Tweco 201 ts Thermal Arc - Manual (Page 16)

Introduction 2-4 Manual 0-5149
THERMAL ARC 201 TS INTRODUCTION
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
welding 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, 200 amperes at 18 volts. This means that it has been designed and
built to provide the rated amperage (200A) 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.
110VAC INPUT
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Welding Current (amps)
Duty Cycle (percentage)@40°
C
Safe
Operating
Region
TIG (GTAW)
Stick (MMA)
Art # A-10141
230VAC INPUT
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Welding Current (amps)
Duty Cycle (percentage)@40°
C
Safe
Operating
Region TIG (GTAW)
Art # A-10142
Figure 2-1: Thermal Arc 201 TS Duty Cycle