................23

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ADVANCEMIG 250
• ADVANCEMIG 250 •
MULTI-PROCESS MIG WELDER
230V 50HZ
SINGLE
PHASE
IGBT
INVERTER
TECHNOLOGY
DIRECT
CURRENT
OUTPUT
CONSTANT
CURRENT/
VOLTAGE
LIFT TIG
(OPTIONAL
TORCH)
SPOOL GUN
CAPABLE
POWER
FACTOR
CORRECTION
SPIKE/
GENERATOR
SAFE
VOLTAGE
REDUCTION
DEVICE
INTELLIGENT
PROTECTION
SYSTEM
IP23 CORROSION
& SALT SPRAY
RESISTANT
SYNERGIC
OPERATION
MULTI-VOLTAGE
INPUT POWER
The ADVANCEMIG 250 is a fully featured synergic multi process MIG welding machine suited to
all types of jobs. With inbuilt PFC Technology, IP23 Protection and an Intelligent Protection System
(IPS) means that this model is built to withstand the harshest of environments found in the NZ
workplace. MIG, TIG and MMA processes enable this machine to excel when welding panel steel,
structural steel and aluminium.
• Digitalmicroprocessorcontrolsystemforsuperior
 &dynamicARCcharacteristics
• ActivePFCtechnologyforincreaseddutycycleand
energy efficiency
• Multivoltageinput,canusewithlongextensionlead
• SynergicMIGoperationforoptimumweldingresults
• Remotecontrolspoolgunconnectionforeffective
results with soft wires such as aluminium. Suitable
 forMIGbrazingwithbronzewires
• LiftTIGoperationwithdownslope,postgasand
remote current control ability (torch optional)
• ReversablepolarityMIGweldingoperationsuitable
 forgas&gaslessMIGwelding
• Migwaveform(inductance)controlforgreatarc
control and smooth welding results
• Wireinchingandgaspurgecontrolforsafe& 
simple set up
• Lightweight&compactdesignidealforportable
applications
• Highquality&overspecifiedelectroniccomponents
• Temperature,voltageandcurrentsensorsfor 
increased reliability & safety
• Parametersave&recallfunction
• 15kg(D300)spoolcapable.
4 WHEEL
DRIVE WIRE
FEEDER
DIMENSIONS: WEIGHT: INPUT POWER MAX. INPUT GENERATOR OUTPUT MMA O/C DUTY STANDARDS: MMA ROD MAX WELD MIG WIRE MIG WIRE
SUPPLY: CURRENT: CAPACITY: CURRENT: VOLTAGE: CYCLE: SIZE: THICKNESS: SPOOL SIZE: SIZE:
618x240 23kg 230VAC15A 40A 9.4KVA MIG25-250A 65V MIG60%@195A EN60974-1:2012 1.6-5.0mm 12mm+ D100/D200/D300 .6-1.6
x445mm 50Hz
MMA10-250A MMA60%@180A 0.5kg/5kg/15kg

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ADVANCEMIG 250
*Moredetailedexplanationsoffunctionsonfollowingpages.
1. Positive(+)weldingpoweroutputconnectionsocket
2. TIGtorchgasconnector
3. MIGTorchPolarityChangePowerConnection
4. Remoteconnectionplug
5. Negative(-)weldingpoweroutputconnectionsocket.
6. MIGtorcheuroconnector
Wire Feeder
7. Spool holder
8. GasPostFlowAdjustment*
9. Burnback Adjustment*
10. SlowFeedAdjustment*
11. GasPreFlowAdjustment*
12. Wire feed tension adjustment (2x)
13. Wire feed tension arm (2x)
14. Drive roller retainer (2x)
15. Wire drive roller (2x)
16. Wire feeder inlet guide
Control Panel
17. WireFeedSpeed/CurrentDisplayMeter*
18. Voltage/ArcForceDisplayMeter*
19. Spool Gun Switch
20. RemoteControlSwitch
21. MIGWaveControl/InductanceKnob*
22. Wireinching/gaspurgeswitch
23. Wire Size Synergic Selection Button*
24. MaterialTypeSynergicSelectionButton*
25. ProgramResetButton*
26. Program Abstract (Extract) Button*
27. Wire Type Synergic Selection Button*
28. Program Delete Button*
29. Gas Type Synergic Selection Button*
30. Program Save Button*
31. TriggerModeButton*
32. WeldingProcessSelectButton-SelectMIG,MMA
 orliftTIGmode
33. Voltage/ArcForce/DownslopeControlKnob*
34. WireFeedingSpeed/WeldingCurrentControlKnob*
35. Error/OverloadIndicator*
36. PowerIndicator.Lightswheninputpowerconnected
and machine switched on.
Know Your Machine
1
6
2
3
4
5
12
13
7
10
11
13
16 15
8
9
14
17 18 19 20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Controls Explained
Wire Feed Speed/ Current
Display Meter (17)
InmanualMIGmode,displayswirefeedingspeedin
m/minutepriortowelding,during welding displays
weldingcurrentoutput.InSynergicMIG,MMA&TIG
mode, displays welding current. The display meter
mode is shown by the indicator that is lit.
Voltage/ Arc Force Display Meter (18)
In MIG mode, displays welding voltage. In MMA
mode, displays arc force adjustment. In Lift TIG
mode, displays downslope time (seconds).
Wire Feeding Speed/ Welding
Current Control Knob (34)
InmanualMIGmode,setswirefeedingspeedinm/
minutepriortowelding.InSynergicMIG,MMA&TIG
mode, sets welding current.
Voltage/ Arc Force/ Downslope
Control Knob (33)
InmanualMIGmode,setsweldingvoltage.InSyn-
ergicMIGmode,setsvoltageadjustmentfromsyn-
ergicprogramdefault.InMMAmode,setsarcforce
adjustment.InLift TIGmode,sets downslope time
(seconds).
Overload/ Error Indicator (35)
Lightswhenovervoltage,overcurrentorelectrical
overheating (due to exceeding duty cycle) is detected
and protection is activated. When protection is acti-
vated, welding output will be disabled until the safety
system senses the overload has reduced sufficiently
andindicatorlampgoesout.Mayalsotriggerifma-
chine experiences an internal power circuit failure.
Trigger Mode (31)
2T mode the trigger is pulled and held on to activate
the welding circuit, when the trigger is released, the
welding circuit stops. 4T is known as ’latching’ mode.
The trigger is pulled once and released to activate the
welding circuit, pulled and released again to stops the
welding circuit. This function is useful to longer welds
as the trigger is not required to be held on continu-
ously.
Synergic Settings (23,24,27,29,31)
Set the gas type, wire type and size, welding material
and wire size using the buttons in order to access the
relevantsynergicprogram. Toactivatemanual MIG
wire feed speed and voltage settings, set the wire di-
ameter (23) as ‘manual’.
MIG Wave Control/ Inductance Knob (21)
ThissettingchangestheMIGwaveformtosimulate
changing the inductance of the welding circuit. In-
ductance controls the rate of the current rise and fall
as the welding wire contacts the workpiece (known as
ashortcircuit).Moreinductanceincreasestheshort
circuit time and decreases the short circuit frequency
rate. This causes a wider and more penetrating arc,
useful for thicker weld joints. Less inductance will
create a narrow more focused arc. This effect can
also be used to fine tune the arc to produce less splat-
ter. Wire speed, wire size and type, shielding gas will
all change the effect that the inductance setting has
ontheweldingarc.Inductancechangewillhaveno
practicaleffectonMIGspraytransferprocess(asop-
posed to short circuit process).
Burn Back (9)
Burnback adjustment controls the short period of
time that the wire feed will continue to run for after
themainweldingcurrentstops.Ifthewirefeedand
current is stopped at exactly the same time, the wire
will still be hot and ‘burn’ back and stick to the weld-
ingtip.Ifthisproblemishappening,increasingthe
burnback adjustment will cause the wire feeder to run
forlongerafterthearchasstopped.Iftheburnbackis
adjustment is excessive, after a weld is stopped, the
operator will be left with excess ‘stickout’ wire length
from the torch tip that will require correcting before
starting the next weld.

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Slow Feed (10)
Sometimes known as ‘hot start’. When a weld is start-
ed, the workpiece and the wire will be ‘cold’ compared
to welding temperature, this can cause an uneven and
poor start to the weld using the voltage and wirefeed
speed selected as optimal once the arc is established.
This setting slows the wire speed down at the start
of the weld which improves the weld starting perfor-
mance.
Gas Pre Flow (11)
Controls the period shielding gas will flow for when
the torch is triggered before the arc starts. This purg-
es the work area of atmospheric gas which could con-
taminate the weld before the weld starts.
Gas Post Flow (8)
Controls the period of time the shielding gas contin-
ues to flow for after the arc is stopped. This protects
the weld area from contamination while it is still hot
enough to react with atmospheric gases, after the
weld is finished.
Program Settings (25,26,28,30)
WithineachMIGsynergicprogramitispossibleto
save specific current/ voltage settings. Press the
‘save’button(30)tosave a settingwithinasyner-
gicprogram.Pressthe‘delete’button(28)toremove
the saved setting. To recall saved settings, press the
‘abstract(extract)’button(26).Pressingthisbutton
multiple times will access each saved setting within a
synergicprogram.‘Reset’button(25)clearsallsaved
settings.
Arc Force (0-10)
AnMMAweldingpowersourceisdesignedtopro-
duce constant output current (CC). This means with
different types of electrode and arc length; the weld-
ing voltage varies to keep the current constant. This
can cause instability in some welding conditions as
MMAweldingelectrodeswillhaveaminimumvoltage
they can operate with and still have a stable arc. Arc
Forcecontrolbooststheweldingpowerifitssenses
the welding voltage is getting too low. The higher the
arc force adjustment, the higher the minimum voltage
that the power source will allow. This effect will also
causetheweldingcurrenttoincrease.0isArcForce
off,10ismaximumArcForce.Thisispracticallyuse-
ful for electrode types that have a higher operating
voltage requirement or joint types that require a short
arc length such as out of position welds.
Tips & Tricks
MIG Voltage & Wire Speed Settings
Voltage is essentially the power in the welding arc
that sets the heat. The wire speed feed simply con-
trols the rate at which the welding wire is fed into the
weldpool.Foranyvoltagepositionsetting,therewill
be a specific corresponding ‘sweet spot’ in the wire
feeding speed that will give the smoothest and most
stable welding arc.
The correct wire feeding speed for a given voltage
setting is affected by welding wire type and size,
shieldinggas, weldingmaterial andjoint type.It is
recommended to set the welding voltage as desired
and then slowly adjust the wire speed until the arc is
smooth and stable. When reaching this point, if the
penetration/heatinputistoomuch/notenough,ad-
justthevoltagesettingandrepeattheprocess.Ifthe
operator is not able to achieve a smooth and stable
arc with the desired heat input for the weld, it is likely
thatachangeinwiresizeand/orshieldinggastypeis
required (assuming all other factors are correct).
Synergicfunction makesthe setupof MIGwelding
more simple, the operator simply sets the welding
current like MMA or TIG welding and the machine
calculates the optimal voltage and wire speed for the
material type, wire type and size and shielding gas
used.Obviouslyothervariablessuchasweldingjoint
type and thickness, air temperature affect the optimal
voltage and wire feed setting, so the program pro-
vides a voltage fine tuning function for the synergic
program selected.
TheADVANCEMIG250hasanextralevel of intelli-
gence in the synergic programs that will not permit
settings outside of those that will provide good weld-
ing results for the material, wire size and shielding
gas used. This will limit the current range that can set

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ADVANCEMIG 250
withineachsynergicprogram.Ifanincompatiblese-
lection of synergic parameters is made, the displays
willread‘0’andnosettingscanbemade.
MMA VRD Function
VRDstandsforVoltageReductionDevice.Thisisa
safety system that reduces the output voltage from
theweldingterminalsinMMAmodewhiletheweld-
ing output is not in use, to reduce the risk of electric
shock from the live output voltage. The disadvantage
of this system is that it makes the striking of the arc
more difficult, especially on restarts and with some
types of electrode such as low hydrogen electrodes.
VRDprotectionisenabledstandardfortheAdvance-
Mig250.Ifitisnotrequired,thefeaturecanbedisa-
bled by a Strata service dealer.
Lift TIG Mode
LiftTIGisanarcignitionsystemforbasicTIGweld-
ing that removes the need to ‘scratch’ start or strike
the tungsten on the work piece to start the arc, which
can have a negative effect on the weld quality due to
tungsten contamination. Lift arc starting works by
lightly resting the tungsten on the work piece, ac-
tivating the torch trigger switch and then lifting the
tungsten off. The control circuit will sense when the
tungsten is removed from the work piece and send a
pulse of electricity through the torch that will cause
theTIGarctoinitiate.
Duty Cycle Rating
Welding duty cycle is the percentage of actual weld-
ing time that can occur in a ten minute cycle. E.g.
20%at160amps-thismeanstheweldercanweld
at160ampsfor2minutesandthentheunitwillneed
toberestedfor8minutes.Alldutycycleratingsare
based on an ambient air temperature of 40°C with
50%humidity,whichistheinternationalstandardfor
sucharating.Inanenvironmentwithtemperatures
exceeding40°C,thedutycyclewillbelessthanstat-
ed.Inambienttemperaturelessthan40°C,dutycycle
performance will be higher.

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ADVANCEMIG 250
stops. This may need to be adjusted as the wire is
used up and the spool weight decreases.
WARNING! Excessive spool brake tension will
cause wire feeding issues and affect welding
performanceaswellascauseprematurefailure/
wear of wire feed components.
1.3 Feed the wire from the spool through the wire
driveinletguide(16)intothewirefeeder.
1.4 Releasethewirefeedtensionarms(13)bypiv-
oting the wire feed tension adjustment lever (12)
from the vertical to the horizontal position.
1.5 Checkthewiredriveroller(15)groovesmatchthe
selectedMIGwiretypeandsize.Thedriveroller
will have two different sized grooves; the size of the
groove in use is stamped on the side of the drive
roller.Forfluxcored‘soft’wire,suchasthatused
ingaslessMIGwelding,thedriverollergroovehas
a serrated profile (known as knurled). For solid
core‘hard’MIGwire,thedriverollergrooveused
hasa‘V’shapedprofile.ForAluminiumsolidcore
‘soft’MIGwire,thedriverollerrequiredhasa‘u’
shapedgroove.Ifnecessary,removeandchange
the drive roller by unthreading the drive roller re-
tainer (14).
1.6 Once the correct drive rollers (15) are selected
and fitted, manually feed the wire through the
wiredriveinletguide(16)throughthedriveroller
grooves and into the brass outlet wire guide tube.
Ensuring that the wire is correctly seated in the
drive roller grooves, replace the wire feed tension
arms (13) and lock them into place by rotating the
wire feed tension adjustment lever (12) back to the
vertical position.
Adjusting wire feed tension is accomplished by winding
the knob on the tension adjustment lever (12). Clock-
wisewillincreasetension,anti-clockwisewilldecrease
drivetension.Idealtensionisaslittleaspossible,while
maintaining a consistent wire feed with no drive roller
slippage. Check all other causes of excess wire feed-
ing friction causing slippage first, such as; incorrect/
worndriveroller,worn/damagedtorchconsumables,
blocked/damagedtorchwireguideliner,beforeincreas-
Electrical Connection
TheADVANCEMIG250isdesignedtooperateona
15A230VACpowersupply.
AdvanceMigMultivoltagetechnologyallowemachine
to operate on a very wide range input voltages down
aslowas90V.Thismeansthatlimitedcapacitypow-
er supplies and long extension leads may be used
withoutdamagingthewelder.However,asthesupply
voltage decreases, the maximum output current and
duty cycle will also decrease.
To utilise the full output capacity of the machine using
an extension cord, it should be a heavy duty version
withaminimumcablecoresizeof2.5mm2.Itisrec-
ommendedtousetheEuroquipindustrialduty15A
extensionlead,partnumber;16895.
Operating Environment
Adequate ventilation is required to provide proper
coolingfortheADVANCEMIG250.Ensurethatthe
machine is placed on a stable level surface where
clean cool air can easily flow through the unit. The
ADVANCEMIG 250 has electrical components and
control circuit boards which may be damaged by ex-
cessive dust and dirt, so a clean operating environ-
ment is important for reliable product life.
Basic Operation
1. Fitting Wire Spool & Loading Wire Feeder
1.1 Openthewirecompartmentcover.Unthreadthe
wire spool retainer. Fit the wire spool to spool
holder shaft, ensuring that the wire exits the spool
towards the bottom the spool.
1.2 Set the spool brake tension by adjusting the
spool tension adjustment screw before replacing
the wire spool retainer. The spool brake tension
should be set so that the spool can rotate freely,
but does not continue to rotate once the wire feed
Quick Start Guide - Welder Installation

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ADVANCEMIG 250
ing wire feed tension. There is a number scale on the
tension adjustment lever (12) to indicate the adjustment
position. The higher the number indicated, the higher
the tension that is set.
WARNING! Before changing the feed roller or wire
spool, ensure that the mains power is switched
off.
WARNING! The use of excessive feed tension
will cause rapid and premature wear of the drive
roller,thesupportbearingandthedrivemotor/
gearbox.
1.7 ConnecttheMIGTorchEuroConnectortotheMIG
torchEuroconnectionsocket(6)onthefrontof
the machine. Secure by firmly hand tightening the
threadedcollarontheMIGTorchconnectorclock-
wise.
1.8 CheckthatthecorrectmatchingMIGwire,drive
rollers(15)andMIGtorchtiparefitted.
1.9 Connect the machine to suitable mains power us-
ing the mains input power lead. Switch the mains
power switch to ‘on’ to power up the machine. Se-
lecttheweldingmodebutton(32)soMIGmode
indicator is lit.
1.10Checkthespoolgunswitch(19)to‘off’position.
1.11 You are now ready to feed the wire through the
torch. With the wire feeder cover open, pull the
triggeroftheMIGtorchtocheckthatthewireis
feeding smoothly through the feeder and into the
torch.
1.12 With the tip removed from the torch and the torch
laid out as straight as possible, activate the torch
trigger until the wire feeds out through the end of
the MIG torch. The AdvanceMig 250 has an in-
telligent wire inching system, when the torch is
triggered for more than 2 seconds without an arc
starting, the wire feeder will go into wire inching
mode and operate at full speed. Alternatively, the
wire feeding switch on the control panel (22) may
beusedtoactivethewirefeeder.Replacethetip
ontheMIGtorchandtrimoffanyexcesswire.
2. Gasless Welding Operation
2.1 Connect the earth cable quick connector to the
positive welding power output socket (1). Con-
nect the earth clamp to the work piece. Contact
with the work piece must be firm contact with
clean, bare metal, with no corrosion, paint or
scale at the contact point.
2.2 Connectthe MIG powerconnectionlead (3)to
the negative welding power output socket (5).
Note if this connection is not made, there will be
no electrical connection to the welding torch!
2.3 Set the welding parameters as required following
the instructions in the previous section. You are
now ready to weld!
3. Gas Shielded Welding Operation
3.1 Connect the earth cable quick connector to the
negativeweldingpoweroutputsocket(5)Con-
nect the earth clamp to the work piece. Contact
with the work piece must be firm contact with
clean, bare metal, with no corrosion, paint or
scale at the contact point.
3.2 Connectthe MIG powerconnectionlead (3)to
the positive welding power output socket (1).
Note if this connection is not made, there will be
no electrical connection to the welding torch!
3.3 Assemble the female gas quick connector to the
gas line and to the regulator outlet fitting. Con-
nect the gas regulator to a gas cylinder (not in-
cluded with machine) and connect the female
quick connector to the male gas inlet on the rear
of the machine. Ensure all connections are tight.
Open gas cylinder valve and adjust regulator,
flowshouldbebetween10-25l/mindepending
onapplication.Re-checkregulatorflowpressure
using the gas test switch (22) as static gas flow
setting may drop once gas is flowing.
3.4 Set the welding parameters as required following
the instructions in the previous section. You are
now ready to weld!

11
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ADVANCEMIG 250
MIG welding with aluminium & other soft wires
MIG welding with aluminium provides a unique chal-
lenge, due to the low column strength of the wire. This
causes the wire to deform more as it is pushed through
the feed mechanism and the torch wire delivery liner,
greatlyincreasingfriction.BecausegoodMIGwelding
results are dependent on a smooth wire feed, certain
changes must be made to the wire feed system to mini-
mise friction caused issues.
Forastandard‘push’fedtorch,alengthofnolonger
than 3m cable may be used, as well as the torch feed
liner must be changed to a special Teflon/ PVC liner,
rather than the conventional steel liner. Also the correct
style drive roller must be used and specific Aluminium
rated torch contact tip (or a standard tip in one size over-
size,e.g.0.8mmaluminiumwire,usestandard1.0mm
contacttip).Forthisreason,itisquitecommonforop-
eratorstohaveanextraMIGtorchspecificallysetupfor
aluminium use, if the machine is used for welding steel
as well.
With the heavy duty 4 roll geared wire feeder, the Ad-
vanceMig250willhaveamoresteadyandconsistent
wire feed when ‘push’ feeding soft wire, than other ma-
chines with standard 2 roll wire feed units. Another op-
tion to overcome the friction issues is using a spool gun,
which will give better results than a 3m push torch when
weldingaluminium.TheADVANCEMIG250isspoolgun
capable, refer following section for use with a spool gun
ontheADVANCEMIG250.
4. Spool Gun Operation
Note: The Spool Gun is an optional extra for the
ADVANCEMIG250
Spool Gun Overview
ThespoolgunisaveryusefuladditiontoaMIGwelder.
ItcanbeusedforalltypesofMIGwelding,butithas
two primary advantages over a conventional ‘push’ wire
feeder.
The main advantage is that distance that the wire has
to travel from the spool to the welding tip is very short,
compared with a conventional torch. This greatly re-
duces the wire feeding friction and improves the wire
feed speed smoothness and consistency, thus the weld-
ing quality is greatly improved. This is especially so with
‘soft’wiressuchasAluminium.ItisdifficulttogetAlu-
minium to feed smoothly in welding machines equipped
with standard design wire feeders, even with special
torch liners and short torch lengths.
The second advantage is that the gun can allow the use
ofthesmallD100 wirespoolsatadistance from the
power source (This distance is only limited by the length
of the spool gun lead). This is advantageous for high
cost wire, that is not used commonly such as Stainless
SteelorMIGbrazingwire.Itsavestheoutlaycostfora
muchmoreexpensive,largerD200spool.
When used with the correct Strata spool gun, the weld-
ingvoltage/currentmaybecontrolleddirectlyfromthe
spoolgunfortheADVANCEMIG250.Thisisespecially
usefulinsynergicmode,astheprimaryMIGsettings
can be controlled ‘one touch’ with the single knob on the
spool gun.
4.1 Connect the earth cable quick connector to the
negativeweldingpoweroutputsocket(5)Con-
nect the earth clamp to the work piece. Contact
with the work piece must be firm contact with
clean, bare metal, with no corrosion, paint or
scale at the contact point.
4.2 Connectthe MIG powerconnectionlead (3)to
the positive welding power output socket (1).
Note if this connection is not made, there will be
no electrical connection to the welding torch!
4.3 Connect the spool gun interface plug to the re-
mote socket (4). Connect the spool gun Euro
plugtothemachineEuroconnector(6).Setthe
spool gun switch (19) to ‘on’ position.
4.4 Assemble the female gas quick connector to the
gas line and to the regulator outlet fitting. Con-
nect the gas regulator to a gas cylinder (not in-
cluded with machine) and connect the female
quick connector to the male gas inlet on the rear
of the machine. Ensure all connections are tight.
Open gas cylinder valve and adjust regulator,
flowshouldbebetween10-25l/mindepending
onapplication.Re-checkregulatorflowpressure
using the gas test switch (22) as static gas flow
setting may drop once gas is flowing.
4.5 Settheweldingparametersasrequiredfollowing
the instructions in the previous section. You are
now ready to weld!

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ADVANCEMIG 250
5. ARC/ MMA Welding Operation
5.1 Connecttheearthcablequickconnectortothe
negativeweldingpoweroutputsocket(5)Con-
nect the earth clamp to the work piece. Contact
with the work piece must be firm contact with
clean, bare metal, with no corrosion, paint or
scale at the contact point.
5.2 Insert an electrode into the electrode holder and
connect the electrode holder and work lead to the
positive welding power output socket (1).
Note: This polarity connection configuration is valid for
mostGP(GeneralPurpose)MMAelectrodes.Thereare
variancestothis.Ifindoubt,checktheelectrodespecifi-
cations or consult the electrode manufacturer.
5.3 Connectthemachinetosuitablemainspowerus-
ing the mains input power lead. Switch the mains
power switch to ‘on’ to power up the machine.
Select‘MMA’modeusingtheprocessselectbut-
ton.
5.4 Settheweldingcurrent(34)andarcforce(33)as
required. You are now ready to weld!
6. Lift TIG Operation
Note:TIGoperationrequiresanoptionalTIGtorchand
argon gas supply.
6.1 Connecttheearthcablequickconnectortothe
positive welding power output socket (1). Con-
nect the earth clamp to the work piece. Contact
with the work piece must be firm contact with
clean, bare metal, with no corrosion, paint or
scale at the contact point.
6.2 InsertTIGtorchpowerconnectionintothenega-
tive welding power output socket (5). Connect
TIGtorchremoteplugtoremotesocket(4)and
torchgasconnectiontotheTIGgasoutlet(2).
6.3 Connectthemachinetosuitablemainspowerus-
ing the mains input power lead. Switch the mains
power switch to ‘on’ to power up the machine.
SelectTIGmodeusingtheprocessselectbutton
(32).
6.4 Assemblethefemalegasquickconnectortothe
gas line and to the regulator outlet fitting. Con-
nect the gas regulator to a gas cylinder (not in-
cluded with machine) and connect the female
quick connector to the male gas inlet on the rear
of the machine. Ensure all connections are tight.
Open gas cylinder valve and adjust regulator,
flow should be between 5-10 l/min depending
onapplication.Re-checkregulatorflowpressure
using the gas test switch (22) as static gas flow
setting may drop once gas is flowing.
6.5 Settheweldingcurrent(34)anddownslope(33)
using the control knobs as required. You are now
ready to weld!
TheADVANCEMIG250hasTIGremotecurrentcontrol
function when fitted with a suitable torch with remote
control potentiometer.
Pleasenote,theADVANCEMIG250isaDC(DirectCur-
rent) output welder only, this means that it is unable to
TIGweldreactivemetalssuchasAluminiumalloysand
Brass(whichrequireACoutput).DCTIGoutputissuita-
ble for steel, stainless steel and copper. The AdvanceTig
ACDCmodelsintheStratarangearedesignedforTIG
welding Aluminium and its alloys.

13
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ADVANCEMIG 250
Accessories & Spare Parts
These accessories listed are available from your Strata
Supplier.RefertotheStrataCatalogue,yourStrata
Supplier or look online at www.strata.co.nz for other
accessories and consumables available.
ADVANCEMIG 250 Consumables:
17384 StrataCompactWeldingMachineTrolley
17374 Pro-Grip26TorchX25Ft,TgcEnd(LargeDinse)
 M12And9PinHizonePlug
AAL3550 ArcLead16mm2Cable,35-70mmPlug,4m
AEL3550 EarthLead16mm2Cable,35-70mmPlug,3m
17512 15kg-5kgSpoolSpacer
16895 15mH/D15AExtensionLead(3x2.5mm2wiring)
DW3000 AutoDarkeningHelmet,Shade9-13
DW4000 AutoDarkeningHelmet,Shade9-13
 withGrindingVisor
DW7000 AutoDarkeningHelmet,Shade9-13
 withGrindingVisorandPRSLFiltrationSystem.
GR101AR ArgonTwinGaugeRegulator
GR101CO2 CO2TwinGaugeRegulator
GADAR ArgonCylindertoCO2RegulatorAdaptorM/M
GADCO2 CO2CylindertoArgonRegulatorAdaptor
 F/MtoF/M,inc.nylonwasher
GR119 CO²GasRegulatorHeated220V
MT250-4E MB25MigTorch4m(Euro)
MT250-3E MB25MigTorch3m(Euro)
MT250-5E MB25MigTorch5m(Euro)
MMT2406 MigTip0.6mm(5pk)
MMT2408 MigTip0.8mm(5pk)
MMT2409 MigTip0.9mm(5pk)
MMT2410 MigTip1.0/0.8mmAlum(5pk)
MMT2412 MigTip1.2/1.0mmAlum(5pk)
MTA2581 TipAdaptorM6Tips(2pk)
MCN2570 NozzleConical(2pk)
MSS2557 ShroudSpring(2pk)
MSN2554 SwanNeck
MB25KIT MIGConsumablesStarterKit-MB25.
MSL1539 SteelLiner0.6-0.9mm3m
MSL1549 SteelLiner0.6-0.9mm4m
MSL1559 SteelLiner0.6x0.9mmx5m
MTL1538T TeflonLiner0.6-0.8mmx3m
MSL2432 SteelLiner1.0-1.2mmx3m
MSL2442 SteelLiner1.0-1.2mmx4m
MSL2452 SteelLiner1.0-1.2mmx5m
MTL2432T TeflonLiner1.0-1.2mmx3m
MW5KG06 MigWire5kgSpool-0.6mm
MW5KG08 MigWire5kgSpool-0.8mm
MW5KG09 MigWire5kg-0.9mm
MW5KG08FC FluxcoredMigWire-0.8mm,4.5kg
MW5KG09FC FluxcoredMigWire-0.9mm,4.5kg
MW2KG08AL 2.2kgSpool5356-0.8mmAlum
MW2KG10AL 2.2kgSpool5356-1.0mmAlum
ALS3550 MMALeadSet300A3+3m1/2”DinseConnectors
S400EH 400AScrewTypeElect.Holder
S500EC Strata500AEarthClamp
CP3550 CablePlug-35-50mm³-Male
ETCPH4825 OvercordR922.5mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH4832 OvercordR923.2mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH4840 OvercordR924.0mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH6825 Overcord2.5mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH6832 Overcord3.2mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH6840 Overcord4.0mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH6850 Overcord5.0mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH7725 Supercito2.5mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH7732 Supercito3.2mmElectrodes(450mm)
ETCPH7740 Supercito4.0mmElectrodes(450mm)
ETCPH56S25 Tenax56S2.5mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH56S32 Tenax56S3.2mmElectrodes(350mm)
ETCPH56S40 Tenax56S4.0mmElectrodes(450mm)
PDL15 Plug,3Pin15A250Vstraight
17835 4RollWireFeederDriveRoller0.6/0.8mm‘v’groove
17836 4RollWireFeederDriveRoller0.9/1.0mm‘v’groove
17837 4RollWireFeederDriveRoller1.0/1.2mm‘v’groove
17838 4RollWireFeederDriveRoller0.8/0.9mmfluxcored
17839 4RollWireFeederDriveRoller1.0/1.2mmfluxcored
17840 4RollWireFeederDriveRoller1.2/1.6mmfluxcored
17841 4RollWireFeederDriveRoller0.8/1.0mm‘u’groove
17842 4RollWireFeederDriveRoller1.2/1.6mm‘u’groove
17843 4RollWireFeederDriveRollerRetainer
17844 GasInletQC
17846 9PinStrataMIGRemoteConnectionPlug

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Binzel MT240 MIG Torch Range Parts
AllproductsconformtoEN60974-7andareRoHS,REACHandWEEEcompliant
1. MSN2454 Swan Neck Assembly
4. UG8015 HandleCableSupportC/WBallJoint
8. B2514 ErgoHandleKitC/WLockNut
9. UG2516 Medium/LargeErgoTrigger
18. MOR1596 GunPlug‘O’Ring
19. MLN1597 LinerNut

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Wiring Diagram
Spool gun motor
TIG Remote Current
MIG Remote Volts
Strata AdvanceMig 9 Pin Socket Diagram
9 Pin Socket Diagram

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Care & Maintenance
Keep your Welding Machine
in Top Condition
TheADVANCEMIG250doesnotrequireanyspecial
maintenance, however the user should take care of
the machine as follows:
• Regularlycleantheventilationslots.
• Keepthecasingclean.
• Checkallcablesbeforeuse.
• Checkelectrodeholders,worklead/clampsand
welding torches before use.
• Replacewornelectrodeholdersandearth 
clamps, which do not provide a good
connection.
• Replacewornconsumablepartsinatimely 
manner.
• Useasoftclothorbrushtocleanelectrical 
components.
• Donotuseliquidcleaningproducts,wateror
especially solvents.
• Donotusecompressedairtocleanelectrical
components as this can force dirt and dust
further into components, causing electrical short
circuits.
• Checkfordamagedparts.Donotusethewelder
with damaged parts.
• Adamagedweldermustbecarefullycheckedby
a qualified person to determine that it will operate
properly. Check for breakage of parts, mountings
and other conditions that may affect its operation.
An authorised service centre should properly
repairadamagedpart.Haveyourwelderrepaired
by an expert.
This appliance is manufactured in accordance with
relevant safety standards. Only experts must carry
out repairing of electrical appliances, otherwise
considerable danger for the user may result. Use only
genuine replacement parts. Do not use modified or
non-genuineparts.
Storing the Welder
When not in use the welder should be stored in the
dryandfrost-freeenvironment.
WARNING!Beforeperformingcleaning/main-
tenance,replacingcables/connections,make
sure the welding machine is switched off and
disconnected from the power supply.

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Safety
Store and Retain this Manual
Retain this manual for the safety warnings and precau-
tions, assembly, operating, inspection, maintenance and
cleaning procedures. Write the product’s serial number
intotheNOTESsectionattherear,andkeepthismanual
and the receipt in a safe and dry place for future reference.
Important Safety Information
Failuretofollowthewarningsandinstructionsmayresult
inelectricshock,fire,seriousinjuryand/ordeath.Saveall
warnings and instructions for future reference.
This is the safety alert symbol to alert you to po-
tential personal injury hazards. Obey all safety
messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible
injury or death.
DANGER! indicates a hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING! indicates a hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION, used with the safety alert symbol,
indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoid-
ed, could result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTE, used to address practices not related to personal
injury.
General Safety Warnings
1. Maintain labels and nameplates on the welder. These car-
ryimportantinformation.Ifunreadableormissing,contact
Euroquip for a replacement.
2. Avoid unintentional starting. Make sure the welder is
setup correctly and you are prepared to begin work before
turning on the welder.
3. Unplug before performing maintenance.
Always unplug the welder from its electrical outlet before
performing any inspection, maintenance, or cleaning pro-
cedures.
4. Never leave the welder unattended while energised.
Turn power off before leaving the welder unattended.
5. Do not touch live electrical parts. Wear dry, insulating
gloves. Do not touch the electrode or the conductor tong
with bare hands. Do not wear wet or
damaged gloves.
6. Protect yourself from electric shock. Do not use
the welder outdoors. Insulate yourself from the work
pieceandtheground.Usenon-flammable,dryinsulating
material if possible, or use dry rubber mats, dry wood or
plywood, or other dry insulating material large enough to
cover the area of contact with the work or the ground.
7. Avoid inhaling dust. Some dust created by power
sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, cutting, welding and
other construction activities, contain chemicals known to
cause cancer, birth defects or other harm. Your risk from
these exposures varies, depending on how often you do
this type of work. To reduce your exposure to these chemi-
cals,workinawell-ventilatedarea,andworkwithapproved
safety equipment, such as dust masks that are specially
designed to filter out microscopic particles.
8. People with pacemakers should consult their
physician(s) before using this machine.
WARNING!
Electromagnetic fields in close proximity to a heart
pacemaker could cause interference, or failure of
thepacemaker.TheuseofaWelderisNOTREC-
OMMENDEDforpacemakerwearers.Consultyour
doctor.
9. Ensure that the unit is placed on a stable location before
use.
WARNING!
Ifthisunitfallswhilepluggedin,severeinjury,
electric shock, or fire may result.
10. Transportation Methods Liftunitwiththehandlespro-
vided, or use a handcart or similar device of adequate ca-
pacity.Ifusingaforkliftvehicle,securetheunittoaskid
before transporting.
CAUTION!
Disconnectinputpowerconductorsfromde-ener-
gized supply line before moving the welding power
source.
11. Exercise good work practices. The warnings, precau-
tions, and instructions discussed in this instruction manual
cannot cover all possible conditions and situations that may
occur.Itmustbeunderstoodbytheoperatorthatcommon
sense and caution are factors which cannot be built into
this product, but must be considered by the operator.

18 www.strata.co.nz
ADVANCEMIG 250
trash, and other debris. Do not use equipment in ar-
eas near flammable chemicals, dust, and vapours.
Do not use this product in a damp or wet location.
1. Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common
sense when operating equipment. Do not use a tool
while you are tired or under the influence of drugs,
alcohol or medication. A moment of distraction when
operating equipment
may result in serious personal injury.
2. Do not over-reach. Keep proper footing and balance at
all times. This enables better control of the power tool
in unexpected situations.
Arc Rays can Burn Eyes and Skin
DANGER!
Arc rays from the welding process produce intense
heat and strong ultraviolet rays that can burn eyes
and skin.
1. Use a Welding Helmet or Welding Face Shield tted
with a proper shade lter (referAS60974-1,AS/NZS
1337.1andAS/NZS1338.1SafetyStandards)topro-
tect your face and eyes when welding or watching.
(SeeFilterTableonPage20)
2. Wear approved safety glasses. Side shields are rec-
ommended.
3. Use protective screens or barriers to protect
others from flash and glare; warn others not to
watch the arc.
4. Wear protective clothing made from durable,
 flame-resistantmaterial(woolandleather)and
foot safety protection.
5. Neverwearcontactlenseswhilewelding.
Noise Can Damage Hearing
CAUTION!
Noise from some processes can damage hearing.
UseAS/NZScompliantearplugsorearmuffsifthe
noise level is high.
Work Environment Safety
DANGER!
Remove any combustible material from the work
area.
Welding Safety Instructions & Warnings
WARNING!
Protect yourself and others from possible serious
injuryordeath.Keepchildrenaway.Readtheop-
erating/Instructionmanualbeforeinstalling,oper-
atingorservicing thisequipment.Haveall instal-
lation, operation, maintenance, and repair work
performed by qualified people.
Ifanoperatordoesnotstrictlyobserveallsafetyrulesand
take precautionary actions, welding products and welding
processes can cause serious injury or death, or damage to
other equipment or property.Safe practices have developed
from past experience in the use of welding and cutting.
These practices must be learned through study and train-
ing before using this equipment. Some of these practices
apply to equipment connected to power lines; other prac-
tices apply to engine driven equipment. Anyone not having
extensive training in welding and cutting practices should
not attempt to weld.
Safe practices are outlined in the European Standard
EN60974-1entitled:Safetyinweldingandalliedprocesses.
WARNING!
Onlyusesafetyequipmentthathasbeenapproved
by an appropriate standards agency. Unapproved
safety equipment may not provide adequate protec-
tion.EyeandbreathingprotectionmustbeAS/NZS
compliant for the specific hazards in the work area.
DANGER!
AlwayswearAS/NZScompliantsafetyglassesand
full face shield fitted with appropriate filter shade
number. (ReferFilterTableonpage17.)
CAUTION!
Heavy-dutyworkgloves,non-skidsafetyshoesand
hearing protection used for appropriate conditions
will reduce personal injuries.
CAUTION!
Havetheequipmentservicedbyaqualifiedrepair
person using identical replacement parts. This will
ensure that the safety of the power tool is main-
tained.
Personal Safety
CAUTION!
Keeptheworkareawelllit.Makesurethereisad-
equate space surrounding the work area. Always
keep the work area free of obstructions, grease, oil,

19
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ADVANCEMIG 250
1. When possible, move the work to a location well
 awayfromcombustiblematerials.Ifrelocationisnot
possible, protect the combustibles with a cover made
of fire resistant material.
2. Removeormakesafeallcombustiblematerialsfora
radiusof10metresaroundtheworkarea.Useafire
resistant material to cover or block all doorways, win-
dows, cracks, and other openings.
3. Enclose the work area with portable fire resistant
screens. Protect combustible walls, ceilings, floors,
etc., from sparks and heat with fire resistant covers.
4. Ifworkingonametalwall,ceiling,etc.,preventigni-
tion of combustibles on the other side by moving the
combustiblestoasafelocation.Ifrelocationofcom-
bustibles is not possible, designate someone to serve
as a fire watch, equipped with a fire extinguisher, dur-
ing the welding process and well after the welding is
completed.
5. Donotweldorcutonmaterialshavingacombustible
coating or combustible internal structure, as in walls
or ceilings, without an approved method for eliminat-
ing the hazard.
6. Afterwelding,makeathoroughexaminationfor
evidence of fire. Be aware that visible smoke or flame
may not be present for some time after the fire has
started. Do not weld or cut in atmospheres containing
dangerously reactive or flammable gases, vapours,
liquids, and dust. Provide adequate ventilation in work
areas to prevent accumulation of flammable gases, va-
pours, and dust.
7. Do not apply heat to a container that has held an un-
known substance or a combustible material whose
contents, when heated, can produce flammable or
explosive vapours. Clean and purge containers before
applyingheat.Ventclosedcontainers,includingcast-
ings, before preheating, welding, or cutting.
Electricity Can Kill
DANGER!
Touching live electrical parts can cause fatal shocks or
severe burns. The electrode and work circuit is electri-
cally live whenever the output is on.
The input power circuit and machine internal circuits are
alsolivewhenpowerison.Insemi-automaticorautomatic
wire welding, the wire, wire reel, drive roll housing, and all
metal parts touching the welding wire are electrically live.
Incorrectlyinstalledorimproperlygroundedequipmentis
a hazard.
1. Do not touch live electrical parts.
2. Weardry,hole-freeinsulatingglovesandbodyprotec-
tion.
3. Insulateyourselffromtheworkandthegroundusing
dry insulating mats or covers.
4. Disconnect input power before installing or servicing
thisequipment.Lockinputpower,disconnectswitch
open, or remove line fuses so power cannot be turned
on accidentally.
5. Properlyinstallandgroundthisequipmentaccording
to national, state, and local codes.
6. Turnoffall equipmentwhennotin use.Disconnect
power to equipment if it will be left unattended or out
of service.
7. Use fully insulated electrode holders. Never dip the
holder in water to cool it or lay it down on the ground
or the work surface. Do not touch holders connected
to two welding machines at the same time or touch
other people with the holder or electrode.
8. Do not use worn, damaged, undersized, or poorly
spliced cables.
9. Do not wrap cables around your body.
10.Connectworkpiecetoagoodelectricalground.
11. Do not touch the electrode while in contact with the
work (ground) circuit.
12. Use only well-maintained equipment. Repair or re-
place damaged parts as soon as practical.
13.Inconfinedspacesordamplocations,donotusea
welder with AC output unless equipped with a voltage
reducer.
Arc rays from the welding process produce intense heat
and strong ultraviolet rays that can burn eyes and skin. Use
the following table to select the appropriate shade number
foraWeldingHelmetorWeldingFaceShield.

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ADVANCEMIG 250
Personal Safety
CAUTION!
Keeptheworkareawelllit.Makesurethereis
adequate space surrounding the work area. Al-
ways keep the work area free of obstructions,
grease, oil, trash, and other debris. Do not use
equipment in areas near flammable chemicals,
dust, and vapours. Do not use this product in a
damp or wet location.
1. Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use
Fumes And Gases
WARNING!
Welding produces fumes and gases. Breathing
these fumes and gases can be hazardous to your
health.
1. Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe
the fumes.
2. Ifinside,ventilatetheareaand/oruseanexhaust
at the arc to remove welding fumes and gases.
3. If ventilation is poor, use an approved air-supplied
respirator.
4. ReadtheSafetyDataSheets(SDS)andthemanufac-
turer’s instruction for the metals, consumables, coat-
ings, and cleaners.
5. Workinaconfinedspaceonlyifitiswellventilated, or
whilewearinganair-suppliedrespirator.Shieldingga
es used for welding can displace air causing injury or
death. Be sure the breathing air is safe.
6. Donotweldinlocationsneardegreasing,cleaning, or
spraying operations. The heat and rays of the arc can
react with vapours to form highly toxic and irritating
gases.