Spot Welder - What Power Supply??

[Fortunate Son]

Have been looking at hiring or pos buying a spot welder but am confused by power supply requirements. I will be needing one that can weld the lower edge of inner to middle and middle to outer sills (so 0.8mm + 1.5mm) (have got a little carried away with trying to replicate "factory" assembly methods).

HSS hire out a "SIP Spotmatic" looking one which the data sheet says needs a 32 Amp supply. However I have seen some spot welders for sale on ebay with standard looking 13 Amp plugs on them, other info says that a 16 Amp supply is required and some people seem to suggest that a spot welder can be operated on a 13 Amp supply :?

My consumer unit is luckily in the garage but the downside is that the house is rented so any modification to the wiring (if necessary) needs to be minimal and reversable.

Any guidance / advice on the way forward would greatly appreciated

Andy

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

I'd ring HSS and find out if its three phase or 110v, if its 110v they can also supply you with a transformer so it'll plug into normal mains.

 

[Hilly_70]

HSS do have a transformer for the 32a welders so it can plug into mains ..

not really a transformer as such as you cant magic 32a out of 13a! .. but it does protect the mains by RCD and seems to work ok ..

We use them at work ..

Hilly

 

[67panel]

mine works on 13amps ,looks like the ones from machine mart,does a grand job.