Tweco 200DC Inverter Arc Welding Machine - Manual (Page 16)

WELDSKILL 200AC/DC INVERTER
INTRODUCTION 2-4 Manual 0-5207
2.09 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 18.0 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. The thermal cut out will operate if the duty cycle is exceeded.
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220
WELDSKILL
200 AC/DC
Welding Current (AMPS)
SAFE OPERATING REGION
(TIG & STICK)
0
0
10
20
30
40
60
70
50
80
100
90
Duty Cycle (PERCENTAGE)
GTAW (TIG)
MMAW (STICK)
A-11218
Figure 2-1: WELDSKILL 200AC/DC Duty Cycle